New Britain herald., 1918-12-10
News For Women Readers and Thedterq0erS----
MY SOLDIER SWEETHEART
Garrisons Continuation OF
REVELATIONS OF A WIFE

the realization that may have to
stand alone between my baby and the
world has led me to neglect no safe
guard to my health and strength
which I can manage without incon-
veniencing others or hindering my
work. And then, fiashlight in hand, for
the heavy window curtains shut out
the early daylight I went noiselessly
down the stairs and opened the front
door.
For q moment stood there motion
less battling with the nervous fear
which always possesses me when the
newspaper is actually within my
reach. Two men hurrying to an early
train gave me a curious glance, and
one said something in a low tone to
the other. I guessed that they were
commenting upon the regularity of
my taking in the paper for [ had seen
them every morning since the sailing
Of Dicky's squadron, but I had room
in my soul for neither resentment nor
embarrassment. One query only
obsessed me. Would there be
blessed lack of news in the paper this
morning, Or?
took in the paper without looking
at it, closed the outer door and then,
pulling the chain of the electric table
lamp in the hall I drew a chair near,
sat down, and spread out the front
page.
What the Headlines Told.
Dear God! There it was the thing
: I had so dreaded. The black letters Of
the blaring headlines seemed to leap
from the page like living things as
I gazed at them.
TRANSPORT TORPEDOED-3oo
| DEAD
AIminana Sunk by Submarine Twenty
Miles Off Irish Coast-Lifeboats
| Dashed on Rocks.
1000 Survivors Landed in North
| Ireland Port-No List of Dead
Available
I read the long account through
! feveishly but found nothing to relieve
the awful terror that had settled on
my heart at the first sight of the heavy
black type. In vain I tried to tell my
self that there were many chances
against Dicky's being on the torpedoed
transport that as I didn't even know
the name of the ship on which he had
sailed 1t was futile to worry ahead of
time. The knowledge that the ship,
had sailed, must be about due over
seas weighed upon me crushingly.
couldn't rid myself Of the obsession
that he was one Of those who had ex-
perienced the awful horror of which
had just read.
With a little SILVER T closed my
eyes in the attempt to gather myself
together. There was no time for my
indulgence in fears or tremors.
Dicky's mother, old and feeble must
be my first consideration. I must
keep this news from her as long as
possible. Fortunately, since Dicky's
departure she had carefully avoided
the sight of a newspaper.
ST cannot bear to look at one, Mar
garrett" she had said pitifully the day
after I told her Dicky had sailed.
and read or tell me the general
news?"
Gladly, Mother" I had answered,
and the adverb but futilely expressed
the relief I felt at her decision. I felt
1T to be fairly providential now, But
/ must safeguard the chance of her
suspecting anything from my fathers
face or mine or from Katies emotion
alism.
heard a door open and close in
the hall upstairs, and then the sound
of my mother-in-la,w's footsteps, slow,
dragging coming toward the stairway.
Quickly I turned the paper I held so
that the black headlines were hidden,
! and stood up, masking the terror In
my face with the best imitation OF
casualness I could manage,