New Britain herald., 1918-12-24

clear brain had been clOuded,
thought bitterly, by her Quixotic for
gtveness of her recreant husband.
DR.. Petit, who not only shared my dis
trust of Harry Underwood, but car
ried his feeling to a rabid hatred, was
still in the training camp on this
side of the ocean. powerless to help
me, even If l cared to invoke his aid.
Yes, L Suppose
I carried the letter into the city to
show Lillian, however. the next day
after l received it. avoiding the ap-
| pearance of any special fear con-
! corning it. Indeed, SO careful was I
! that I gave my wish to consult her
concerning suitable employment as
| the reason for my visit, bringing out
the letter casually, after she had
greeted me warmly, brought me up
into the library and had given orders
to Betty for cosey little luncheon
served there, because it was the
coolest room in her apartment.
Before we get down to business. >"
I said with careful nonchalance, II
suppose you would like to see my
| last letter from Dicky''
Yes, I suppose I would" she
| Knocked. snatching the letter from me.
you've got crust waiting until this
| time to give it to me. Why didn't you
have it in your hand, opened out
ready for me to take when you came
in? I'm trifie interested in the
Dicky-bir myself
She continued her whimsical scold-
ing in running comment as she opened
the letter and began to read it.
And just wait till I get my hands
on the Dicl1y-bird! He's written me
only two letters-count 'em, two
since he went over and I'll bet the
post Office clerks are getting thin
/ carrying the words I've written to
! him."
| But you know how he loves to
| hear from YOU" / protested, land, of
course, he's awfully busy
There was evaporation as well as
laughter in the flash of Lillian's eyes.
"Madge, il you hand me a bromide
like that again I'lI---Oh, you ought to
know better than to take me seriously.
Shut up while I finish this letter.
She didn't speak again, nor did I,
until she had read every word Dicky
had written. But I distinctly saw her
start as she looked at the top of the
page on which, could tell by count
ing the sheets-was written Harry
Underwoods name. And she read the
pages containing Dicky's account of
their meeting three times before she
laid down the letter. Then she raised
her eyes to my troubled ones and
looked at me steadily.
What is it, dear?" she said quietly
after a moment. Are you afraid to
have Harry there with Dicky? Is
that 1t ?''
I hadn't meant her to know my
feelings, but her keen intuition had
read my tellta1e face.
"I-I-can't help it. Lillian" I
said sorrowfully.
She waited another moment as if to
be very sure of her words before
speaking.
Dear child" she said finally, ct
was Harry Underwood's wife for
years. He did me a great wrong. he
has-spoiled-rny life" the vision OF
Robert Savarin's patient, thwarted
devotion rose before me ''but [
think know him better than any one
else does. And, believe me, dear,
Dicky is in no danger from Harry. In
fact, Harry is far more apt to give up
his own life for Dicky If the necessity
or even the opportunity for him to do
SO should arise
I tried to believe her pretended to
do SO as we'll as I could but neither
then nor in the long days that fol-
lowed could I rid myself of the
menacing shadow which the thought
of Harry Underwood cast over my
life.