New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-07-16
How Dicky Came to Madge and Made
His Meaning Clear.

ing of repuSnance as he uttered his
ultimatum against Katie. The crude
ness of his words and the utter lack
of feeling displayed revolted me. L
knew that the constant presence OF
| children irritated him, and l had fear
| ed his displeasure at my revelation OF
| the secret which Katie and Jim the
| faithful couple who took care of our
| home, had kept from us, the secret OF
Katies prospective motherhood. But
! l had not expected the vehement vul-
! garity with which he had greeted my
! news.
He saw my involuntary movement
away from him, and his face flushed.
Poor Lady Prim. tied to such 4
rude, coarse brute!' he said mocklng-
ly. She'll not allow even the hem OF
her gown to touch him, SO she won't.
I WINGED When Dicky takes that
patronizing, hooking tone with me I
feel as it some raw spot in my soul
had been f1icked with whip lash. He
we'll knows too, the effect his ironlc
pleasantries have upon me and when
ever I offend him he is very prone to
indulge himself in ridicule of me.
| more or less covert
And I had been foolish enough to
which Dickey had shown me in our
second honeymoon" following his
| long absence in California might con-
! tinue. I had thought that he was
| radically changed. I saw now that
he had only been indulging himself in
an emotional remorsefulness, for
the stupid, utterly unreasonable
jealousy which had driven him to
San Francisco and condemned me to
such misery.
He was the same thoughtless, essen
TALLY selfish man he had been. I re-
Elected drearily that the softening, up
lifting influence wife was supposed
to have over husband was evident
ly a minus quantity in my case.
And the emphatic coarse phrasing
of his ultimatum against Katie: "Well
if that isn't the limit! You're shouting
she'll go. No squalling brat about my
house!" piled the clods upon a grave,
the mound of a secret hope I had al
ways cherished that some day tiny,
clinging hands would take hold Of
Dicky's soul and make him the man
he was meant to be.
These were his real sentiments,
There was no mistaking the disgust in
his tone. At the full realization Of
what his attitude meant to me
shook as with a nervous chill I re-
allied that I must get out of the room
or I would disgrace myself in Dicky's
eyes by a burst of historical weeping.
I don't remember how l got out of
the room and into the shelter of my
own. But I do remember locking the
door and methodically exchanging my
clothing for my night attire and a
bath robe before crept into bed. My
childhood never held the experience
of being whipped and sent to bed.
but 1 believe I know just how great
the longing for the warmth and
shelter of ones bed the heart of such
a child must hold.
But Now.
The blessed tears of relief did not
come to me after all. I lay shaking
with the cold feeling that l would
never be warm again.
I had not realized the strength of
the potential motherhood within me
until my husbands words, the revela-
ton of his real feelings upon the sub
ject awakened 1t. l had been content
to wait for woman's precious heritage
until the inevitable first adjustments
and establishments of marital life
"cIc past DuL never 1OE all instant
had I faced the prospect which now
stretched it's dreary length before me.
Curiously enough it had never entered
my mind during Dicky's long absence
in San Francisco. The anguish I had
suffered on his account had left no
room for any other sorrow.
But now!
Never to feel soft baby hands upon
face milling 2 hairi
to cradle within my arms a helpless,
little creature of my own flesh! Never
to see clear, childish eyes looking
fearlessly and adoringly into mine!
Never to have the blessed privilege Of
watching the unfolding of that most
wonderful blossom, the soul of little
child.
A sharp little cry of agony escaped
my lips. which 7 instantly stifed in
my pillow. And then I heard my hus-
bands voice. low, tender, penitent, be-
side my door.
"sweetheart, let me in! I want to
talk to you"
What Diclxy Said.
At the sight of my face as 1 open
ed the door he gave a remorseful ex-
clamation and catching me up in his
arms he bore me to a large arm chair
in which he sat down. holding me
tenderly.
For some moments he sat silently
stroking my hair. with his lips press
ed against my cheek. Then he spoke
with tender remorsefulness.
cit has just penetrated to my alleg-
ed brain how you might have taken
that speech Of mine about Katie. You
didn't imagine that I would have the
same feeling if after 8 while a child
should come to US, did you dear?'
I could only shudder and cling
closer to him.
"I was afraid So" His voice held Q
shocked comprehension Of what I had
felt Now let me tell you something,