South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-10-16
REVELATIONS OFA WIFE
BY Adele GaEne0a

$3.50 express from Crest Haven. I
VIII try 10 see you before 4 20 70.
the study CLUB this afternoon, but
IL 4 shouldn't get there. doHt wait
luncheon FOR me-"
don't wait luncheon for any
bGdy' my mother-in law returned
tartly, and went 10 her room.
ON - IiIlian's.
] was glad when she and Dicky
finally got away, and / could so Un-
hindered AT the many last little
tasks which preceded my locking
up the house for the week.
When they were finished. I dress
ed carefully for my lecture ~ the
Lotus club i'm a rather elaborate
gown OF dark blue charmeuse. The
little sport suit J was TO wear on
the boat l packed carefully in
light pasteboard box. The hat which
change it at Lillian's for the fetch
Sng little creation had bought
under Lillian's supervision.
As I locked mp the house and
stood waiting on the veranda with
my box for the taxi which was 10
bear me 20 the station 1 felt AN the
glee of a child let out Of school for
"a holiday II did not seem possible
that I should really have a whole
weeks holiday with Dicky. / felt
that 1 begrudged even the afternoon
which / had 10 spend with the Lotus
Study club. Usually I enjoyed my
Sessions with the club. but on this
particular afternoon ] looked for
ward TO my talk before them with
dread instead OF pleasant anticipa-
ton.
/ snatched a bite Of lunch i'm the
grill al the railroad station. and
then went straight TO Lnlian's.
where I furnished mp bit donned
my new hat, and made ready for
my afternoons ordeal.
Why Everybody Gasped.
You'll put an their eyes out,
ed me. Don't let that old Smith
cat put anything over on YOU to-
day"
II could not help smiling at Lii
lian's disrespectful allusion to the
august secretary Of the Lotus study
club Mrs. Helen Brainerd Smith.
had told her the history of my
notable clash with Mrs. Smith upon
the occasion of my first lecture.
when she had offered me only halt
of the stipend we had agreed upon.
because the women of the club had
not finished their routine business
i'm time for me TO have but one-half
of the time allotted me.
I had come off decidedly the vic
tor upon that occasion. and Mrs
Smith had never forgotten IT, she
was the richest woman i'm the club.
and by virtue of her position and
wealth, "a veritable dictator / knew
that it was a distinct triumph for
me when the women of the history
section unanimously voted TO en-
gage me ror another years lectures
at an increased stipend Tt was one
of the rare occasions in which her
/ personal preference had been out
weighed by the wishes of the men,
bers. and T knew she bore me no
good will for it.
7 was TO meet her this afternoon
for the first time i'm months. 7
dreaded the cool, airy. almost inso-
lent patronage with which I knew
she would treat me. But it was
about the only penalty of a very
pleasant and lucrative position, so I
resolved 10 ignore her unpleasant.
ness as much as possible.
As / entered the club rooms.
which were already well filed with
women. 7 heard a unanimous gasp
Of establishment. I'm another mo-
merit 7 knew the cause, for advanc-
ing toward me with tightly COM
pressed lins and flashing eyes. was
AIRS. smith, stately, gray-haired.
faultlessly attired as ever. But on
her head was the exact counterpart
of the hat I was wearing. rolled
brim. ermine trimming, even the red
rose