South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-10-11
WHAT JIM SAID WHEN MADGE
TOLD HIM kATIE'S OLD
ROMANCE

/ started aghast at my little maid,
Katie. when she asked me to tell
Jim Gregg. whom she was soon to
marry, the story OF the bogus mar
riage into which she had been trap
I red when a girl OF 16 in her native
\ Poland
why. Katie" 1 stammered, Il
hardly know jim; 1 cannot go TO
| him with this story. It is something
you ought 10 tell him yourself"
katie's face worked pitifully.
"Oh, Missis Graham. my goot,
dear Missis Graham" she walled,
| 'plees YOU be 50 goot, tell Jim dot.
/ Ne, l cannot spik nice words like
vot you can. II l tell Jim / know
/ vot ne tink. He tink, dog Katie, she
/ been Won bad girl and she joose iieex
/ up dis story so 1 not get mad But
! If you tell him, you hat the words
/ spik SO nice and kind, he see YOU
/ believe me. den he believe me. too.
/ Everything all feex up. vat you say
/ here in America, all hunkee doree."
/ could not repress a smile at
| Katte's artless attempt 10 air her
/ knowledge OF American slang. but
! me next moment a more serious
/ thought came 10 me. Could it be
] possible that the girls artlessness
was assumed. that her premonition
J Of Jim's Interpretation of her story
was based upon her own secret
! knowledge of the facts in the case,
and that the very plausible tale she
had told me was only a cloak for a
more sinister story.
But one look at the girls tear
suffused eyes uplifted to mine made
me ashamed of my doubt of her.
But. womanlike. l could not resist
voicing the doubt
Katie" I said gently look at
me-"
1t was a superfiuous command,
for the girls eyes were already fixed
upon mine. Their expression
changed. however, when I spoke.
There was in them a look of calm
dignity
Can you give me your word of
honor, Katie, that this is the whole
| truth that you have told me, that
there is nothing else in your life
| that you will be afraid or ashamed
TO tell JIM"
mo, Missis Graham" Katie re-
turned, earnestly. Il tell you true 1
SCOT girl. very goot girl. Nothings
but dat ever happened me- Vot you
want l do. swear it on Book"
Her voice. her tone, had a touch
of outraged dignity for which 1
could not blame her. 1 felt that L
owned the girl an atonement for
the doubt of her / had put into
words, and 1 resolved to grant the
| request she had made of me no
matter how unpleasant the task
might be
NO, Katie" 1 said quietly. "I
will not ask you to take any oath.
Your word of honor is sufficient for
me. I will tell Jim if you wish me
to do so.
Before l could prevent her the
girl sank TO her knees. caught the
hem of my skirt up to her lips ara
kissed IT,
"Oh. tank YOU. tank you. my dear
Missis Graham" she choked. I
never can tank YOU for dis enough. -
Jim. He Waiting"
Get up, Katie" I said sharply,
for the girls theatricalism some
times jars upon me. Tell me. when
is Jim coming again--tonisht? I
smiled mischieveOusly at the girl.
for since the time Jim had told my
mother-in-law and me of his desire
TO marry Katie, there had scarcely
been an evening that we did not
hear his voice in the kitchen.
Sure" Katie laughed coyIy.
sure. he COON tonight You see
him den?" hopefully.
Yes I returned, when YOU are
ready 10 have me see him come and
tell me and I will 90 down TO the
kitchen.
Now. never mind thanking me-
/ said. as Katie evinced an nclina-
tion TO get on her knees again.
Run along and attend TO your
work. and let us have no more cry
ing"
I made my tone as firm as posi-
BILE. and Katie hurried obediently
away.
II was quite late that evening
when Katie summoned me 10 the
kitchen. 1 think she had purposely
waited until she heard my mother
in-law 20 upstairs 10 bed
Dicky looked mildly curious when
the girl, with a mysterious air OF
importance said: "Pleos do COON out
here a meenit, MiSsis Graham"
What's the row." Dicky asked
lazily.
II won't be long" returned
evasivelN and followed Katie down
the hall.
Jim. he waiting" Katie whis-
pered. Il joost tell him you want tc
spik 10 heem."
We came 10 the kitchen door. she
opened IL, gave me a little push. and
then fed giggling with an emotion
which I knew was as near tears as
laughter.
Jim got up awkwardly as I enter.
ed, his face looked grave and
troubled I wondered if ne had an5
/ inkling OF my errand.
Poor Little Kid"
1 Because Katie loves YOU very