Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-11-29
MY MARRIED LIFE
BY ADELE GARRISON

Katie, my maid OF all work, uttered
frightened little cry at the sight OF Mr.
Lester coming through the door and then
stood, like statue Of fear, gazing at him.
Lillian was standing at my side when
the Testers came in. With quick. un-
observed whisper to me, Get Mrs. Lester
in your room quickly" she moved swiftly
To Katie'sssde. Dicly said afterward that
the muttered "Hushl Come with me" with
which lii propelled Katie to the kitchen,
was regular third-act.to-the-rescu stun.
I could not see what she was doing, how
ever, for was too busy trying to obey her
whispered injunction.
1t was a hard task, however, OF course
I had to wait until DlcSy had introduced
mo to both Mr.. and Mrs. Lester. AS !
murmured the conventional things and
started TO escort my guest to my room,
Harry Underwood barred the way
Nay, nay, my child you do not pass
me this way without a word or look that
/ may cherish" he said grandloquently to
my guest,
Mrs. Lester dmpled and giggled.
You awful man, I'm not going to talk
to you at all tonight Frank says you are
n bad man for little girls to know"
please unsay them croo-el words" he
burlesdued, and then turned to me, as he
saw me trying to draw Mrs. Lester toward
my room
AHA, me proud beauty; you do not like
to hear me make pretty speeches TO another.
| shall humble your pride yet"
He bowed mockingly, and I reached my
own room with Mrs. Lester As / crossed
the threshold drew deep breath Of relief.
The danger of an unpleasant scene was
over. Katie was safe in tho kitchen, where,
IL / gauged Mrs. Underwoods powers cor
rectly, she would soon be reduced to san
ity, while my guest, all unsuspectng, as
l hoped, was removing her wraps.
OF course / had Rrnsne0 the Significance
OF Katle's frightened cry. 1 remembered
the night she first came to work for me,
her terror at sight of Dicky and her sud
den flight. We had brought her back, and
Dicky had learned that tho reason she was
In such fear of him was on account Of
the money he had given her with which
to pay bill when she was maid of all work
In the bachelor apartment which Dicky and
three other artists shared. She had dis
appeared with the money, and he had never
seen her again until he met her in our
apartment.
The memory of her broken words of ex-
planatIon of her flight came back to me-
You know when you left that morning,
Meester Lestare, he was painting, too?
Well, Meester Graham, | always good girl
In old country and here. l go to con-
fesson l always keep good Meester Les
taire, he kiss me, say bad tings to me. He
frighten me. l afraid II / stay I no be
good girl SO 1 run queeck away L never
dare came back. Dot Meester Lestaire. he
one bad man, one devil"
OF course, 'Lestaire" was Lester had
thought nothing of the coincidence of
names until Katie's cry had thrown flash
light upon the situation.
looked at Mrs Lester, who. fortunately,
had heard and seen nothing She was a
pretty creature, birdlike in her smaIlness
and daintiness, and a certain chlrpy bright
ness. 1 Judged that her mentality about
equaled the caliber of n sparrow but |
admitted also that the fact did not detract
from her attractlveness.
She was the sort of woman to he pro-
tected, to be cherished. She was loving
innocent. helpless. And her husband had
amused himself by prosecuting an ignorant
alien servant! l felt a rush of sympathy
for her, l remembered Dickys comment
upon Katie's revelation:
so that was It Well, that was Just
about what that pup would do That was
one reason / got out Of our housekeeping
arrangements He set too swift a pace
for me, and that was going some in those
days"
Poor little Mrs. Lester! Life certainly
could not hold much for her in the future.
And then she turned from the mirror with
an appealing little smile
I'm afraid | shall be very dull tonight.
I am so worried about leaving the baby.
She's only six months old, you know, and
1 have had my mother with me ever since
never left her with n maid before. This
girl we have appears very competent, says
she is used to babies. but just can't help
being as nervous as a cat"
Are you still worrying about that baby?"
Mrs, Underwood's loud voice sounded be-
hind us, Now, look here, Daisy, have q
little common sense. You have had that
maid over year; she has been with your
mother and you since the baby was born
there's telephone at her elbow, and you
are only five blocks away from home.
Wasn't the child we'll when you left?"
Sleeping just like kitten" the proud
mother answered. you just ought to have
seen her, one little hand all cuddled up
against her face. I Just couldn't bear to
leave her"
over Lillian Gales face swept swift
spasm of pain. So quickly was II gone that
l would not have noticed it had not my
eyes happened to rest on her face when
Mrs. Lester spoke of her baby. Was there
a child In that hectic past of her? 1 de.
cided there must be-
why don't you telephone now and
satisfy yourself that the baby is all right,
sees anything unusual about herT
queried.
Tell her you are going to telephone
every little while, Then she will be sure
to keep on the job" oynically suggested
Mrs, Underwood.
'Oh' tnat WIN pe Just splendid" chiFped
Mrs. Lester Thank you so much, Mrs
Graham. Where is the telephone?'
''Dlcky will get the number for you"
said Mrs Underwood, ushering her into the
living room. heard her shrllI voice.
"oh. Dlclsy-bird. please get Mrs. Testers
apartment for her She wants to be sure
the baby's all right"
Then heard a deeper yoica s.For
sake, Daisy. don't make a fool Of
yourself. The kids all right" That was
Mr.. Testers voice, of course Neither tba
tones of Dlcky nor Harry Underwood had
the disagreeable whining tlmbrs of this
mans
Lillian's retort made me smile, IL was 50
of her
who unlocked the door OF your cags
anyway? Get back in, and II you Rrovl
again tonight there win be no supper for
you"
AS she spoke she hurried back to the door
II my room, which was lust leaving. she
made an almost imperceptible gesture with
her hand. and obeyed the silent signal.
going back into the room with her.
Il sent her to the telephone because 1
wanted chance TO speak 10 you alone.n she
said. you'll have TO settle Katie. She's
srylng out there, says she doesn't want 10
gait on table IL Meester Lestalre Is dere.'
don't know but It would be q good idea
o send her to bed, say she has a toothaehe
)r anything else convenient. We can wait
IN IL will ba lafa y,,o1a 4.tn..t--.a