South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-10-09
The Woman Who Came Back
By Katherine Hopson

1t was a triangular love affair."
woman. lonely and alone until the
lover came, and one whom she had
supposed was a friend But the
friend had stolen the lover. lea wing
the woman more desolate than ever.
now that she had known the differ
ence.
ImOgene had taken the frail old
aunt who lived with her, sole sur
vivor of a once large family, and
had gone abroad for three years.
They had seen many places and
people. but amidst them all, the girl
had not forgotten.
She's reached the selfish stage in
her grief. when pOignancy dies, and
romance OF suffering remains"
thought Max Boyd. an old friend OF
| Imogene's fathers, when he called
the evening after her return.
When ImOgene suggested going
/ into the garden 10 see the night
/ blooming lilies, he readily consented.
/ glad TO escape from the oppressive
som berness of the house. That was
I how IL had always been with the
Camden family. They've taken life
too seriously" he reflected, and
knew that in a measure it accounted
for Imogene's Obsessive love for
Ralph Selby, the young physician
whose Hght-hearted bOyishness was
q foil TO her own deeper nature.
Max told her whimsical bits Of
home town news and while ne was
talking. Imogene realized with sur
prise that he was really much young
err than she had been accustomed to
think Of him. Though he had been
close friend Of her fathers. he
vas really l . years his juniOr-but
IA years older than herself
When they reentered the house
they found that Aunt Lucy had been
taken suddenly i'll Summons over
the telephone for medical aid re-
vealed the fact that all doctors were
out Of town except DR.. Selby.
And we can't have him." cried
Tmogene. sensitive color mounting
to her face Il can't have him
come here"
But Won can't let your aunt die
because of a personal Offense. Selby
viii be merely acting in his official
caracity," put in Max practically.
and proceeded to call him by tele-
phone.
Thus il was that Ralph Selby
acain entered the Camden home. In
her position as nurse, ImOgene was
obliged TO meet him Outwardly
/ theiI manner was grave and formal,
/ but inwardly, Imogene made sur
rrised observations. Instead OF the
j old dancing faun attributes which
Z had so attracted her, he had grown
/ heavy and dull. and the whole ex-
preston Of the man had changed.
Next day Aunt Lucy was much
/ better and did not need anyone in
active attendance. so Imogene be-
tool. herself, her memories and her
/ impressions i'm the new car and
dro away. far out into the country
and made a wide detOur Of the little
town.
She was returning by a different
road when just at the edge of town
her car stopped After working with
70 a while. she decided TO telephone
10 tho garage for a machinist. She
went Up an untidy walk 10 small
white house before which the car
had Stopped. She tapped at the
door and TO the woman who opened
10 said,
'WEl YOU be so kind as TO allow
me- 10 use your telephone? Ny
car" then she stopped in amaze
ment. for the woman before her was
none other than her former friend.
who for three years had been the
wife OF Ralph Selby
For a long moment they stared at
each other-the tall. dark. we'll
eroomed woman. in her expensive
automobile clothes. and the small
fell faded blonde in her soiled blue
calico The latter. however. was the
first 20 recover herself.
cor course. come in. Imogene.
noticed someone was having trouble
with her car. but I didn't dream il
was YOU"
Eyes, I've been having a time with
it. can run IL we'll enough wher
everything goes all right: but I'm
an az sea when anything gets out OF
gear" laughed Imogene nervously
Thus It was that she entered the