New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-07-05
What Madge Read in "Edith's'' Eyes
As They Looked Into Dicky's.

AS lookCu AhOo DlNAy
Alfred Durkee rose from the table
at Broquins where he, his mother,
Dicky and I were dining, settled his
cravat, and pulled down his waist
coat as if he were going to make an
after dinner speech, and then bowed
punctiliously, ironically, in Dicky's
direction.
My gifted young FRIEND he began
solemnly. II certainly have to hand it
to you on a silver platter. / have
witnessed many getaways, heard
many alibis but for absolute ingenuity
and elaborate trimming yours beats
the world.'
He paused impressively, while his
mother laughed, Dicky glowered. and
I, covered with embarrassment for
Dicky, looked in every direction but
that of my husband.
your talents are certainly wasted,
my Dicl1y- Bird he resumed, Sin MAX
ing little pictures for the magazines.
I should suggest, if I might be so bold,
that you begin correspondence
course for husbands embarrassed for
explanations. You ought to make
Your everlasting fortune
you'll make your everla sting exit
from this sinful world in about an
other half-minute," growled Dicky.
eff you don't quit making more Of
monkey of yourself than even nature
succeeded in doing. I beg your par
don, Mrs. Durkee for so speaking, but
I always have been convinced that this
young idiot was no son Of yours. His
nurse must have substituted him for
the real heir
More Than Edith Knew.
Sorry, Dicky- bird, but I'm afraid
I'll have to own him. dimpled Mrs.
Durkee But he is a bad boy.
Alfred!" she turned to him severely,
you ought to be ashamed of your
self. Sit down this instant
Her son dropped into his seat with
a funny little gesture of resignation.
That's always the way" he
grumbled, Railways being suppressed
just as I'm beginning to rise to heights
of real eloquence. But that only
proves what I've always contended,
that nobody else has any chance with
the ladies when the Dicky-bird is in
the ofting. Here even my own mother
takes sides with him against me-
your own mother will take you
home in another minute, spank you
soundly and put you to bed little
Mrs Durkee threatened With mock
severity, and then she pulled me by
the sleeve.
Look" she whispered, They've
caught sight of us, and they're terribly
embarrassed"
Her whisper, meant for my ear
alone, reached Dicky and her son. AS
if by some volition stronger than our
own, all four Of us turned and looked
at the party of six dining near us,
three men escorting the two Virginia
art students, Edith and Leila, Fairfax,
whose studio friendship with Dicky>
had given me SO much concern and
their friend, Rita. Brown. 1t was Miss
Browns skilful copy of the hat Dic1y
had bought for me which had so
nearly upset his explanation of his
presence in Hambel's with Edith Fair
fax, where l had seen him purchase
the hat and suit, apparently for the
girls own use.
The expressions on the faces of the
three girls were widely differing. Miss
Browns held, besides a slight embar-
rassment, a CLINT of defiance, and a
frank enjoyment of the humor of the
situation. Leila Fairfax was evident
ly overwhelmed with humiliation, but
it was the look on Edith Fairfax's
face which caught and held my eyes.
For from under the heavily fringed
eyelashes a pair Of wistful brown eyes
looked up once into those of my hus-
band and then quickly away again.
But the agonized, unconscious,
shamed entreaty in that look could
not help but clutch at the heart of
any man, I told myself duly. especial
ly one so susceptible as I knew Dicky
to be.
1 had intuition enough to realize
that the girl before me was a far more
dangerous menace to my happiness
no nror hoI