New Britain herald., 1918-09-20
REVELATIONS OF A WIFE
What Madge Learned in Katie's
 Room.

AS tlle taXlcab WhlZzed away after depositing us at the gate @ man walked from the end of the shrub bery and passed us with every ap pearance of a casual passer-bv.
 But l noticed that he was in reality glvlng us what Dicky always slangilv terms the once Over", and just as he passed us, Lillian spoke a single word Tn a low tone which brought him +o sudden halt, his hand at his can in respectful salute. I realized that this must be one of the guards that IiI- llah mad caused to be placed around my Marvin house.
 whats the trouble here?" Lillian asked peremptorily.
 Somebody's ill, an accident, thlnk =, the man replied. "Of course haven't questioned any one, but the windows have been open, and from what I've heard I think somebody by the name of Katie fell down the eel lar stairs. At any rate the doctors there, been theres two or three times today"
 "Oh. poor Katie!" I gasped. gaz- ing at Lillian mortified. remem bering the girls condition. "Let hurry in."
 
 kindly. 'I must give this man some instructions. Send William out for the bags"
 William, looking more Caliban-like than ever, opened the door guardedly in response to my ring, leaving the barring chain on.
 "Who's there?' he demanded, not venturing to poke his head from be- hlnd the shelter of the door
 Tt is l, Mrs. Graham, William" I returned and then as he uttered a Joyful, relieved exclamation, he un- barred the chain a broad grin over- spreading his ugly visage:
 Katie's Serious Injury.
 'Oh, Mis- Gramie!" he said heart- fly. I'm so glad you've come. We certainly have had turrib1e times here since you've been gone, folks prowlin' around an 'tryin' to git in, and poor Katie she nearly killed her self'
 How is she, William ?" asked ruthlessly interrupting his flow of in- formation.
 She's awful sick, Mis- Gramie," he returned r~'erly. "The doctor didn't think the fall hurt her so aw- ful at first, but she must have been hurted somewhere inside he didn't know about, for she was took turri- ble sick this afternoon and the doc- tors been here twice--he's here now"
 I'll go up right away I said, mounting the stairs as I spoke, my heart heavy with anxiety for my faithful Katie. Poor old Williams childlike mind had missed the signi- ficance of Katies injury but I feared the worst for the little life Katie was so joyfully expecting.
 Madge Is Overcome.
 I met no one in the hall, but as reached the top of the stairs I heard Katie's voice, hoarse, almost unrec- ognizable, in pain-wrUng moaning The door of her room, which was brightly lighted, was open, and as passed the threshold I saw my moth er-in-law Cousin Agatha and the old physician who had attended Mother Grahams broken arm bending over her.
 My mother-in-law saw me first, and hurried to the door.
 What has brought you homer" she demanded grossly, and I detected grave anxiety in her voice. 'I thought you agreed to stay away while all this performance next door was on."
 Lillian has closed her house and is here with me, for reasons that she will tell you later" I said in 8 low voice, but Katie heard me, raised herself up in bed, horrifying sight, for her face and arms were covered with bandages, hiding the havoc made by her terrible fall.
 "Oh, Missis Graham, my darling Missis Graham!" she called agoniz- ingly. 1T tink you never come back to me- I tink I die and never see you again. Please, you come kiss me- hold my hand joost once"
 I knew Katie's theatrical emotion alism well, but there was real trag- edy in this cry. I crossed to the bed took my little maids bandaged hand in mine, stopped and gave her the kiss she had asked for.
 Katie's face was flushed as if with fever and her eyes glittered. But the face of Cousin Agatha upon the other side of the bed was white, and she was more subdued than I had ever seen her. She gave me no greeting save perfunctory nod, but I noticed that she was looking at me fixedly, as if she saw something sur- prising in my face.
 felt an unaccountable faintne ess steal over me, heard the physicians voice. gravely courteous, yet insist l ent.
 q fear you are not well, Mrs. l Graham You shouldn't remain