New Britain herald., 1917-06-23
Why Madge Decides to Wait Little
 While Before Facing Dicky.a,

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 While Before Facing Dicky.., I do not remember much of the time spent in the darkened emer- gency room of Hambels following my faint. !. The nurse scrupulously observed my request to be left alone, and I had time to fight out my battle with myself, with all its racking acCom- paniment of tears and sobs. At last conquered the first wild rage which I had experienced upon seeing Diclxy pay for the hat he had Just selected for Edith the pretty art student from Virginia, and realized that must do nothing has, tily. and that, above all, I must not let Mrs Durkee guess my secret. She is a dear. sweet little woman and am very fond of her. But she has neither worldly wisdom nor the discretion of Lillian Underwood. Without meaning 1t, I was afraid she trouble if she knew anything about 1t. How longed for Lillian! But with Mrs. Durkee on my hands knew there was no chance for mo to sec Lillian within the next few hours. See her would, however, deter mined, the first moment I could call my own.
 The first thing. of course. was to get myself into some kind ,of physical shape. I rose from the cot and walked. unsteadily enough but still surely, to the door and beckoned to the nurse. She came at once and with rare understanding began to minister to me-without appearing to notice the ravages my storm of rage and grief had made upon me.
 She bathed my face and hands. ar ranged my hair. brought me g bowl of delicious hot broth and a cup of strong coffee and made me take them. and then, assisting me with my wraps and putting an extra heavy coat of her own around me. went with me to little balcony outside the emergency room. where the fresh winter atr re- vived mo more than anything else.
 Madge Reviews Her Problem.
 ''Sit here few minutes,'' she said forward. and tucling q rug about my feet. "I will tell your friend where you are when she comes"
 Thank you" said gratefully. and then, braced physically and mentally, I reviewed my problem.
 There was but one thing which did not fit in with the shameful explana- ton, the only one that appeared possible to me of Dicky's purchase of the beautiful hat for his little Vir- ginia friend. and that was the inno- cent, childlike' appearance of the girl
 pride myself upon my justness, and even through the jealous rage which consumed me when saw her on such intimate terms with my hus- band, had to admit that she wasn't at all the type of woman one would imagine would accept clothing from ment of all that was gentle and good, or at least that was what any chance observer would read In her fiower- like face, and the patrician traditions of her native state showed in every line every movement, of her body, and in the low-pitched sweetness of her voice.
 But Ono Possible Explanaticn?
 Was it possible that she was so utterly unsophisticated that she did not know what Dicky would under stand by her acceptance of such cost ly clothing as he had bought? The question fiashed into my mind, and then laughed aloud in derision of the idea. Besides, such innocence and ignorance on her part would make Dicky that most despicable of all williams, tho ensnarer Of a young and ignorant girl, and that I knew was something that would be utterly foreign to him.
 No, declared, there was but ono possible explanation for the thing I