New Britain herald., 1917-07-13
News For Theater80erS and Women Readers
REVELATIONS OF A WIFE
By ADELE GARRISON

upon my head. and because of me to my baby girl?"
 As the full import of Lllian's dilemma burst upon me I felt my heart stop beating for an instant. 1t was too horrible this alternative which Harry Underwood's request had put before her.
 If she refused to divorce him, held him to his marriage ties she was put in the position, well nigh unbearable to a woman of Lillian Underwood's pride, of holding a man bound to her who had ceased to care for her.
 But, if she did divorce him. she would again be pilloricd in the public eve, in only lesser degree than she had been when her first husband, Will Morton, in order to gain his own freedom and in revenge for her de- f1ance of him, had branded her by an unjust suit for divorce.
 She was an illustrator and adver- Using jingle writer of national fame The notoriety of her first divorce made her fair game for the newspaper If it were not for the war with it's monopoly of the news columns, her trouble would be the basis Of first page features, and the theme of women Writers comments. And even with newspaper conditions as they are, l knew Lillian could not entire ly escape that cruel notoriety
 l knew the woman at my side well enough to be certain that no con- sideration for herself would touch her. She would give Harry Underwood the boon he so insolently asked in n moment if it were not for her little daughter. But to keep the breath of l dol companionship she had sacrificed years before because her high sense of | honor compelled her to save Dicky from her husbands vengeance, the child who had been so lately restored to her, she would fight like any reused tigress for her young. "I told you I had lost my sense of Values,' Lillian went on drearily. ''I want to play the game fairly with Harry, and of course, I don't want to stand in the way of the girls mar riage to him-that has always seemed l to me to be particularly mean 1 spirited thing for an injured wife tc 1 do. But I can't drag little Marion l through the mire of a suit for divorce 1 Tell me, Madge, what I shall do?" I could not speak for moment in | sheer amazement at Lillian's attitude That Lillian Underwood, upon whose l brave. buoyant spirit had always leaned, should be helplessly appealing 1 to me, bewildered me. Then my in 1 dignation at the whole cruel proceed l ing broke its bonds, and I sprang tc
 my feet, my cheeks blazing with anger ] "lrec! I'rce-''
 , "Play the game fairly with Harry' 1 I echoed, and I knew that all the l pent-up dislike and contempt I haG 1 suppressed for Harry Underwood ] threaded my voice. You've been do. 1 ing that for too many years already ! And not only with him, but witt l everybody else. You have never con- , sidered yourself for an instant But , you are going to begin right now
 Harry Underwood isn't worthy of ever a. seconds regret or consideration
 from you. And as for the girl!" My ] voice broke as I rememb bered all the l misery Grace Draper had caused me- II know.' Lillian put her hand
 upon mine. "She deserves no mere, l from either you or me. But I am SC l dazed, so wearied of it all that I an 1 glad to have you make my decision for me.
 ITO tell the truth" she said, 1T an
 probably doing both Harry and tht
 Draper a favor by refusing to divorce
 him. If Harry had his freedom ht
 probably would marry the girl, and il
 a year or two they would both b.
 keenly regretting being bound to cact
 other And Harry knows that excep
 for the mere legal formality he is a
 free from me as I hope l am from
 him.
 She flung out her arms with ges
 ture as if she were casting away {
 heavy burden.
 "Free." she whispered "Free"