South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-05-25
HER DECISION MADE.

head and returning her stare with a
look equally cold and steady, my
husband"-I emphasized the words
slightly -" and r are discussing
something which cannot possibly
concern you. You were not the sub
ject Of conversation. and your name
was brought in by accident I hope
you will be good enough to allow US
to hnish our discussion"
Ny mother-in-law evidently knows
when to stop. She eyed me steadily
for a moment
"Dicky' she said at last. and her
manner OF sweeping me out Of the
universe was superb. 'in I'VE min
utes I wish to speak to you in my
room"
All right, mother" Dickys tone
was unsteady, and as his mothers
door closed behind her I prepared
myself 10 face his increased anger.
How dared YOU speak 10 nay
mother in that fashion," he de-
manded hoarsely.
When I am most angry, a dia-
bolically aggravating spirit seems to
! possess me. could feel it enmesh-
ing me.
please don't be nelodramatic,
/ Dicky," l said mockingly, and if
you have quite finished | will go"
/ NO, you won't. at least not until
I have told you something" he
I snarIed
He sprang to my side, and seized
my shoulder in a cruel grip that
made me vince.
Wen just have this out once for
4 ALL" ne said. "If you go out of this
door you go out for good ! don't
care for the role of complacent hus-
/ band"
The insult left me deadly cold
knew. OF course. that Dicky was so
/ blinded by rage and jealousy that he
4 had no idea of what he was saying.
But ungovernable as knew his
/ temper to be. ne had passed the
limits of my forbearance.
81 will answer that speech in 10
minutes" I said. and walked into
my room again
For / had come to a decision as
startling as it was sudden. I hastily
/ threw some most necessary things
\ into a bag Then I put a SO bill
( Of the housekeeping money into my
purse. resolving to send il back 10
! Dicky as soon as ] could get access
/ TO my own tiny bank account. the
remnant of my teaching savings.
I Into a parcel l placed the rest Of the
/ housekeeping money. my wedding
4 and enga cement rings and the Law
alliere which Dicky had given me AS
/ a wedding present. I put them in
the back of the top drawer OF my
dressing Ia BILE. for I knew Il 1 hand
\ ed them 70 Dicky in his present
frame Of mind he would destroy
| them. Then 1 walked steadily into
/ the living room, bag in hand
! Dicky was nowhere 10 be seen, but
| I heard the murmur of voices in his
mothers room. I went TO the door
and knocked. Dicky threw it open,
his face still showing the marks of
his anger.
"You will find the housekeeping
money in the top drawer of my
| dressing table" I told him calmly.
! ct will send you my address as soon
as 7 have one, and YOU viii please
have Katie pack my things and send
\ them to me-"
I turned and went swiftly to the
door. AS 1 closed it after me.
thought I heard Dicky cry out
/ hoarsely But I did not stop.
How Madge Babe Jack GOOd-By BY
Lucky Chance.
With my bag in my hand. fairly
/ fled down the stairs which led from
our third floor apartment to the
street. / had no idea where I was
going or what ! was going TO do
/ Only one idea possessed me-to put
as much space as possible between
me and the apartment which held
my husband and his mother
Reaching the street, I started 70
walk along il briskly. But, trem-
bling as I was from the hUmiliating
scene I had just gone through. I saw
that ] could not walk indefinitely. and
that I must get to some place and
at once where I could be alone and
think.
Taxi. ma'am o."
A taxi whose driver evidently had
been watching me in the hope of a
fare rolled up beside me.
dived into il gratefully At least
I'm its shelter I would be alone and
safe from observation fo- a spv
minutes. long enough for me TO de-
eide what to do next
Where to, ma'am -"
q searched my memory wildly for
a moment Where TO. indeed. But
the chauffeur waited.
Brooklyn bridge I said desper-
ateiy
Very well. ma'am." and in an
other minute we were speeding
swiftly southwark
I cannot imagine why I gave that
particular address 20 the chauffeur.
I must have had some hazy idea in
my mind that Brooklyn bridge was
a good safe central point from