Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-26
WOMAN'S INTIMATE PROVINCE-HEL
MY MARRIED LIFE
BY ADELE GARRISON

| the door OF Mrs. Stewards upstairs sitting
room with wild idea of calling him back
He must not meet my husband, even
though his purpose was TO send him to me
| knew Dicky's hot, quick. ungovernable
temper and Jacks more deadly slow rage.
| Dcky would totally misunderstood Jacks
reasons for coming was afraid that the
| things my husband might say to my brother
cousin would he too much for Jack to bear.
But my rush came too late. As | opened
| the door | heard the outside door close
and an instant later Mrs Stewards voice
evidently addressing the empty air;
We'll, now, what do you know about
that?"
OF course, it was impossible for me to 90
| into the street to call Jack back, as with
| n heavy heart | returned to my chair ana
waited for Mrs. Stewart, The idea OF tele-
phoning came TO my mind, then the remem-
| brance Of his angry face and cutting words
STONED me No matter what happened my
selr-respect would not permit me TO move
first toward a reconciliation.
Mrs. stewart was not long In coming.
| She hustled into the room with clean table
| linen over her arm. in the same energetic
| fashion I had known and admired so many
| years.
with the deft quick movements which
| are as much part of her as are her sharp'
| twinl<ling eyes, she removed her work bas-
| let and some books from her reading table.
pushed 1t nearer the open fire and laid the
cloth with places for two.
what possessed Jack Beckett 10 rush
away like that when he had promised 70 eat
his last supper with me?' she grumbIed.
REGULAR OLD-TIME SPREAD
did not answer for ! knew, by ex-
| perienCe that she would talk on and on
about everything in general II she hap
| pened to hit upon fresh grievance she
| would forget the original one. deVoutly
| hoped something would happen TO mar the
usually good service she received from her
maids, anything to divert her attention
| from Jacks reasons for leaving.
He can't fool me with his lame excuse
Of something highly important he had for
gotten,'" she went on laying the napkins
| opposite each other with geometrical pre-
Cision. Something's in the wind She
gave me shrewd glance as she went 10
a little old-fa shioned corner cupboard built
! into the wall and took out pepper, salt mus
| tard. oil and vinegar The homely prepa-
| ratons took me back to the days when
| Mrs. Stewart would smuggle my mother and
| myself into her sitting room for supper.
keeping the meal a secret from the other
boarders because Of the petty jealousy
| which might result
Seeing you take out those condiments
reminds me Of old times / said
"Old times that would better have con-
| tinued," she retOrted Grossly taking out
| tiny jar of strawberry preserves of her own
| making, dainty Of which she knew | was
! particularly fond.
My heart almost echoed her words. Surely
the peace and quiet of the old days at Mrs.
| Stewards, even with their deadly monot-
| Ony, were better than the Kaleidoscope.
tempestous life had led az Dickys wife.
How good Of you to think of those
strawberry preserves :" made another des
perate effort to change the subject.
They've been waiting right here for you
or Jack Beckett ever since / put them up.
| wouldn't waste them on the trash I've got
in the house now"
Even through my misery I smiled as |
had done many times before. at the peculiar
attitude held by Mrs. Stewart toward the
boarders in her house Her house was
model for comfort service and cuisine she
did everything she could for the comfort of
her paying guests but admit the most Of
them to any intimacy whatever she would
not
IS MRS. STEWART CLAIRVOYANT?
"We'll make il a regular old-time spread"
she went on kindly, taking down cups
saucers and plates Of thin old china. which
| knew she priced because they had been
lltF fIlOtUtI 5. Snt never dllDWEu the maluS
to touch them, washing them herself in her
own sitting room upon the rare occasions of
her using them.
"Oh. Mrs Stewart - I protested. 81 am
always so afraid Of breaking one Of those
pieces :"
Nonsense child, :" she returned you're
not the kind that breaks things-unless it's
a heart" she went on in a lower tone. I'm
afraid you've done that without meaning IT,"
A knock at the door saved me a reply for
which | was grateful. ! knew that she
meant Jacks heart, and | most certainly
did not wish her to pursue that subject any
| further.
That's Anne's knock. | thought II was
time they were getting themselves up here "
She opened the door as she spoke, apparent
ly regardless of whether the maids heard
her or not
| was dsmayed looked at the array
Of covered dishes ! felt as If | could not
touch a morsel of food vet how could | re-
fuse to eat without offending Mrs Stewart
Luckily | had planned some Of your ia .
vorite dishes for the regular dinner tonight s.
| she said. beamng as Annie deposited a
! steaming chatting dish upon the table.
Here's your Maryland creamed chicken my
! dear, and French fried potatoes. These lima
beans have the sauce you used TO like. too,
; and I'm going to dress this tomato and let
> tuce salad myself. Do you remember how
, you used to like that French dressing
r made with the dry mustard in it?'
do | remember" I smiled at her, but
it was smile that hid tears, for was near
70 breaking down. "I would be an ungrateful
girl ever to forget any of the thoughtful
things you used to do for the little mother
and me-"
r "Pooh pooh ] never did anything that
hurt me-" Mrs, Stewart returned THAT
= will do now, girls" She dismissed the
maids abruptly and slipped some slices of
. bread into the electric toaster one of them
had attached to a socket and placed upon
the table.
"Now. my dear, il YOU will just sit uT
here well have a cOzy little supper, and
then when you've calmed down a little you
q will tell me all about il. Maybe the ole
! woman can help you straighten out things a
little"