New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-07-16

contained. With fingers that trem-
bled despite my resolution, [ opened
the letter, and from it dropped q
tiny, square-folded parcel of white
tissue paper.
I told you sou said my mother
in-law, and looking at her I saw
flush ON her cheeks, a tiny glitter in
her eyes that told of rising excite
ment [ realized anew the absolute
enjoyment that was hers in sharing
the adventurous phase Of my life
that had developed since Lillian had
employed me in her secret service
work. From her enthusiasm [ de-
duced that the years of her young
womanhood as the wife of Dickys
father had been devoid of much out
side the humdrum routine of living.
And from one or two little things she
had told me in some Of my dark
hours I had learned that tho events
which did vary the monotony were
distinctly unpleasant ones.
Her almost childish enthusiasm
did not, however, cloud her clear
mental vision. AS my fingers began
to undo the tissue paper parcel she
uttered a decided remonstrance.
Read the letter first she said
practically. perhaps you won't
want to open it fterward-although
I think we will do it, she finished
with a humorous little grimace.
I looked at the closely written
| pages before me, and my memory,
which my mother trained so well,
and which is always my most faithful
| servant, sounded a note as clear to
NV brain as if it had been the re-
! sonant peal of a bell
| The handwriting was disguised. 1t
| had been written with the left hand
bv a person who was evidently am
| bidextrous. But [ knew that some
where I had seen that left-handed
| chirography.
! But my memory, of course, isn't
| omniscient, and although I knew that
! / had seen the handwriting some
| where, yet I could not on the instant
tell where. That it would come TO
me later [ was sure.
Memory Puzzle.
NV mother-in-law must have been
observing me closely. I hadn't been
aware of giving any sign of recogni-
! ton as [ looked at the handwriting
of the letter but [ must have done so,
| for she said sharply.
you recognize that handwriting %
"Yes-and--no," I replied slowly.
IT am sure I have seen it somewhere.
But where-I cannot tell-yet."
well, there's one comfort, you'll
get it after awhile with that uncannS
| memory of yours.
repressed a smile with difficulty.
! NV mother-in-law must regard me
with high favor just now. 1t was
the first time she had ever mentioned
my memory. Indeed, [ had often
heard her give an eXasperating little
sniff of disparagement when Dlcky
or Lillian praised 1T in her hearing,
and I had surmised that she was
jealous of it, because of Dlcky whose
forgetfulness is a constant source of
annoyance to himself, and in far
greater degree to his family and his
| friends.
But get on, get on!' the elder
woman said impatiently. Read it
through first if you want, to, but
hurry about it,
but I don't wish to read 1t
through first to myself" I returned
for 1 knew that, even though she had
given me the permission to do so she
would regard it as a deadly Insult II
I followed her suggestion.
. Without further discussion l read
the salutation which had dlStlnctly
, foreign air about it.
ITO Madame Margaret spencer
Graham, Marvin, Long Island, New
York.
Dear Madame:
THE person who wrote that knows
all about you interrupted my
mother-in-laW shreWdly.