Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-01
MY MARRIED LIFE

BY ADELE GARRISON

| VA
| w question"
Mrs. Stewards voice had all the enthu-
| siasm of a general planning a difficult cam
| paign. Through all my terror flashed the
whimsical thought that my old friend was was
| enjoying herself very much indeed, In spite
OF her real anxiety for me.
She and Lillian Underwood ought to be
kindred spirits. They have the same force
ful way of sweeping aside difficulties. the
same air of enjoying contest In wnich
| their powers are taxed 40 the utmost.
did not answer her felt as II things
had been taken out of my hands My terror
at the possibilities of meeting between
my husband and Jack Beckett had robbed
me of initiative, almost Of sanity.
"Of course, after that speech Of his, you
can't very well telephone him first" said
Mrs. Stewart refectively. But we must
figure out some way so that you can go
home tonight"
She put out her hand hastily and patted
my shoulder
Don't think am inhospitable, my dear,
but IL you are to be reconciled to your hus-
band at ALL you ought to get back home as
quickly as possible"
II know" said wearily. But, oh, Mrs.
Stewart. l don't know what will happen
when Jack and Dick meet !"
What are you talking about? Her tone
was sharp. imperative. Jack and Dlcky
meet Where?"
Jack said he going to find Dicky
and send him after me-" replied DULY.
Now. the Lord have mercy on us! she
exclaimed vehemently. did you tell Jack
Beckett that you had left your husbandr"
He guessed ii at once. and made me ad-
nit it," confessed miserably.
For stirring up devils mess commend
me to perfectly good woman with Puri-
tan conscience !" commented Mrs Stewart
causticaly; then she walked to the tele-
phone.
What are you going TO do?" gasped.
Undo some of this snarl you've got
yourself into, II can," she returned. Now
I'm going to tell some pretty strong fbs.
so If your conscience is going 10 trouble
you, you'd better go downstairs while i
telephone"
''oh, l can't leave this room" I cried.
alarmed
"All right, sit STILL but don't you dare
open your mouth no matter what you hear
me say"
She took down the telephone receiver and
spoke into It. Madison Square. 246S."
With throb Of fear, recognized my own
number
listened frightened and fascinated, to
her side of the telephon, conversation.
Hello Who is this? The maid? I wish
to speak to Mr.. Graham If you please"
Mrs. Stewart never said please" without
glviry the full phrase. My mother had the
SdIt HlduneTlSHl, a reminder OF tne Olu-
fast ned formal courtesy which had |
ms1 ID their early training
is hep
She was plainly worried at the answers |
Katie was giving to her rapid questions |
But her anxiety was nothing to mine. ! |
felt positive terror at her next words.
Went out with a man? What man? |
How long has he been gone? Not five |
minutes? All right. when he comes in have |
him call Prospect 719, If you please. Good |
by" |
She hung up the receiver and turned to |
me, anxiety written on her face. |
"Do you suppose he is with Jack?" I |
asked. my voice trembling with terror,
II am afraid So she answered but |
there is nothing to be done now but wait"
have spent many unhappy hours in my
life. but never have ! experienced the utter
misery and terror that swept over me when
/ realized the full import of Mrs Stewards
words
She drew her chair nearer to the fire and
sat down. But | could not remain still. /
sprang to my feet and began to pace up
and down the room.
Mrs Stewart is a very wise women In
stead of offering any protest, she looked |
at me with grim approval.
That's right" she said. II don't know
anything that's better for taking the edge |
off of things than walking up and down. |
| wish | had dollar for every mile have |
Travelled up and down my room when have |
been worried"
/ did not answer her ] felt as IL were |
walking through red-hot flames. Nothing |
else mattered to me but the answer to this |
question:
What had happened when my husband |
and my brother-cousin met each other for |
the first timer
1 did not realize that Mrs Stewart's sus-
a1g tpta
bell rang. The quickness with which she
moved from her chair to the instrument, the
nervousness of her hands, the tremor of her
voice she answered the call, all showed
hat She too. had been under a strain.
"Hello!" she said. "Who is this? Oh,
s 1t you, Jack Beckett? What's the mat
err"
His answer was evidently reassurng for
she exclaimed quickly. wait a minute" and
urned to where I stood with parted lips
md terror-strcken face.
Everything is all right" she said, and
urned back to the telephone.
"Of course, you're coming to say good-by
o me-" she went on. What do I care
low late you are? I'll stay up for YOU
low soon will he be here? Half an hour?
Well! Telephone in an hour and a half
Yes. I'll call her."