New Britain herald., 1917-02-28

! with evidences Of Jacks love and care
! for my mother and me. Then reluct.
antly, and with bitter remorse, |
thought of the way in which / had
requited that faithful, tender affcc-
i ton.
When the Solution Came.
! Because my love for Dicky had
! swept me off my feet 7 had married
him without waiting for Jack to come
| home from the wilds Of South Ameri-
ca, where he had gone after my
mothers death. TO do me justice I
had not dreamed then that Jack
! cared for me in any other fashion
than that of the brother. whom had
! never had, and whose place he had
always taken. But my conscience
whispered to me that L would not
! have treated an own brother in that
way, and no brother of my own flesh
| could ever have been kinder to me
than was my cousin, Jack Beckett
| / could still see Jacks stricken face
as | saw it on tho day after he came
back and learned that l had married
while he was away. Before L had
had Il chance to tell him. he had
poured out to me the story of his long
! repressed love for me. and his wish
! to make me his wife. His eyes. when
| he found out the truth. had haunted
me for days afterward. / could see
them again as I covered in my bed
! with the terrible knowledge that Jack
| WIS dead and that 1 had sent him to
his death.
His last thoughts and care had beer
for me. The property that he had left
would insure me a modest comfort no
matter what happened to Dicky. I
told myself l had no right to betray
the confidence he had reposed in me
by refusing his gift.
And yet-Dicky was my husband.
I had sworn to love and honor him.
I knew that he felt sincerely, how
ever, wrongly, that my acceptance Of
Jacks gift would be u direct slap at
him. I felt as if my heart were be-
ing torn in two. with my desire to
do justice both to the living and the
dead 1t was not until nearly day
light that the solution of my prob
lem came to me. Then I fell asleep
exhausted, and did not awaken until
Dicky came into the room dressed for
the journey which he took daily to
the city.
"I Shall Not Forget
IT wouldn't disturb you. sweet
heart" he said, "only it's time for me
to 60 in to the studio. and I did not
want to leave you without knowing
how you are"
"Oh, have 1 slept so late?" I re-
turned, contritely, springing up IN
bed.
Lie STILL" he commanded gently,
Katie will bring you up some break
fast shortly and there is no need OF
your getting up for hours"
He bent down to kiss me good-by
There was a restraint in both his voice
and his caress that told me he was
still thinking of the conversation of
the night before. I put my arms about
his neck and drew his face down to
mine.
"Sweetheart," 1 whispered, II want
to tell you what I've decided about
Jacks property
mot now" Dicky interrupted hur-
riedly.
Yes, now" I returned decidedly
II am going to accept til gripped
his hands firmly as 1 felt them draw
ing away from mine, but I am not
going to use any of it for myself. l
will see that it all goes to the or
phaned Riddles of the soldiers with
whom Jack fought"
Dicl<y startled looked at me a bit
wildly. then stopped, and, gathering
me to him convulsively, pressed
long tender kiss upon my lips.
my own girl" he murmured, q
this for mel"