South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-03-13
OFA WIFE
BY Adele Garrison

that was going some in those
days"
Poor little AIRS. Lester. Life GER
in the future. And then she turn
tainly could not hold much for her
ing little smile.
I'm afraid 1 shall be very dull
tonight. ] am so worried about
leaving the baby. She's only six
months old, you know. and, have
had my mother with me ever since
she was born until two weeks ago.
so 1 have never left her with a
maid before. This girl we have
appears very competent, saws she is
used to babies. but / just can't help
being as ervou as a cat"
Are you still worrying about
that batx p" Mrs. Underwood's loud
voice sounded behind Us. Now
look here. Daisy, have a little com
mon sense. You have had that
maid over a year; she has been
with your mother and you since
the baby was born: there's a tele-
phone at her elbow, md YOU are
only five blocks away from home.
Wasn't the child we'll when you
left"
sleeping just like a kitten the
proud mother answered. You just
ought to nav seen her, one little
hand all cuddled up against her
face. L just couldn't bear to leave
her"
over Lillian Gales face swept "A
swift spasm of pain. So quickly
was il gone that 7 would not have
noticed Il. had not my eyes hap
pened 10 rest on her face when
Mrs. Lester spoke of her baby. Was
there a child in that heroic past of
hers? | decided there must be.
why don't you telephone now
! and satisfy yourself that the baby
is all right, and instruct the maid
to call you if she has seen anything
unusual about herr" l ouc.ied.
Tell her you are going TO tele-
phone every little while. Then she
will be sure to keep on the job"
cynically suggested Mrs. Under
wood.
"Oh, hat will be just splendid, i"
chirped Mrs. Lester. Thank you
so much, Mrs. Graham. Where is
the telephone?"
"Dicky will get the number for
you" said Mrs. Underwood. usher
ing her into the living room. 1
heard her shrill voice.
"Oh. Dicky'bird, please get Mrs.
Testers apartment for her. She
want to be sure the baby's all
right"
Then l heard a deeper voice.
For heavens sake, Daisy, don't
make a fool of yourself. The kids
all right" That was Mr.. Testers
voice. of course. Neither the tones
of Dicky nor Harry Underwood had
the .~disagreeable whining timber OF
this mans.
Lillian's retort made me smile, it
was so characteristic of her.
Who unlocked the door OF your
cage, anyway? Get back in, and il
you growl again tonight there will
be no supper for you"
AS she spoke she hurried back 20
the door of my room. which l was
just leaving. She made an almost
imperceptible gesture with her
head, and / Obeyed the silent sig
nal. going back into the room with
her.
Il SEM her to the telephone be-
cause / wanted a chance TO speak
to you alone" she said. You'll have
10 settle Katie. She's crying out
there, says she doesn't want 70
wait on table if 'Meester Lestaire
is dere. l don't know but it
would be a good idea 10 SEM her
TO bed, say she has a toothache. or
anything else convenient. We can
wait on ourselves! II will be lots
more jolly. and avoid any unpleas-
at possibilities. I wouldn't want
Daisy TO suspect anything. Franks
been Il different kinds OF swine IN
his life, but there's no use both
ering her with il. She'll find it
out soon enough. We all do"
Then YOU know" I said.
About Frank perescuting Katie
when she worked in the apart
ment? OF course. 1 rather suspect
ed il at the time, but 1 didn't think
he'd carry things far enough so
the girl would have to run away
for fear Of him. But Dicky told me
all about IL the other day, after
Katie came back. Wasn't il a CO.
incidence that she should have ap-
piled to you for a position? 30
"A coincidence, indeed" I re-
piled mechanically.
I felt the old pique rising i'm my
heart. Was there anything about
our affairs hat Dicky did not tell
this woman.