New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-12-26
REVELATIONS OF A WIFE
Why AIns. Dnrkee's Blithe Telephone
Message Depressed Bfadge.
BY ADELE GARRISON

Why AIB. Darkee's Blithe Telephone
Message Depressed BIadge.
Are you going to be home to-
night?''
Mrs. >Durkee's voice, soft and sweet
as the little woman herself. came over
tho telephone wire to me. I had only
caught deeting glimpses of her since
| the morning I had gone to see her
following the entry of the United
States into war, and Of her son AL
fred's announced determination to
get into the game the first chance
he could get
| She had moved into the house next
to ours which her son had bought
'dudng the same week that had held
| my own Observation-Disclosures moving
experience with William Trumbull and
his puah-cart, but we had both been
30 busy SETTLING" that we had seen
very little Of each other. This state
OF affairs, however. was not really as
| unnoighborly as it might appear, for
the places, though adjoining, have
large grounds and the houses are a
long distance apart, and almost out of
sight Of each other because OF the
trees and shrubbery and the hedges
Surrounding them
| knew what her question meant.
1t was her way OF prefacing an an
nouncement OF a call from Alfred and
herself. + gave my answer all the
cordial friendliness felt for my little
neighbour.
Indeed we~are;' said. IT do hope
your question means that you are
coming over. 1t seems years since
we've all had an evening together"
~AEes!'' Mrs. Durkee affirmed.
| vas Alfred sold THE q,
he'd like to come over tonight. You
see, he's going to Plattsburg soon, to
the officers training camp, and he
wants to come to see you all before
he goes. I'd ask you to come over
here, but the house is a sight I
haven't seemed able to set myself to
anything lately"
'eKat1e IL q Dearr
"You should see miner returned
Tightly, although my heart ached for
the little woman who hadn't seemed
able to set herself to anything since
her boy had announced his determina-
ton to 30 to war. Mrs. Durkee is one
Of the best housekeepers I know, and
II her house, even through stress Of
unexpected circumstances. falls below
the rigid standard of order she sets
for 1t, she doesn't like to have anyone
to its usual immaculate condition. 1t
is a little weakness of hers that her
friends all know and at which they
smile lovingly.
"Oh, yours!" Mrs. Durkee scoffed.
~Hberefs nevera speck of dust in your
house. But. then. you can't take all
1.-The credit of it. That Katie of yours
ts184a wonder. never seeeher but she's
I~c3eaning.''
Katie is a DEAR" returned. and
tried not to make my tone con-
strained wondered, as had done
many times before, whether my little
RI friend means to be delicately feline, OF
Is unconscious of the tiny scratches
she sometimes gives. She did not
employ maid, but did her housework
herself, save for the aid given her by
q laundress two days a week. Her
| house was fully as large as mine and
her son brought many friends home
tor entertainment. It. was not the
first time that, unconsciously or art
fully, she had insinuated that my
house wouldn't look as we'll as hers
Iif employed no more help than she
did. But she is so true and dear g
fFienA in so many ways that I never
allow the doubt as to the innocence
Of her little verbal pinpricks to make
any difference in my attitude TOWARD
her.
"Can't you come . to dinner?"
asked cordially.
Thank you, but I've got one Of AL
fred's favorite dishes already prepar
ing for his dinner, and it won't be mic,
tomorrow. I'm getting him everything
he likes of his mothers cooking thes'
days, for dear knows when he'll hav
any Of 1t again. But we will be owe
carly SO We can have a nice long even
ing together
Mrs. Durkee's tones were brigll
and CHEEKY as ever, yet through then
ran the minor cadence that I knew
meant suffering. But I also kney
that she wished no sympathy. Sh
had told me that she could keep iron
weeping only by talking and acting a
Il everything was as usual.
What of Dicky?
II know what We'll do, then,"
returned, in a voice as CHEEKY as he
own. This is still April, even thong
only few days are left of it, and
think oysters will still be good, don
you?"
cit has surely been cold enough,
" Mrs. Durkee returned, but if your
is going to fuss around with somethin
E to eat we won't GOMEZ
ID Nonsense I returned, for I knc'
D | her protests Of old, and that they wer
merely perfunctory-that the litt