New Britain herald., 1917-07-11
Why Lillian Underwood Asked
 Nauoc'S Advice.


 apartment my thoughts went back to
 time when 1 had stood tremulously before the same door awaiting the in tervisW for which she had asked in order to explain the reason for her long, romantic friendship for Dicky It seemed a lifetime from that day until this. J had gone in~o Lillian Un- ! derwood's g house upon that day, miser- ably jealous and much prejudiced l against her, although the sterling worth of the woman had won a cer- tain recognition from me despite the reasons I thought I had for disliklng her. I had come away from her door her ardent admirer. her friend for life, with the conviction that if l were in trouble I would rather go to her than to any other person on earth She had never failed mo in the troubled months following our inter- view. when because of Grace Draper's nfatuation for my husband. so much misery had been my portion. She had been my only refuge, also. when Dicl<y's senseless jealousy had led hlnl to go to San Francisco leaving behind a message that he would never will ingly see me again. and had reJolced whole heartedly with me when the whole misera blo tangle had been strengthened out.
 Now it was my turn to comfort, hers to ask for counsel The memory of the choked sob in her voice the night before, when she had asked me to come to her for she had mo one
 else" clutched at my heart, made me resolve that no matter what Lillian might wish of me it was hers for the asking.
 Betty answered my knock. her board, black face full of concern. If | had not known Lillian was in trouble the dolorous expression off Betty's countenance would have told me
 something was amiss in the house.
 hold.
 "Praise de Lawd. yous come, Miss Margaret' This was Betty's greeting
 to me, delivered with all the solenl-
 nifty of a campmeeting leader. She never addressed me as Mrs. Ora ham," always Miss Margaret and
 she shows a degree of liking which is
 surprising to me, for Bettys favorites
 are very few and her enmities freely expressed
 Miss Lillian jes' frettin' sometin' scand'lous," she went on Worriedly. l knew that her concern was genuine, for her devotion to Lillian is matter of enNious comment among Mrs In- dCrWOOd's friends. who have to change maids almost every fortnight.
 II am so sorry. settN," l returned. "Wil you please tell her I'm herc?'
 Minutes of Silence.
 "She said how you was to come right upstairs jes' as soon as yoh get
 here" Betty answered, 'an' she tell me not to let nobody else in, nohow. So you jes' come along wifi me, honey"
 She led the way ponderously up the stairs. Halfway up the flight she turned and, fixing her eyes me, said impressiVely:
 Miss Margaret, you take or Retty's advice. If dishyer trouble comes from dat limb of de debbil what is Miss Lillian's husband, yoh do yoh best to make her get shet of him.
 He no good white man. I tell yoh.
 He got a heart worse dan any nigger l knOWS.'
 I was spared the perpleXity of knowing how to answer her. for the words had hardly left her lips before
 the sound of an opening door directly ahead of us sent her scuttling hastily
 down the stains 1 knew that she had
 no desire to have Lillian overhear her
 reference to Harry Underwood With
 the freedom of a faithful old servant
 she tyrannzes over her mistress in
 many small matters, but she stands
 in wholesome awe of Lillian's anger
 when she is indiscreet of speech
 Lillian hurried to meet me with out stretched hands that chilled mine even
 through my gloves so cold were they Her face had deep lines of emotion graven in it, and she looked as if she hadn't closed her eyes for many nights.
 Come to the fire," she said repress- ing all show of emotion with her usual frmness. "You must be cold.'' "Indeed, I'm not" l assured her. q walked briskly from the subway,
 and my furs are very warm.| l indicated my stole and huff and with the ghest of an assenting smile she took them from me and laid them on a table in the wonderful library, Lllian's workshop, which I remem- bered so well.
 I saw my cue and took it. I would not annoy her with banal questioning as to her reason for sending for me, but would await her own time for telling me. l took off my hat and coat with all the air of having come to stay indefinitely, drew a chair to | the fire, and sat down before it. \ Letter.
 What a brick you are, Madge!" Lillian exclaimed after a moments silence. You know when to keep
 still better than any woman I know" I flashed her loving, comprehend ing smile but did not spoil the en- conium by speech. And then for five minutes that seemed as many hours, Lillian paced swiftly up and down the room It is a habit of hers whenever she is undergoing mental distress or when she has some problem of her