South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-03-10
REVELATIONS OFA WIFE
BY Adele Garrison

dismay i felt at this fntimation that
the women would begin drinking so
early. / feared for a repetition of
the experience Of Friday evening.
But the laws OF convention and nos
pitality bound me. / felt that I
could not protest Mrs. Underwood
apparently had no such scruples.
She clutched Dicky by the arm and
swung him around facing her.
Now, see here. my Dicky-bird,"
she began. you begin this special
bottle kind of business and / walk
out OF here. / should think you and
Harry would have had enough Of
this on Friday evening. We came
over here today for a little visit, and
tonight Wen sit on either the water
wagon or the beer wagon just as Mrs.
Graham says. But you boys won't
start any of these special drinks, or
I'll know the reason why"
"Oh. cut il out, Lii" her husband
said, not GROSSLY. but mechanical
~ as if it were a phrase he often
used. But Dicky laughed down at
her. although / knew by the look
in his eyes that he was much an
noyed.
"All right, Lii" ne said easily. Il
suppose Madge will fall in gratitude
on your neck for this when she
gets YOU into the seclusion Of her
room You haven't any objection to
our having teenty-weenty little
smoke. do you mama dear ?'
go as far as YOU like" she re-
turned. ignoring the sneers.
As 1 turned and led the way 10
my room, / was conscious of cur
I iously mingled emotions. Relief at
the elimination of the special bot
/ tie with its inevitable consequences
and resentment that Dicky should
so weakly obey the dictum Of an
other woman, battled with each
\ other But stronger than either
was a dawning wonder. From the
/ cOnversatio had overheard in
/ the theater dressing room and trif-
ling things in Ms. Underwood S
\ own conduct I had been led 10 be-
lieve that she was sentimentally liz
I terested in Dicky, and that some
time in the future 1 might have to
battle with her for his affections.
But her speech TO him which I
had Just heard savOred more of the
mother laying down the law TO a
refractory child than il did of any
thing approaching sentiment. Could
it be. / told myself. that l had beeN
mistaken
HARRY UNDERWOOD MAKES \
BET WITH HIMSELF.
ooh. Mrs Graham. how perfectly
exquisite"
Mrs Underwood. while removing
her wraps in my room had caught
sight of the embroidered spread and
pillow slips / had put on my bed in
honor Of my guests. After her
ultimatum TO my husband and hers
about drinking anything before the
arrival OF the Testers, the other
guests Of my little chatting dish sup
with cigars, and i had conducted her
TO my room. / resented her coming
so early. but. woman-like, my feel
ings were soOthed by her genuine
admiration Of the wedding gift /
priced 50 highly.
Il am glad YOU like it, l said
primly.
Like it," she bent closer in
scrutiny of the tiny roses. so beau
tifully done. which ran riot over the
spread Don't tell me that you did
this work yourself. or / shall be so
\ frightfuIy jealous L shall claw your
eyes out"
unfortunately, I am not so skill
fun 1 returned. The spread and
slips were a wedding gift, the work
OF a very dear invalid friend of
mine"
DO YOU suppose she would do
some fer me?" she asked eagerly
81 would pay her anything she wish
ed. You simply can't get work like
this in the shops unless you pay not
only what the work is worth but
profit enough besides 10 enable the
proprietor 10 buy an extra car OF
So"
II do not think she would care to
do the work for money" L began
with "a touch OF hauteur How dare
this woman talk of employing a
friend of mine? Why did she as
sumo that the donor Of this exquisite
gift would be willing TO work for
pay? Then touch of sanity came
20 me. To Lillian Gale everybody
worth while was "A worker. She
marketed her own brains. and she
never thought of some other WON
an not being willing 10 earn money
by her skill. l knew that my in
valid friend would be very glad OF a
liberal commission like this. and ]
put my pride and temper in my
pocket
But / shall be very glal 10 ask
her" I went on. lamely enough
Her strength is limited. and sh,
never has taken any commissions
But I really do not see why sh,
should not substitute orders lik,
yours for one Of the many gifts sh,
makes"
Thank YOU so much" Mrs Tn.
derwood stopped again TO examin,
the embroidered blossoms "Wher
YOU speak 70 her about IT, viii yol
ask her II she could do one in lille.