South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-03-02
WHY DID DICKY SAY DON'T
WORRY ABOUT THE
PIRICET'


For a moment the French miliin-
cry room at Hambers went black
before my eyes. Then the mist
cleared. and / again saw the face
Of Edith" the girl from Virginia,
her hower-like face upturned TO
Dicky's beneath the blue hat had
wished 10 purchase.
1 drew little nearer to them as
il fascinated. They were so en-
crossed in each other that they no
ticed nothing. The girl was speak
ing, and I felt that 1 must hear what
she said.
But you ought not TO get this
one, Dicky." she said, and in her
voice there was the familiarity Of
long intimate friendship. Il am
afraid you're an awfully extrava-
CANT boy"
Don't worry about the price"
There was the trace Of irritation in
Dickys voice that always appears
when any one tries to limit his ex-
penditure. THE hat just suits you;
il will be perfectly stunning with
that white SUI with the blue trim
mings, and it is the last word in
modishness, or I'm no Judge. Wen
take it,"
The saleswOman lowered over
him, pencil in hand, and I distinct
" heard Dicky give her his studio
address. Then, as he took out his
billbook TO pay for the hat, turned
and. regardless of what the sales
4
might think rushed toward the Sc
clusion of the waiting room.
My world had fallen in ruins
around me. and I felt that I must
reach some place where I could
face the misery. Then the thought
OF Mrs. Durkee made me pause.
What could 7 say 10 her?
Toll From Temperament.
But the actual physical illness
which was fast overwhelming me
soon made me fouset almost the ex-
istence Of my little neighbor.
stumbled through the waiting room
10 the door Of the room marked
Rest" The white-capped attend
ant rose 20 meet me. exclaimed as
she saw my face and then silently
and helpfully guided my footsteps
into an inner room and handed me
over TO a trained nurse. 1 grasped
her hands wildly.
II am Mrs. Graham" I STAN
mered. Tell Mrs Durkee out
side
Then 7 tainted dead away.
When I came 10 myself again 7
was lying on a cot, there was a
strong smell of hartshorn in the air
and Mrs. Durkee's frightened face
was beside that Of the nurse.
"Dicky!" 7 said feebly
"I'1l telephone for him right
away" Mrs. Durkee said. but at the
horror-stricken NO! MOI" which
burst from me she stopped and
stared at me Open-mouthed.
"Is she deliriOus?" I heard her
ask the nurse fearfully. as I closed
my eyes again. and / felt the nurses
careful. steady fingers upon my
pulse.
NO" the nurse replied. NOR is
she ill., I think she has had a
shock of some kind Let her rest
now. She will be all right in a few
minutes. But don't bother her with
questions"
Ny gratitude 20 the woman for
her cheerful sanity can never be
measured I'm words. 7 clung TO her
hand and pulled her down to me.
Tell her 10 go and eat her lunch
con" I whispered, 'and then tC
come hack here for me. I'll try tC
90 TO sleep FOR a little while But
she mustn't telephone my husband
until I give her permission"
7 could hear Mrs. Durkee's expos
tulation, and her gradual yielding
TO the persuasion Of the nurse Their
through half-closed eyes I saw hel
slip a bill into the nurses hand with
the injunction 10 get me coffee
broth. anything she needs" and
with a troubled backward look al
me she went out Of the room
Is Madge's Dream" Over?
With a sigh OF relief 7 turned my
face 20 the wall. The nurse ben
over me again. and 7 spoke evenly
steadily
Il should like 20 be alone for
IT viii be within call i'm the mex
room" she answered with wonder
ful understanding. and 7 blessed he
thoughtfulness as she went out.
For I could not bear the though
OF any human eve upon me as
wrestled with the awful problem
which confronted mo.
Nv dream OF happiness with IN
husband was over. That I kney
when I saw him pun out his purs
to pay for the hat he had just Sc
lected for the pretty Virginia ar
student. whose friendship with hir
had vaguely troubled me for som
time
40 friendship. however. could ex
cuse the sordid thing 7 had jus
witnessed. To my Puritanical min