South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-10-20
REVELATIONS OFA WIFE
BY Adshe GaTE1Soa

Why Madge TrembIed.
Ny mother-in-Iaw's eyes followed
mine, and / knew that for once at
least we were Of one mind, and that
mind full Of pride in the man 50
dear 10 us both. He was easily the
most distinguished figure at the table
full OF men who greeted him so joy
ously. I knew that his mother noted
with me how cordial was the well
come each man gave Dicky. how
they all seemed 10 defer 10 him and
hang upon his words.
Then across my vision came a pic
ture most terrifying 70 me. Il was
as II my mother-in-law and / were
spectators Of a series Of motion pic
ture films. Toward the table. where
Dicky stood surrounded by his
friends, there sauntered the myster-
ious stranger, who had attracted my
mOther-in-laws attention by his
scrutiny OF me.
But he was no stranger to the men
surrounding Dicky Most OF them
greeted him warmly. OF course, L
was too far away TO hear what was
said, but l saw the pantomime in
which ne requested an introduction
to Dicky OF one OF his friends.
Then I saw the stranger meet
Dicky and engage him in earnest
conversation did not dare TO
look at my mother-in-law. knew
she was gazing in open-mOUthed
wonder at her son. but 1 hoped she
did not know the queer mixture of
terror and interest with which 1
watched the picture at the other
table.
For il was no surprise to me when
few minutes later Dicky came back
toward our taSle. With him, talk
ing earnestly, as If he had been a
childhood friend walked the mys-
terious stranger. I told myself that
+ had kOnwn il would be so from
the first.
From the moment I had first seen
this mans haunting eyes gazing at
me in the reception room OF the
Sydenham I had felt that a meeting
with him was inevitable How or
where he would touch my life I did
not know, but that ne was destined
TO WELD some influence, sinister or
favorable over me, was sure, and
trembled with vague terror as 1
saw him drawing near.
How the Stranger Acted When
Madge Told Him Her Maid
en- Name.
Mother. may I present Mr.. Cor
don? My wife, Mr.. Gordon"
occupied, as he spoke. His mothers
face showed very plainly her resent
ment at being obliged TO meet the
man upon whose steady staring at
me she had so acidly commented a
few minutes before.
For my own part, I was so upset
that 1 felt actually i'll, as the eyes
OF the persistent stranger met mine.
How had this man, who had so terri
fed me by his persistent pursuit and
scrutiny, managed 10 obtain an in
PRODUCTION TO Dicky?
Dicky made a place for the man
near me. and signalled the waiter.
Il know you have dined." he said,
courteOusly, but you'll at least have
coffee and a cordial with us, Will you
not?"
Thank YOU" Mr.. Gordon said in
a deep rich voice. Il have not yet
had coffee. If you will be so kind.
] should like an apricot brandy in
stead Of a cordial"
Dicky gave the necessary order to
the waiter. and we all sat back in
our chairs.
I, for one. felt as though / were a
spectator at a play. waiting for the
curtain to run up upon some thrilling
episode. For the few minutes while
we waited for our coffee Dicky had
20 carry the burden Of the converse
ton. His mother, with her lips
pressed together in a tight. thin line,
evidently had resolved to take no
part i'm any conversation with the
stranger I was really too terrified
70 say anything, and, besides the
briefest OF assents TO Dicky's Obser-
vations. the stranger said nothing.
With the coming OF the coffee.
however there occurred a little in
cident that intensified the vague
terror I felt OF Mr.. Gordon.
When the coffee and tiny glass OF
cordial were set before him, Mr..
Gordon said something in an under
tone TO the waiter, who bowed, slip
ped away and came back with a
curiouslv shaped spoon with tiny
prongs underneath IL, which fitted
over the top of Mr.. Gordon's demi-
tasse
"One Of two" the man asked de-
ferentially with hand outstretched
toward the sugar tongs
Mr. Gordon waved him aside took
up the tongs himself and placed two
cubes Of sugar I'm the curiously
shaped spoon. Then he carefully
poured q portion Of the tiny glass of
apricot brandy over the sugar and
held out hrs hand for a lighted taper,
which the we'll trained waiter. see
ing what ne wished. had ready for
/ him at precisely the right moment
\ Dilcttante's Hand.
As the blazing match touched the
soaked sugar. the alcohol caught fire
and q little blue flame heavy with
+ the aroma Of the burning brandy
arose.