South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-06-30
WHY MADGE ACCEPTED LII
LIAM UNDERWOOD'S OFFER
I'D CLEAR UP III PAsT.

I'd GLfaAk u i HI IA0l.
y tell you. Dicky-brd it won't
DO. Shes got 10 know the truth
As AIRS Underwood shrIu voice
struck my ears i sprang 10 my feet
with dismay ] must have dozed as
( sat by my mOther-in-law bed
side. for I mad neither heard Mrs
underwood come i'm. nor Dicky's
greeting TO her.
My first thought was Of the sick
woman over whom ] was watching.
Dr. Petit and the nurse Miss SON
not. had warned US that excitement
might be fatal 20 their patient
And the one thing i'm the world
that might be counted on TO excite
my mOther-in-law was the presence
OF the woman whose voice i heard
In conversation with my husband.
The elder Mrs Graham knew or
suspected or fancied-T really did
not know which--that there was
something IN the past association Of
her son and Mrs. Underwood which
made the presence Of the woma1 in
our home an insult to me. She had
become 20 excited over the subject
but an hour or two before that she
had had a slight heart attack
something from which we were all
doing our best 20 guard her.
Turning my eyes toward the sick
woman / was thankful 20 see that
The voices had not awakened her. 7
rose noiselessly from my chair and
went into the living room. closing
the door after me. Then with my
finger lifted warningly for silence
forced "a smile of greeting to my
lips as Lillian Underwood saw me
and came swiftly toward me.
"Dicky's mother is asleep" 7 said
in a low tone II am afraid ! must
ask you 20 come into the Kitchen.
Ter she awakens so easily"
Lillian nodded comprehendingly
but Dicky flushed guilty.
Katie is I'm the kitchen" ne said
hesitatingly.
Il will attend to Katie" return
ed shortly.
His disregard Of my cautions con-
corning his mother made me fu2
riously angry I wondered II 10
were his natural heedlessness or
whether I'm very truth the presence
of this old friend OF his made 1t im-
possible for him 90 think OF any
thing save her
As We entered the kitchen sKtie
looked up, mildly astonished. from
the vegetables she was preparing
for dinner.
Katie" I said, quietly, will YOU
20 and sit just outside Mrs. era
hams door for a Few minutes. If
you hear her speak or II YOU think
she needs anything call us"
Katie nodded. and in another
moment had dried her hands ex-
changed her kitchen apron for "a
white one, ard departed proudly
upon her errand
You've done wonders with that
girl" commented Mrs. Underwood
approvingly, as DiclSy placed kitch
en- chairs for us.
Katie is very satsfa Glory" 7 re-
turned My manner. I am afraid.
was trife stiff, but 10 angered me
10 have her utter so trivial a COM
ment when such q real issue lay be
tween us.
Mrs. Underwood shot me a keen
glance. then she turned resolutely
10 my husband.
you seq" she demanded II
am right"
Dicky shook his head stUbhorniy,
but LILLIAN turned 90 me
You shall Not"
Mrs Graham. she said resolute-
y. Harry just told me this after
noon OF his encounter with you. and
OF his idiotic warning 10 YOU not 20
try 90 md out the reason for your
rnothcr-iu-Iaw's aversion 10 me.
did not wait q minute but came
straight here 10 set things right If
could. II IS abominabie for YOU 20
have heard surmises and not TO
know the truth. 7 should have told
YOU long ago. but foolishly I thought
as long as YOU We're In complete ig-
norance YOU might as well remain
50. But Harry's news changed all
that. Where can We talk without
danger OF being overheard 90
She was smashinElv direct as al
ways. Even with the old resent
ment against her. which had been
revived by my surmises. concerning
The secret between mr. and my hUs-
ban could not but admir- the
singleness Of purpose. the evident
honesty Of the woman before me-
Dicky's ice interrupted her
hardly recognized 10. hoarse. choked
with feeling as 3, was
Lillian he said you shall not
10 this There Is no need for yoJ
20 bring all those old horrible mem
cries back. ou have buried them
and have had little peace III
NladEe IS the woman Z take her for
She will he generous enough NOT 70
ask IT, especially when eive her
my word OF honor that there is
nothing in my past or yo--s which
could concern her.
You have the usual masculine
idea OF what might concern a wom-
an. Lillian retorted ttrriy
An Engagement Made
But d answered the appeal had
heard .n wy husbands voice even
more than in his words
You do not need &c teu me auy-
Wins Mrs. Underwood. said
gently and az che woris p.cky
moved toward me quickly and put