New Britain herald., 1917-03-01
What Happened When Madgc Went to
 Sec Mrs. Stewart.


 Sec Mrs. Stewart.
 What's the big idea ?''
 Dicky looked up from the break fast table with mildly astonished air as I came hurriedly into the room, dressed for the street, wearing my hat, and carrying my coat over my arm. 'e
 .I'm going into town with you,'' returned quietly. "A
 shopping. I suppose" the words sounded idle enough, but I. who knew Dicky so we'll. recognized the note of watchfulness in the query.
 .I shall probably go into some of the shops before return,'' I said carelessly, "but the real reason of my going into the city is Mrs. Stewart. I should have gone to see her yestcr- day.
 Dicky drowned involuntarily, but his face cleared again in an, instant. 1t was the second day after he had brought me the terrible news that Jack Bickett, my brother-cousin, was reported killed somewhere in France" The news had been sent to Mrs. Stewart, with whom my mother, Jack and myself had boarded for so many years, that her house seemed like home to us-indeed. was the only home we had. knew that Dicky in his heart did not wish me to 20 to sec Mrs. Stewart. but I also knew that he was ashamed to give voice to his reluctance.
 was sure that he remembered the preceding morning as vividly as did. when. after a night of sorrowful bat tling with my own heart, had yielded to my husbands unspoken wish. and agreed to give up my brother-cousin's property, which was Jacks last wish I should have After that big conces- sion was in no mood to consider even to slightest objection on Dicky's part against my trip to Mrs. Stewards. !
 When Dicky spoke at last it was with just the right shade of cordial acQuiescence. in his voice.
 < "Of course you must so. to see her,, he said, ''but are you sure you're feeling fit enough? It will try your nerves, imagine"
 $. The "Usual'' Notification.
 Far better than Dicky could guess I knew what the days ordeal would be. Mrs. Stewart had been very fond of my brother-cousin. With my mother, she had hoped that he and I would some day care for each other With her queer partisan ideas of loyalty, when Dicky had been so cruelty Unjust to me about Jack. she had wished me to divorce Dicky and marry Jack, even though Jack him. self had never whispered such so- lution of my hfe's problem. That she believed me to be responsible for hts going to the war I knew. l dreaded the idea of facing her. But when after a. rather silent trip to the city with Dicky I stood again in Mrs. Stewards little upstairs Sitting room, I found only very sorrowful old woman, not a reproachful one.
 T thought you'd come today" she said, and her voice was tired. dispirit- ed. felt sudden compunction seize me that my visits to her had been so few since Jacks going.
 "I couldn't have kept away" l said, and then my old friend dropped my hand. which she had been holding. and sinking into chair. put ner wrinkled old hands up to her race. ! saw the slow Hears trickling through her fingers, and I knelt by her side and drew her head against my shoul- der. comforting her as she once nad me.
 \ MHs. Stewart was never one to g1ve way to emotion, and it was but rew moments before she drew herself erect. wiped her eyes. and said quietly: :.
 ..Ill show you the cablegram.
 She went to her desk, and drew out the message, clipped, abbreviated in the puzzling fashion of cablegrams.