South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-03-17

.44 t4eS were DldZlnB Win anger
as I raised tdem from the knocking
letter which Harry Underwood had
sent to Lillian. the letter which he
dropped out OF their marriage with
much more nonchalance than he
would have broken dinner engage
ment. And as I looked at her head
bowed in her hands before the fire,
realized the humiliation that must
be her portion, I could have cheer
fully consigned her husband to any
torture OF the inquisitiOn
! dropped the letter as II il burn
cd my fingers: indeed. felt il ac-
tually did scorch me, and crossing
swiftly TO Lillian. knelt down be
side her. With a little sigh she turn
( ed and put her cheek against mine.
her arm around me. For fully five
minutes / knelt. then she rose
abruptly. drew me to my feet and
: put me i'm a chair close to her own.
. l saw that she had not shed any
tears. but her eyes were glittering
I with excitement, and on each cheek
ElOwed a spot OF red, an unbecom-
ing flush. which reminded me un-
pleasantly of the rouge she was
wont to use in the old days.
Don't mistake my feeling.
( Madge." she said slowly at last IN
one way this thing comes as a bless
( ed relief. believe I have told you
that I never had any romantic affec-
tion for Harry. But he appealed 90
me strongly in the days OF miserable
loneliness which came after l had
given up my baby girl, and then at
that time he needed me. which is
often a most powerful attraction to
a woman of my temperament"
7 nodded assent. | had heard from
! Dicky how Lillian's encouragement
and sympathy-yes. even her finan-
cial help-had put Harry Underwood
on his feet after an almost disrep-
utable business fasco on his part
Lillian had never even limited at the
money part of her help 10 her hus-
band. but Harry himself had told
Dicky OF il in the early years of their
marriage.
LiIIlan's Dilemma.
Z" But there Is just one question be-
I fore me- she said 81 would be
glad TO divorce Harry. have no
| qualms on the subject at all. but
have I the right to bring any moro
/ unpleasant publicity upon my head
and because of me to my baby girl 20
AS the full import of Lillian's
/ dilemma burst upon me I felt my
: a~f ~ in fvGr
was too horrible this alternative
which Harry Underwood's request
had put before her.
If she refused 10 divorce MIN. held
him 10 his marriage ties. she was put
in the position. we'll nigh unbearable
to a woman Of Lillian Underwood's
pride. of holding a man bound to her
who had ceased to care for her
But. if she did divorce him, she
would again be pilloried in the pub
lie eye. in only lesser degree than
she had been when her first hus-
band. Will Morton, in order to gain
his own freedom and in revenge for
her defiance OF him. had branded
her by an unjust suit for divorce.
She was an illustrator and adver-
Using Jingle writer OF national fame.
The notoriety of her first divorce
made her fair game for the news
papers II it were not for the war
its monopoly of the news columns.
her trouble would be the basis of
i first page features. and the theme II
women writer's comments. And even
with newspaper conditions as they
are I knew Lillian could not entire
~ escape that cruel notoriety
knew the woman at my side we'll
enough - be certain that no CON
sideration for herself would touch
her. She would give Harry Under
wood the boon he so insolently ask
ed i'm a moment If it were not for
her little daughter. But TO keep the
breath Of scandal from Marion. the
child whose companionship she had
sacrificed for years before because
her high sense OF honor compelled
her to save Dicky from her hus-
bands vengea6ce. the child who had
been so lately restored TO her. she
she would fight like any reused
tigress for her young
II told you I had lost my sense Of
values" Lillian went on drearily. 4
want 20 play the game fairly with
Harry. and. OF course. I don't want
TO stand in the way OF the girls
marriage 10 him-that has always
seemed 10 me TO be a particularly
mean spirited thing for an injured
wife 20 do. But I can't drag little
Marion through the mire OF suit
for divorce. Tell me. Madge. what
shall do"
I could not speak for a moment
in sheer Amusement at Lillian's at
titude That Lillian Underwood.
upon whose brave buoyant spirit I
, had always leaned. should be help
lessly appealing 10 me. bewildered
me- Then my Indignation at the
whole cruel proceeding broke its
bonds. and 7 sprang 20 my feet nv
cheeks blazing with anger.
play the game fairly with Harry. -
/ echoed. and 7 know that all the
pent-up dislike and contempt 7 had
suppressed for Harry Underwood
threaded my voice You've been
doing that for too many years al