The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-01
MY SOLDIER
HUSBAND
Adele Garrison New Phase of
REVELATIONS
OF A WIFE
Why Madge's Cheeks Burned as
She Talked Ouer the Phone.

TINE ringing of the telephone made
fortunate diversion for me. 1
iidn't wish to arouse my mother-in-
laws anger by disputing her dictum
concerning the propriety of my summary
costume, neither was inclined to agree
with her, for if I had done so 1 knew
that she would have insisted upon my
changing from my garden party at
tire TO the "sinple black silk suit she
had mentioned as being most suitable
Cor the meeting at Towards Hall.
Pardon me- 1 said courteously as
passed her but a sniff was the only an
swer I received. and 1 realized that
something had put her into one of her
most disagreeable moods.
1 went to the downstairs telephone.
but upon my recognition of the voice at
the other end OF the wire 1 wished de-
voutly that 1 had mounted the stairs to
the branch phone upon the second floor
A Familiar Voice.
For the voice was that of Maj. Hugh
Grantland-I knew 1t instantly-and I
realized that my I1other-in-law was in
Just the mood to be cautiously critical
of the fact that the young officer was
calling me upon the telephone. even if
he had just returned from active SER
vice.
but there was no way out now except
for me to go on with the conversation,
although 1 was conscious of the fact
that Mother Graham was no doubt taxi
Ing in every word I uttered. Her ears
are very acute for so elderly a woman
The knowledge of her espionage made
me embarrassed, self-conscious in my
replies to the young officer. With a
perversity of spirit I resolved to keep
my mother-in-law guessing as long as
possible as to the identity of the per-
son calling me.
rs Mrs. Graham there?" This was
the first question that came over the
wire in the well remembered intona-
lions of captain-I had hard work to
think of/him 'major'--Grantland. The
voice was not SO deliberate as when I
had heard it before. Indeed. there was
a distinct nervous haste in the way the
syllables ran together.
This is Mrs. Graham" I was careful
to keep recognition of his voice out of
my own.
This is Grantland, Mrs. Graham"-I
guessed that his modesty had made him
omit his new rank.
oh" I crammed all the surprise pos
sible into the monosyllable. How do
you do?'
1 had a rnischievous mental photo
graph of my mother-in-law turning her
head toward the telephone. listening
with all her ears in her endeavor to
find out who was calling me. That my
feeling was ridiculously petty I knew,
but Mother Graham had ruff1ed my feel
lngs more than I was willing to admit
In her structures upon the costume 1
had chosen for the meeting.
1--WE Been Wounded Again"
I'm fairly well, thank you" Maj.
Grantland. replied. And you?"
"Oh. 1 am disgracefully healthy I
assured him, lightly. When did you
get back?"
about month ago." then hesitating-
ly he added. ST know I should have
called you when I landed. but I thought
that for many reasons. the strongest of
which you probably can guess, I ought
not to do so. But I find that I am
scheduled to speak this afternoon in
your home village. and in fear you
might be there and that we should meet
Unexpectedly. 1 wanted to be sure you
knew beforehand of my expected pres
ence there"
For a long, helpless moment 1 stood.
utterly dumfounded. Then my anger
began to rise against Maj. Grantland