South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-09-27
HOW LILLIAN CARED FOR
MADGE TO SAVE HER FROM
\ NERVOUS BREAKDOWN.

There was more than ordinary So
ucitude OF a physician in DR.. Pettit's
voice as he ordered me TO lie down
/ because of my nervous exl lustion.
saying. If there is no one else 10
take care OF YOU. i must do it,
He had found me kneeling by
/ Dickys led ] had been i'm the same
position ever since I had entered
the room where Dicky lay wounded
by the treacherous hand OF Grace
Draper. The almost hopeless condi-
ton of the girl had kept every one
in Lillian Underwood = apartment
. busy. When Dr. Petit raised me
from my kneeling posture and sup
I ported me 10 "a seat I was almost in
"A collapse.
Even through the mum bness that
envelOped me. something new, vital.
insistent i'm the physicians voice
and manner, beat upon my brain. It
puzzled me DR.. Pettit's manner was
| that of a man caring for "A woman
who had no other protector And
yet he had just said that Dicky
/ would be an right in no time"
There also had been an expression
\ OF indignant pity in his eyes when
he had raised me from Dicky's bed
side
All al once the answer 10 the rid
/ die flashed upon me- The ycu"~
[ physician must have puJ the worst
/ possible construction upon the eve
nins's tragedy He must believe that
Dicky had not been the innocent
victim Of the girls mad rage that
instead the girl had been DiclSy's
victim and had attempted 10 kill
/ him when he had tired Of her
If Dr. Petit believed this. he
must also believe that Dicky was
\ lost to me forever and that in the
/ course of time I would free myself
from husband who had proven so
faithless to me.
This, then, was the reason for
\ this new note i'm his attitude toward
me / felt "a SILVER of horror at his
misunderstanding of the situation.
II seemed sacrilege in the presence
I of Dicky's narrow escape from
death 10 have 10 consider even the
probable opinion of any other man.
! felt as if l could not bear to
answer him. even to raise my eyes
/ to meet his. I do not know how
| long the intense silence would have
continued. Just as / felt that I could
not bear the situation any longer.
/ Lillian Underwood came into the
room, bringing with her. as she al
ways does. an atmosphere of cheer
ful sanity.
What is the natter" she asked
/ Her tone was low and guarded but
\ in il there was a note of alarm, and
the same anxiety shown from her
eyes as she came swiftly toward
me.
Don't BE Childish"
| Mrs. Graham is in danger OF a
nervous collapse if she does not
have rest and quiet soon.' DR.. Petit
returned gravely. viii you see
that she is put TO bed at once? Mr..
/ Ora ham will do very we'll for a
while alone, although when you
have made Mrs. Graham comfort
! able I wish you would come back
and sit with me-"
Lillian put her strong arms
around me and led me through the
door into the outer hall.
But who is with Miss Draper ?"
I protested family as we started
down the stairs toward the first
floor.
Her sister and one of the best
trained nurses in the city" Lillian
responded. Besides, Dr. Petit will
go Immediately back 10 her room"
] g I,
/ Dicky." ! said. struggling feebly in
an attempt TO go back up the stairs
again.
Don't be childish. NIadge." The
words. the tone, were impatient. the
/ first I had ever heard from Lillian
I toward me. But 1 mentally ac-
/ knowledged their justice and braced
myself 20 be more sensible.
/ "Dicky is absolutely all right"
Lillian went on. He probably will
I sleep for hours. now that he has
| seen you and his mind is at rest
i Besides. just as soon as you are
resting comfortabl I Will go back
/ 70 him I have had Betty fix up
cot for Katie Just outside your bed
room door. Then If YOU need any
thing she can get IL for YOU"
She hurried me through her Won
derful white and scarlet living room
with its crimson draperies and into
/ her own bedroom. the one which I
/ had once likened 10 the heart of
/ rose. so exquisite was it with its
/ roSe-lined walls and hangings.
She put me into an easy chair and
/ then touched a button which must
have communicated with the kltch-
en-. for Betty appeared almost i'm
mediately
In Her" Room.
Bring me a glass of mulled wine
as soon as YOU can get IL ready"
/ Lillian directed. Let Katie change