New Britain herald., 1917-12-31
Why Madgc Could Comfort Katie
lint Couldn't Help Envying Her.

| nut NOU4OuV 11Nlp AANA'
/ rs there anything troubling you.
Katie?'' I turned back from the
| kitchen door as my little maid put out
I her hand to me with an involuntary
! gesture Of appeal, and then quickly
| drew it back again as if regretting the
| impulse. '
| She flushed, and the tears rushed
| I'd her eyes at my tone, which I made
as kind as I knew how to do. I have
| tried to be very tender with Katie
since she whispered her great secret
| to me, and both she and Jim, her
husband. have shown in every posi-
BILE way that they are grateful.
Knowing Katie's temperament ex-
pected one of her tempestuous bursts
Of weeping. It Is In this manner that
her volatile. nature usually expresses
grief, and my shoulder has supported
KatieB unrestrained sobbing many
times since she first came to me. But
to my surprise she checked her tears
before they fell, and upon her face
remained the solemn, uplifted ex-
preston I had noticed upon it when
came into the room
1T no trouble me now, Missis Gra-
ham," SHE replied, and sher voice had
the same solemn quality of her look.
II feel awful bad at first, cry and act
like one little silly fool ven Jeem he
tell me. But got me some sense
now. 1t only ting for American man
to do. And my, Jeem he dot from
hees heart out"
felt myself trembling so that
was compelled to sit down in the
nearest chair. / knew only too we'll
now what Katie was about to tell me,
and there was that within my heart
which mado me feel I couldn't hear
the words which were upon her lips. |
Katie looked at me curiously. I !;
knew that she was waiting for me to |
speak end I forced my lips to say |
banally: z s+
What do you mean, Katie What |
Is 1t Jim's going to do?"
You no can guess?" Katie's tone
was reproachful. Then she rushed on.
why, my Jeem, he going to war.
he so down today, to-vot you say
in English ?'' %.
Enlist 2" I prompted. |
Dots it." Katie stopped, evident
ly waiting for my enthusiastic ap-
prevail
But my lips refused to form words
of congratulation. felt bitterly as il
/ would be a very hypocrite, and
rightly, In my maids eyes if 1 waxed |
In leaving her to face approaching !
motherhood alone while my husband |
not only showed no indication of Of |
fering his services to his country, but |
almost apathetic in his atti- !
tude toward the great world struggle |
into which our country had just en-
tered.
sfNin You Tell jump
In the face of this sublime sacrifice !
these two humble folk were making. !;
rose from my chair, and going to |
Katie took her into my arms as if
I had been her sister, and stroked her
hair until I could And words to tell
her what was in my neart. Y
katie, dear" I said unsteadily at
last, twill you tell Jim something for
me- Tell him that I will take care
OF you and the little one that is COM
ing as long as you need me. He need
not have one moments worry about
either of YOU. You will be safe with
me, and when he comes back he will
find you right here" /
EVEN Mcestcr Graham Go!'
Then the old volatile Katie knew
SO we'll woke to life. She began to
sob tempestuously but there was
Gt0dneSS not gr1eI In the mur1nured
words that came to me from the face
buried -on my shoulder.
"Oh, Meesis Graham, dot all vot
worried me and Jeem. 50 proud of
heem,N and if I all alone I could work
toost as veil as heem; I would go me.
| make bullets for dose guns: But If
| baby live l have to take care Of eet.
I say to Jeem, / know you take care
| Of me, but he say, ven Meester era
1