South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-02-25
A TALK WITH DICKY THROUGH
THE CLOSED DOOR.

THE CLOSED DOOR.
"Madge wnat DO YOU mean You
are not afraid Oh me, are you2
Dicky's voice, na1r-anxious. half
indignant. came through my locked
door. AS / heard il. + felt ashamed
OF the panic Of fear which had caus-
ed me 10 rush into my bedroom and
barricade my door, when I saw
Dicky, half-intoxicated, come to-
ward me.
But if my fright vas Iessening my
anger was increasing Dicky had
rushed off 10 Lillian Gales affair
because Of a quarrel we had had
over household finances / had not
expected his return until nearly
morning. But shortly after mid
night he and Harry Underwood. Lii
lian's husband, had driven up in q
taxicab. Harry had remained down
stirs. but Dicky had come up in an
almost maudlin condition, 10 beg
me TO return with them TO the party.
The very sight OF a drunken man
has always terrified me, so that
when Dicky crossed the room to-
ward me and 1 realized that ne was
going to embrace me, l fed. in UNI
reasoning terror 10 my room.
] stood silent and trembling be
hind my door. while Dicky stormed
and entreated outside.
Let me in, Madge." he com
manded. I'm not going TO hurt
you, but I'm your husband. l want
2.
do it through any door"
do not know whether disgust or
anger was the stronger feeling with
me- This certainly was a new
phase of my marriage, this parley-
ing with a drunken husband.
Il shall not let YOU in" Ny tone
was icy. Nor shall l talk TO you
while you are in the condition you
are in now. Please 90 away"
What dye mean? What condi-
tion?" Dicky's voice was surprised
with my condition, I'd like TO
know 20
He paused, evidently expecting a
reply. but l was resolved TO speak
10 him only if it seemed a necessity.
He waited for a moment then a
sudden thought appeared 10 strike
him, and he exclaimed:
Il know what's the matter; you
think I'm drunk. Now Madge,
you're mistaken Everybody else
at the party except Lii and Harry
and me are drunk. And Lii and
Harry they're just a little upset, but
l am all right. See here. I'll tell
you what 10 do. You just open this
door and smell my breath. You
wouldn't think / was drunk if YOU
could smell my breath just once"
The absurdity Of this proposal.
when the whole room from which I
had fed seemed pervaded with the
odor of spirits, appeared to strike
even Dicky's muddled understand
ing. for he finished his appeal with
a distinct chuckle.
Good thing she didn't cover that
bet" he half-whispered to himself
as | still remained silent.
wondered what crazy proposal
he would utter next. Evidently he
appeared to be thinking things out.
1 heard him wandering about the
room, his stick striking against the
chairs and tables as he unsteadily
passed between them. Finally he
came back to my door again. and
struck it a violent blow.
See here, my lady" he said
harshly. I'm not going to do any
Bought and Paid For stunt here.
breaking in my wife's locked door.
but / want to know right now. are
YOU going back to Lis with Harry
and me or not2'
Il certainly am not I made my
words as emphatic as possible. Go
back yourself or go to bed, or DO
something besides standing outside
that door making a nuisance OF
Yourself"
The thought came TO me that my
voice and words were much the
same as a hshwife might use 10 her
erring spouse Truly, life with
Dicky was not conducive TO the pre-
serving Of life's little refnements.
I braced myself for one of Dicky's
explosions of temper, but curiously
enough none came. Evidently liq-
our made Dicky gOodnatured in
stead of ugly He did not reply for
a minute or two. Then he drew a
long sigh.
That's what a man gets for try
ing TO be a good fellow he said
Feel awful sorry for
little Wife sitting alone, leave nice