The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-07-20
REVELATIONS
!@R'WlPE.
Why Madge' Is AmaIed When Lillian
Depends on Her for Guidance,
6V NsIe Gorriton

i
NHl eyes were blazing with anger
VI as raised them from the mock
N'~ ing letter which Harry Under
wood had sen, to Lillian, the letter in
which he dropped on, of their marriage
relations with much more nonchalance
than he would have broken dinner en-
gagement And as looked at her head
bowed in her hands before the fire
realized the humiliation that must be
her portion, | could have cheerfully
consigned her husband to any torture
OF the inqu ition
| dropped the letter as IL ii burned
my fingers; indeed | felt it actually did
scorch me, and crossing swiftly to Lii.
Ian, knelt down beside her With a
little sigh she turned and put her check
against mine her arms around me- For
fully five minutes knelt there then
she rose abruptly drew Inc to my feet
and put me IN a chair close to her
own. ! saw that she had not shed any
tears, but her eyes were gll,,ering with
excitement, and on each check glowed
a spot of red, an unbccoming flush
which reminded me tmpleasantly OF the
rouge she was wont to use in the old
days
Don't mistake my feeling, Madgc
she said slowly at last "ln one way
this thing comes as a blessed relief |
believe have told you that never
had any romantic affection for Harry.
But he appealed to me strongly in the
days OF miserable loneliness which
came after ! had given up my baby
girl, and then at that time he needed
me, which is often most powerful
attraction to woman OF my temper
ment."
nodded assent. ! had heard from
Dicky how Lillian's encouragement and
sympathy--ycs. even her financial help
had put Harry Underwood on his feet
after an almost diSreputable business
fiasco on his part Lillian had never
even hinted at the money part of her
help to her husband, but Harry himself,
had told Dicky OF IT in the early years
OF their marriage.
Lillians Dilemma
But there is just one question be
fore me" she said Il would be glad
to divorce Harry, have no qualms on
the subject at all, but have | the right
to bring any more unpleasant publicity
upon my head, and because OF me to
my baby girl1'
As the full import Of Lillian's dlem-
ma burst upon me felt my heart
stop beating for an instant. II was
too horrible this alternative which
Harry Underwood's request had put
before her.
II she refused TO divorce him, held
him to his marriage ties, she was put
in the position, well.nigh unbcarable to
a woman of Lillian Underwood's pride
OF holding a man bound to her who
had ceased to care for her.
But, if she did divorce him, she
would again be pilloried in the public
eye, in only lesser degree than sh,
had been when her first husband. Viii
Morton. in order to gain his own free
dom and in revenge for her defiance oI
him, had branded her by an unjust
suit for divorce
|
ing jingle writer OF national fame The
notoriety OF her first divorce made her
fair game for the newspapers. II il
were not for the war with its monopoly
OF the news columns her trouble would
be the basis OF first page features, and
the theme OF women writers comments,
And even with newspaper conditions as
they are, knew Lillian could not en-
tirely escape that cruel notoriety.
knew the woman at my side well
enough TO be certain that no considera-
ton OF herself would touch her She
would give Harry Underwood the boon
he so insolcn,ly asked in a moment il IL
we're not for her little daughter. Blu, to
keep the breath Of scandal from Marion,
the child whose companionship she had
sacrificed years before because her high
sense of honor compelled her to save
Dicky from her husbands vengeance,
the child who had been so lately re-
stored to her, she would fight like any
reused tigress for her young.
81 told you had lost my sense OF
values" Lillian went on drcarily. IL
want to play the game fairly with
Harry and, OF course, ! don't want to
stand in the way OF the girls marriage
to him-that has always seemed to mr
to be a particularly spirited thing
for an injured wife to do. But | can't
drag little Marion through the mire OF
suit for divorce Tell me, Madge
what shall do1'
could not speak for a momen, in
sheer amazement at Lillan'S attitude
That Lillian Underwood, upon whose
brave, buoyant spirit had always
leaned, should be heplessly appealing to
me, bewildered me- Then my indigna
tion at the whole cruel proceeding broke
its bonds, and sptang to my feet, my
cheeks blazing with anger.
Free Ffeel"
PLAY the game fairly with Harry
echoed, and ] knew that all the pent up
dislike and contempt had suppressed
for Harry Underwood threaded my
voice you've been doing that for toe
many years already. And not only with
him, but with everybody else You have
never considered yourself for an instant,
But YOU are going TO begin righ, now
Harry Underwood isn't worthy OF even
seconds regret or consideration from
you And as for the girl" My voice
broke as ! remembered all the misery
| Grace Draper had caused me