New Britain herald., 1917-12-11
Why katherine Complains of Jacks
"Inco1sistency."

Why katherine Complains of Jacks
"InooIlsistency.'
Katherine Sonnet turned a face
| full of entreaty toward me as Lillian
| Underwood, in mood of relaxation
from the mental strain which she had
| just undergone, declared her intention
! OF getting hold of my husband and OF
Katherine's f1ance and having them
! come over to dinner. Betty, Lilllan's
colored cook, had retired to her room
| in q "weepy tantrum," as Lillian de-
scribed it, and as a consequence Lii
| liam had to finish the dinner Betty had
begun.
"We'll make the boys help us cook
the dinner, and Well serve and eat it
| in regular picnic style right here in
| the library" Lillian said gleefully as
| she started for the telephone. Il
| don't dare leave the room unguarded
now for a. moment, and it will be
great sport to eat up here. Don't you
think so?"
I tried to make my assent as hearty
as her suggestion-but Katherine's
unhappy face chilled my tone. l saw
that she actually dreaded the presence
Of Jack Beckett, her f1ance and my
brother-cousin, at this impromptu
dinner. and my conscience smote me
anew that had SO long neglected the
interview meant to have with Jack.
and the scoring I meant to give him
for the suffering his unreasonable
jealousy was inf1icting upon my little
friend.
AS soon as Lillian had gone down
to the telephone-she had none in her
library workshop, where she insisted
upon absolute secfusion while she
worked-Katherine came over to me.
Isn't there any way Of getting out
of this?" she asked anxiOuSly. Jack
and had a quarrel two days ago and
I haven't seen him since. I can't
meet him here. before all of you, dear
friends as you are
You can't very we'll go away, |
either" I said slowly. for I had the |
usual feminine optimism about heal
ing lovers quarrels when they
weren't my own. Lillian has evil
IDENTITY set her heart upon this little
informal festivity."
"Jacl1 Is Furious
II know" Katherine returned.
And I am a beast to allow my own
preferences to interfere with her
pleasure in any way. How wonderful
she is! One minute engineering deli
cate operations in which the very
safety Of the nation may be involved,
and at the nrst chance Of relaxation
putting everything behind her and
planning informal frolic with as much
zest as child. 1 suppose that's the
way she is able to keep up her
strength and spirits for the crises
which must come her way. But, oh,
Madge, my dear. please make Jack
III I
Keep him 50 busy talking that he
simply can't talk to him.
els there anything new" asked,
sure that would not offend my little
friend by my questton-she had al
ready weeks before confided to me
that my brother cousin was jealous Of
DR.. Braithwaite, the noted surgeon,
Dicky's brother-in-law, who was her
employer, the head Of the hospital
unit to which she belonged, and for |,
the business Of which she was tenn |
porarily in this country.
Yes, there isl she replied. 1.-The |
work for which I came Is almost fin |
ished and DR.. Braithwaite wishes me
to return to my work there. He had
written to me to come back before,
and then a few days after America
entered the war he cabled me to wind
up things as soon as possible and take
the first ship I could back. I believe
he wishes me to take one Of his most
important positions.
And Jack is furious. He won't
listen to reason at all: doesn't seem to
realize that am sworn to the nursing
service; that I cannot leave it for any
| trivial reason. I think Lillian hypno-
! tized me today. I can help her in her
| secret work, Of course, when I am
| horn hut don't Sea anv UNIV ont IF