South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-12-15
VELATONS OFA WIFE
WHY 1fADoE FEARED THAT
DICKY WAS STILL JEALOUS
or JACK BECKETT.
BY AAela 0ETtsoa


killed." / repeated family, Jack
Beckett killed. Oh. no, no, Dickyi
no. no, nos"
heard my own voice rise 70
sort of shriek. felt Dicky release my
hands and seize my shoulders, and
then everything went black before
me. and I knew nothing more
When / came 20 myself / was ly-
ing on the couch before the fire,
with my face and the front OF my
gown dripping with water. the
strong smell OF hartshOru in the
room and Dicky with stern, white
face. and Katie ia tears lowering
over me.
Dicky was trying TO force a spoon
between my teeth when L opened my
eyes. He promptly dropped IL, and
the brandy II contained trickled
down my neck. I raised my hand
TO wipe it away. and Dicl0y uttered
a low Thank God!"
"Oh. she no dead, she alive
againl" Katie cried out, and threw
herself on her knees b. my side,
sobbing.
Get up Katie. and stop that
howIingi" Dicky spoke strenly- do
you want TO get my mother down
here2 Go upstairs at once and pre-
pare Mrs. Grahams bed for her I
viii carry her up directly. Are you
all right now. Madge?"
A Strange Fear.
His tone was anxious. but there
was a note Of constraint IN it which
i understood even through the re-
turning anguish az Dicky's terrible
news which was possessing me with
returning consciousness.
He believed that my feeling for
my brother-cousin, Jack Beckett.
was "a deeper one than that which
i had always professed. a sisterly
love for the only near relative 1 had
IT. the world. This was the reason
for his sudden passionate embrace
Of me when be entered the house,
his demand that 7 tell him I loved
him better than anybody in the
world or out of it,"
lie had been jealous OF Jack liv-
ing. he would still be jealous of him
dead, But as the realization again
swept over me that Jack steadfast,
manly Jack. the only near relative
/ had. was no longer in the same
world with me. that never again
would 7 see his kind eyes. hear his
deep. earnest voice. all thoughts of
anything else but my loss fed from
me. and 7 gave little moan
"An Right Now"
felt DicSys arm which was
around my shoulders shrink away
instinctively then tighten again. He
turned my face against his shoulder.
and, gathering me I'm his arms, lift
ed me from the couch.
"Oh. Dicky, 1 am sure can walk,"
i protested family.
Tie stopped and looked at me
fxedly.
Don't you want my arms around
YOU" he asked. and there was that
In his voice which made me answer
hastily:
"Of course. I do, but am afraid
/ am too heavy"
Let me be the Judge or that" ne
returned sternly and forthwith car
ried me up the stairs. down the hall,
and laid me on the bed I'm my own
room. His face was flushed when
he put me down, and ne was breath
ing bard. for while 1 am slender.
am not tiny in any sense of the
word and DiCky has not the
physique which would make Harry
Underwood. for instance. consider
my weight the merest trife. But
akin 70 triumph in his eyes as they
met mine. Then he turned TO
Katie.
You may so downstairs, Katie"
ne said. Il see you have spread
out Mrs Graham's night things. and
I do not think she viii need you
again. But I would like YOU TO re-
main up for another hour in case
she would need you.
Il no close my eyes dis night till
know she so sleep an right" Katie
murmured rebeluously.
THAT is very GOOD Of you. Katie. d"
Dicky returned. and i viii come
myself and tell you when Mrs. era
ham is asleep"
Katie tptoed over 20 me as I lay
on the bed. and. raising my hand.
kissed IT, I felt the girls hot tears
/ on my fingers but / felt too weak
4 and numbed % do more than smile
at her and she went out s0bbing.
Dicky closed the door after her.
and taking from the table the flask
. and spoon which Katie had brought
4 up with her. he poured out another
i o. rHr Ii No.