New Britain herald., 1917-06-30
What Dicky Did When He Realized That Madge Had Seen Him
 With Edith,

That Madge Had Seen Him
 with Edith,
 have heard of people being stricken dumb' with amusement. and I nearly experienced the sensa- ton myself when over the coffee and cheese after our little dinner at Bro- quin's, Dicky calmly announced that he had bought mo 2 hat.
 Of course tho mere announcement, although unusual, was not calculated to stun . wife, but after my expert- ence of ., few hours before. when had seen him select and pay for beautiful hat and . suit for "Edith." tho art student from Virginia, whose friendship with him had caused me unhappiness, his words fllled me with uneasy bewilderment.
 Was 1t possible that I had been mistaken in the deduction had drawn from what had seen, or was Dicky cleverly trying to get out of situation which Mrs. Durkee's de- scription of our shopping at Ham bers where had seen him, must have warned him needed adjusting?
 Little Mrs. Durkee's power of speech. however. had not been taken away from her. She saxed open
 
 then gurgled with enjoyment of the situation.
 ..Hcw perfectly funny she ex- claimed. Ibid you get it at Ham, befs, too?' Mrs. Graham bought a black and white hat there, herself. when she decided the other was too expensive. I'll bet you were In the department at almost the same time. Tell us about it this instant. What color Is 1t ?"
 .sIt Must Be-
 "One question Tt time please. little lady.' Dicky smiled down at her. but saw that there was the tiny white lino around his lips which always betrays to me Dicky's fnten- sity of emotion or concentration. "Yes, bought 1t at Hamhel's. AS to the time, cannot satisfy you. really do not remember the hour. And the color is blue
 ..Blue!n Mrs. Durkee was almost bouncing in her chair with excite ment by this time ''Oh! suppose you bought the very one Mrs. Graham had picked outi How much did you pay for 1t =
 Forty bucks"
 What's that?'' Mrs. Graham pouted prettily.
 .'Forty dollars. then, if that suits you better
 ..It must be the same one. Oh, no, 1t couldn't be the same.. You saw the girl who purchased your hat, didn't you, Mrs. Graham? You said she ..But might have been mistaken" I interposed hastily. feeling that my words meant far more than their context warranted. I was looking at Dicky with lips parted in breathless excitement by this time, wondering what his next revelation might be.
 '"The hat Is of dark blue straw. with . brim of chiffon of the same color" Dicky replied. Did fancy slixhtly9 and around the crown is g wreath of corn-nowers.
 .'It's the very same!" Mrs. Durkee declared. ''Well, If that isn't the greatest luck! You'll have your hat after all, Mrs. GratAlm. And 1t suits you to . T. You have no idea how well 1t looks on her." she said, turning to Dicky.
 What Dicky Said.
 "oh! yes, have" my husband re- turned. 'I know pretty well what suits her. I've made a pretty exhaus- tive study of her face you know"
 He smiled at me and in the smile was all the royal tenderness that makes Dicky a kinsly lover.
 I felt as if an iron hand had ciutched my heart and wrenched 1t. What mockery and sham his words and smile were, if. as I suspected, he was trying to Hull my suspicious with g trumped-up story of hat!
 But, 6n the other hand, if should have been utterly mistaken-if there should be some really good explana- ton. for what I had seen-how had misjudted my husband!
 tried to answer his smile, but I am afraid it was but 8 poor caTica- ture, for ssaw a look of dismayed comprehension flash into Dicky's eyes, and knew that he realized at last that must have seen him with "Edith" at Hambeis
 His lips set in a straight line, and knew that he had resolved upon