South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-02-19
REVELATIONS OF 4 WIFE
BY ADELE GARRISON.

dress ones best even for that"
said 10 myself as l went to my
room. took down a little af-
ternoon gown which is Dicky's fav-
orite, a simple affair of soft, dark
blue silk with tiny old rose figures
dotting il, and cuffs and collar of
old rose satin.
Il can't see any difference be-
/ tween myself and the savage wife
who makes herself brave with extra
/ beads, hoping avert a beating"
I told myself bitterly as l let down
my hair and arranged it in the
way Dicky likes best, in careless
natural waves over my ears, and
c6iled loosely at the nape of my
neck.
AS put on the gown and fasten-
ed it a temptation came 10 me. 1t
was easiest for me TO ask Dicky
for more money, humiliating as the
task was, than to tell him that I
had paid the bill he had neglected.
1 knew that he was extravagantly
careless about money matters, also
that he was still enough my lover
20 wish TO please me. Suppose 1
told him 1 needed the extra money
for some purpose other than house
keeping expenses, any excuse would
| do, and keep quiet about the clean
er's bill? / knew that IL I simply
told him the housekeeping money
was gone, even careless Dicky
would know that something was
wrong. that never could have
spent in the short time we had been
keeping house the generous sum he
had stuffed in my purse.
What is che bothering her head
about now? Settling the war or the
Thaw case ?"
Dicky's mischievous face peered
over my shoulder into the mirror. I
had been so absorbed in my worries
that although the door OF my room
was open I neither had heard Dicky
enter the apartment nor seen him
come into the room.
"Dicky How you startled me-"
I dropped into the banal to avoid
telling him my real thoughts.
This may soothe your trembling
nerves" Dicky gayly tossed a
dainty box toward me. 1 knew it's
contents before I opened it. He
had brought me many similar gifts.
"Violets again! Oh. Dicky, how
dear Of you"
The temptation 70 let things drift
TO take the easiest way out of the
| difficulty was very strong. Then
the thought of the shabby little
man whom Dicky had owed for so
long struck my consciousness like
whiplash.
Violets! Almost every fancy
gratified for me and for himself.
and, for all he knew a man who had
worked hard in his service, sOrely
needed the money ju silly due him.
My Puritan conscience, lulled to
seme- consciOusness in these days by
the glamour of Dicky's personality,
awoke and demanded a hearing. I
had no right 10 keep this thing
from Dicky For my own final
peace and his, this whole financial
question must be settled before we
slept.
Was it common sense, considera-
Llon IOT llCky OF pam tOWdIulCt
that made me resolve to avoid any
discussion until after dinner?
"Oh. say, Missis Graham, dinner
is read. I mean, dinner is served,
Missis Graham. You forgive me dis
time. I no forget again"
Katie's voice came as a welcome
relief Something about her ap-
pealed TO the sense OF humor. which
fear is rather lacking in me. I
had gently tried TO cure her OF her
habit Of addressing me as "Oh, say,
missis." but Katie invariably for
got the reminder. Katie invariably
asked me 10 forgive her.
Will you honor me?" Dicky bow
ed low andoffe red me his arm.
such an announcement as that de-
mands that we make a formal en-
trance 10 the dining room"
How dear ne was, this lover-hus-
band of mine. How I wished that
our ideas and ideals were not so OPP
posed as I feared they were!
(To be continued.)