New Britain herald., 1918-03-09
REVELATIONS OF A WIFE
Ho" Madge ''Managed~ the Situation
 With Edith Fairfax.
By ADELE GARRISON

could have wept at the look of relief, of restored confidence which flashed into Dicky's face at Harry Onderwood's explanation of my pres ence With him in the Fleur de Lis Wept not because I cared much in that moment what Dicky thought, but mine.
 All through my childhood and girl hood truth telling was almost a fetish of mine And the unhappiness which a lie or even a subterfuge causes me has been one of my great sources of misery since my marriage with Dicky.
 For Dicky's code is one summed up in his own careless words: What a woman doesn't know doesn't hurt her. Because of his numberless petty deceptions I have been driven often to the counter subterfuge of pre- tending to believe all the excuses he gave me for his numerous absences from home.
 But it had been my pride that my own conduct has been free of even the suspicion of deception. Only once, on account of my father, had 1 done some thing I had known would dis
 
 Dr. Petit when he had left for South America. But at least, when Dicky had met us, I hadn't lied out of 1t. He had been given the true explana ton of the incident. But now l was compelled to acquiesce in MT. Under woods explanation, because of my promise to Lillian.
 It seemed like the Hong arm of coincdence'' that Edith Fairfax-the girl from Virginia who had been Dicky's companion at the same res taurant at which Dr. Petit and I had dined--shouId be with him now. had been too dazed in the first seconds following their entrance into the tea room to grasp the significance of thclr presence there together.
 Madgc Strikes Home.
 Then a flood of jealous imagery overwhelmed me to the exclusion of all other sensations. The presence of this girl here at Dicky's side meant that their friendship had never lapsed, as I had thought after the memorable day at Lillian's, but was still active. I looked at the girl sharply, and l couldn't keep my aversion to her out of my face.
 To my surprise, I caught her re- garding me furtively. timidly, from under the shadow of her dropping hat. As she me my gaze her eye lids dropped over her eyes, and a burning flush crept over her cheeks.
 But ] had caught and interpreted with rising excitement she look in her eyes. The girl was afraid of me! She was also overwhelmed by humiliation and distress at the ambiguous posi- tion in which she found herself.
 Dicky, embarrassed, angry, puzzled, tried to make conversation.
 T didn't know you had met Miss Fairfax, Madge" he said, and his manner was awkward for Dicky.
 I knew he referred to the fact that I nodded and smiled to tho girl when she and Dicky had come to our table at Harry Underwood's invitation.
 There's latent feline cruelty in every woman I have heard. At any rate, it surged up in me I tried to make my voice as soft and pleasant as possible the while I searched my vocabulary for words that would sting.
 NO, have never met her." I said slowly. keeping my eyes fixed upon the girls downcast face, "but really, Dickybird, I ought to know her, don't you think? I have seen her so often with you, and heard so much about your delightful friendship with her"
 I heard a sound like subdued chuckle from Harry Underwood's di- rection, but his face when I glanced quickly at him was imperturbable, and tho sound was so slight that concluded I had been mistaken. Dicky's face was a study, a. frowning picture of angry chagrin. He never had heard mo call him "Dickybird before neither had he ever seen me in exactly the mood that now pos sessed me.
 He didn't answer me and as Miss Fairfax also remained silent, I ad- dressed her directly.
 "I am sure we don't need a formal introduction, do we, Miss Fairfax" l queried.
 "You Cannot Know
 She started made brave attempt to look up at mo, could not manage it, then murmured in a characteristic cally southern drawl
 "Oh, indeed, I am sure not, Mrs. Graham"
 "Formality is such a bore, anyway" returned, looking around the table as if all three were expecting to hear the last word on the subject. You cannot know, Miss Fairfax, in the care-free, unconventional life of the studios''-I delicately emphazied the adjectives-"how deadly dull life may be at the opposite end of the world, 1 the home fireside of the artists. Do you know.I sometimes actually come to the point of wishing l could change l places with the young women who 1 pose for my husband.'