South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-03-31
WHY LILLIAN SAID LIFE Is TOO
FULL OF REAL TRAGEDIES
TO BOTHER ABOUT PIN
PRICKSo
PRICKS."


Il don't believe it was that Mrs.
Allis at all"
Mrs Durkee's clear childish treble
broke the silence that followed my
recital at Robert Savarin's behest Of
the real story" OF our sojourn in
the Catskill mountains. with it's reve-
lation OF the identity OF Mrs. Allis,
who. If our conjectures were correct.
had fired a bullet at me through the
hall door but a few minutes before.
We all turned and looked at her in
amazement. But she was in nowise
aba5hed. She only blushed and
dimpled as she elaaborted her
theory.
do you know what Think" she
began. II thing some woman was
quarrelling with her sweetheart, and
they wandered up here because II is
lonely, and then one fired at the
other and il came through the door"
She looked around as she finished
with such a pretty naive air OF cock
sureness that we all shouted with
laughter. The men had come back
from their search Of the grounds.
with the report that no one was in
sight for rods around, and l think
we were all glad of the relief from
tension that little Mrs. Durkee's ex-
PLANTATION gave us.
1 had heard Of her theories of
things expOunded before. Whenever
any experience Of life is related in
her presence she generally pro-
pounds some perfectly absurd ex-
PLANTATION and sticks to her theory
with pretty persistence. 1 never
have been able TO determine whether
she is deep enough TO realize the alb
surdity Of her remarks and 10 make
them purposely in order to raise
laugh, or whether she really is as
naively foolish as she sometimes ap-
pears.
Whatever the solution, she didn't
display any particular resentment at
our laughter. In fact she laughed
merrily with US.
You'll seei" she said, pouting
prettily and pointing a dainty fore
! finger at Dicky. You laugh at me
now, but you'll find out later that
I'm right.
She turned TO Lillian, and there
was little CLEAN in her eyes that
warned me TO look out for the little
/ stilleto thrust, which the women of
Mrs. Durkee's dainty, childlike,
wholly feminine type know so well
! how to give.
But where is you little daughter
all this timer" she asked sweetly.
Aren't you afraid 10 leave her ali
alone upstairs ?"
If Lillian WINGED under the i'm
piled taunt that she had left her
place ar her child's bedside TO rush
down and manage" things, she did
not betray it.
! "Oh, lightning never strikes twice
in the same place." she said. with a
! carelessness knew was assumed.
Besides, she isn't alone I sent
! Katie TO her as soon as l came
down, and as Marion is sound
asleep ] am sure she won't miss me. Z"
Chances That Meet.
II ] had needed any assurance as
10 the character Of Robert Savarin s
feelings toward Lillian 1 would have
received full confirmation of il dur
ing this little dialogue between the
two women. He had laughed as
heartily as any of us at Mrs. Dur
KEGS nonsense, and 1 had seen him
smile with genuine masculine ad-
miration at the attractive picture the
little woman made with her point
ing forefnger and her pretty pout-
ing.
But at her question concerning
Marion, I saw him start quickly, and
look at her with a close inquiring
scrutiny which changed to cold re-
sentiment as the fact that she meant
the question TO annoy Lillian struck
his quick perceptions Then his
glance sought Lillian's anxiously
and l saw hiEl smile TO himself with
an admiring, triumphant tenderness
at the apparent nonchalance Of her
reply. I knew he was keen enough
TO dip beneath the surface OF her
words and to see the passionate love
and tender car for her little daugh-
ter which lay there, together with
the compromising. forgiving toler.
ance of LRIians attitude toward
Mrs Durkee
j had a further glimpse OF this at
titude of Lillian's later in the eve
ming when the Durkees had gone
and Dicky had shown Mr.. Savarin tC
his room. With a screen placed In
front OF Marion's bed so that ever
the turned down light would not dis
turb her, Lillian and l reviewed the
evening in low tones while be brush.
ed our hair.
What do you suppose was the
matter with Mrs. Durkee tonight p
queried. IT never knew her to bt
catty before"
An Infinite WEAKNESS.
'Catty' isn't the word, Madge.
Lillian said. smiling. 'Kitteny
would suit the purpose better. Their,
isn't a bit OF real malice in Mrs
Durkee. She's turally the kindest
hearted little woman in the world
but she's simply kitten who never
has grown up. She uses her claw,
sometimes, for the sheer fun o.
stretching them, and Is really liz,
norant OF the fact that they can &C.
tually hurt. Then tonight she had q
real grievance from her standpoint
She belongs 20 the class OF womer
who believe that a lady doesn't acf
in emergencies IL there's a mar
/ = L. Il II