New Britain herald., 1919-09-23

tended. l pleaded d convenient head ache and sent a beautiful cluster of flowers with my card and DickN's at taChed. l knew, of course. that 1 would never return to the BaNNleW school, but not even if my Livelihood had depended upon it could l have at tended that funeral. It took all the courage 1 could muster to make the formal brief call at the home that courtesy demaFded.
 shall always look back upon those closing weeks of school as among the most irkSome of my life. l always begTudge every moment of June that l spend indoors, anyway, and when to the discomfort of spending the long, beautiful summer days in the stuffy schoolrooms was added the unpleas- antness of the queer conditions sur rounding my work and the irritation of Dicky's behavior, l felt that my fa- vorite month had turned anything but d smiling face to me.
 Not that | spent much time fretting over Dicky's persistence in his plan of remaining away from home until I should explain to him the emotion he had misinterpreted upon the morning l had stolen down to get the newSDa- per. In the first year of my marriage, such a decision upon his part would have bowed me to the earth with grief and humilia tion But time has brought me sanity tinged more or less with whimsical humorous cOmprehen- sion of my husbands Vagaries-I think marriage, happy marriage, usual ly brings that blessing to wives and I was reasonably sure that Dickys ac- ton was only a. stubborn adhering to his position because he had taken it so vehem ently and that in all proba- bility he was as anxious to return home as I was to have him come back
 A Poser for Madge.
 And I had a very special and senti- mental reason for believing that his return would not be delayed beyond week our little son would celebrate his first birthday anniversary Dicky, whom little Mrs. Curtis, with reason dubs the "daftiest of daddies," had for the celebration of the event, which fortunately for my school work, fell upon a Sunday. 1 was sure that not even Dicky's stubborn temper would keep him from the baby and me upon this day. If it did I told myself in consistently, he could stay away until Juniors next birthday anniversary for all I cared.
 But the day began to grow danger ously near with no sign from Dicky. My mother-in-law from the day fol-
 
 served absolute silence upon the sub Ject, although I expected an outburst from her at any time
 Little Mrs. Durkee was less discreet She came over often in the evening since the departure of the Fairfax girls, their delightful visit over for their New York apartment.
 I'd much better have 'em out here for good,' she grumb bled one evening when she had tripped across the lawn after supper, a dainty little vision in lavender ruffles "Alf doesn't spend one evening in ten home any more and I'm just positive he's hanging around that girl"
 Which girl?" I asked mischievous- ly, Rita Brown?''
 She made a mortified little moue
 You're just a cat Madge Graham" she pouted, half-laughing, half-seri- ouss' ito bring up that girls name It gives me cold shivers up and down my spine Whenever I think of her. No, thank goodness, Ais cured in that di- rect1on, but I'm afraid-"
 Hes in love with the physician who cured him. l suggested slyly.
 That's just it!" she retorted petu- lantly. Hes sitting around in Leila Fa1rfaX's pocket the whole blessed time. Of course, she's a dear-I ad- init that haven't one bit of obiec- ton to her-indeed, I'm very fond of her, and if Ali has to marry, I'd rath- CT it would be she than any one else. But l don't want him to leave me yet"
 She pouted, wiped her eyes, then shot a poser at me
 Ali tells me that Dicky is living in town for a few weeks. Says he sees a lot of him over at the aFirfax apart ment. I don't think you ought to stand for that, Madge."