New Britain herald., 1916-09-20
How Madgc and Dicl1y Met.

weak, but thrilling with the old love note, repeated my name over and over, as if he could not say it enough.
 I sank on my knees beside the bed in which Dicky lay l realized in a hay sort of fashion that the room must be Harry Underwood's own bed chamber, but spent no time in con- lecture. All my being was fused in the one joyous certainty that Dicky was alive and, in my arms, and that l had been assured he would get we'll I laid my face against his cheek, shifted my arms so that no weight should rest against his bandaged shoulder, which, at my first glimpse of it, had caused me to shudlder involun- tarily
 If you only knew how awful I felt 1 about this" Dicky murmured, con- tritelv, and, as I raised my eyes to look at him his own contracted as with pain.
 1 'It's a fine mess I've brought you | into by my carelesssess this summer, l but I swear I didn't dream- I laid my hand on his lips. Don't sweetheart" I pleaded. Tt l is enough for me to know that you are l safe in my arms. Nothing else in the world matters. Just rest and get well for me-"
 He kissed the hand against his lips, then reached up the unbandaged arm, and with gentle fingers pulled mine | away.
 But there is one thing I must talk about" he said solemnly, "something you must do for me, Madge, for I can not get up from here to see to it. It's a hard thing to ask you to do, but you will understand. Tell me, is that poor girl going to die?
 Come Through Shipwreclx.
 TT don't know, Dicky," faltered, salving my conscience with the thought that he must not be excited with the knowledge of Grace Draper's true condition!
 Poor girl" he sighed, 1T never dreamed she looked at things in the light she did, but I feel guilty any how, responsible. She must have the best of care Madge, best physicians, best nurses, everything. I must meet all expenses, even to the ones which will be necessary if she should die."
 He brought out the last words fear fully. Little drops of moisture stood on his forehead I saw that the shock of the girls terrible act had unnerved him.
 Nerving myelf to be as practical and matter -of-fact as possible, wiped the moisture from his brow with inv handkerchief and patted his cheek soOthing1y.
 1T will attend to everything." I promised, just as if you were able to see to it. But you must do mething for me in return; you must promise not to talk any more and try to go to sleep.
 My own precious girl" he sighed happily, and then drowsily-
 Kiss me!'
 I pressed my lips to his. His eyes closed, and with his hand cHnging tightly to mine he slept.
 How long I knelt there, I do not know. No one came near the room, but through the closed door I could hear the hushed hurry and movement which marks a desperate fight be- tween life and death.
 I felt numbed and bewildered. tried to visualize what was happening outside theo room, but I could not. l felt as if Dicky and I had come through same terrible shipwreck to- gether, and had been cast up on this friendly piece of shore.
 Dr. Petit Intervenes.
 I knew that later I would have to ia ce my own soul in a rigid inquisitiOn to how far I had been to blame for this tragedy. I had been married less than a year and yet my husband was involved in a horrible complica- ton like this.
 But my brain was too exhausted to fo11 a inc of content to rest quietly on my knees by the side of Dicky's bed, with his hand in mine and my eyes fixed on his white face with the long lashes shadowing it.
 At first 1 was perfectly comfortable, then after a while little tinglng pains began to run through my back and, limbs .
 I dared not change my position for fear of disturbing Dicky, so I set my | teeth and endured the discomfort. 1 The sharpness of the pain gradually 1 wore away as the minutes went by, and was succeeded by distressing feeling of numbness extending all over my body.
 Just as I was beginning to feel that the numbness must soon extend to my brain, the door opened and some one came quietly in.
 My back was to the door, and so careful were the footsteps crossing the room that I could ot tell who the newcomer was until I felt firm hard gently unclasping by nervous fingers from Dicky's. Then I looked up into the solicitous face of Dr. Pettit
 How is it that you have been left alone here so long?' he inquired, in dignantly, yet keeping his voice to the professional low pitch of a sick room. He put his strong, firm hands under my elbows, raised me to my feet and supported me to a chair for