Omaha daily bee., 1919-05-17

however, Mlliy Stockbridge sur
prised me indeed.
As if the crash of her cherished
punch bowl had brought her to her
senses, her face, first gray with fear
ard horror, broke up into frightened
emotions. She swayed toward her
husband with arms outstretched as
a terrified child might have done,
and the next moment she was sob
bling against his shoulder, crying out
desperately:
ooh, Ken, I didn't mean to, truly
I didn't! But she made me SO mad.
I'm so glad you stopped me, but
l didn't mean to. Say you'll for
give me, Ken, say it, you know it's
because love you so--say it, Ken,
say It'll"
Madge Explains.
Hush" His voice. was hoarse,
but there was tenderness in it that
the man must have been almost
superhuman to have achieved.
People arc coming, they will hear
you. You know forgive you-and
love you. Now pull yourself to-
gether. Let people think you're up
set because your punch bowl is
broken. Everybody knows how you
cherished it,"
His eyes met mine above her
shoulder, tortured eyes with note
of pleading in them. l knew what
he wished, and spoke not to him,
but to the woman whose face was
hidden against his shoulder.
II will explain things to anybody
who inquiries. Mrs. Stockbridge, so
that you needn't be disturbed"
"Thank--you." l could hardly
hear the words. Indeed. I hadn t
waited for them, but went steadily
forward to meet the two or three in
quisitive souls who had heard the
crash and promptly decided to in
vestigate matters. The others,
more composed or more we'll bred,
were gathered around .Dicky.
Luckily, even with Milly Stock
bridges reputation, the shattered
punch bowl spelled reason enough
to her friends for her agitation. Her
husband was leading her toward
the kitchen as the vanguard of in
quirers met me.
Mrs. Stockbridge Reappears.
ooh, oh, that beautiful punch
BOWL" the foremost woman ex-
claimed with a ghoulish look at the
remains of the bowl on the wet
floor. "And her floor will be ruined,
too. Milly is so particular about her
floors. Something ought to be done
about it right away. | think iii"
| stopped her with little author
itat1ve gesture.
The maid is coming directly"
said, land Mr.. Stockbridge partic-
ularly requested that no one dis
turb Mrs. Stockbridge for a few
minutes. You know she is very ner-
vous anyway, and the breaking of
the bowl has completely upset her"
Il should think it would observ-
ed another woman, the first speaker
being occupied with glazing at me
resentfully. That bowl and the cups
were the treasures of Milly's heart
They were wedding presents, you
know, and the handsomest things
in town."
How did you say it i,appened?"
The first woman eyed me with
glare that dared me to tell my story
twice the same way.
"Why, Mr.. Stockbridge offered to
help her ladle out the punch, and as
he did so, stumbled against the ia
Bile, upsetting the punch bowl"
"Ah, yes!' she nodded her head
sagely. Poor thing, he's so awkward
in his lameness, he must be a great
trial to Milly."
"Humph" snorted the second wo-
man. Shoes on the other foot, |
should say. There's Christine, now.
How's Mrs. Stockbridge feeling,
Christine?"
"She ban all right pretty soon,'
replied Christine stolidly. "Meester
Stockbridge he make her lie down.
She get up pretty quick"
well! | suppose we might as we'll
60 back" the first woman said re-
luctantly, and with a sense of relief
that poor Milly Stockbridge's secret
was safe for the minute, l followed
their retreating backs into the living
room.
So assiduously did they spread the
news of the broken punch bowl that
by the time Mr.. and Mrs. Stock
bridge rejoined their guests-she
this time with distinct traces of
tears upon her face-every woman
in the room was ready with emo
tional condolences over her loss.
But Kenneth Stockbridge didn't
leave his wife's side again. And
when the evening guests had left
she started to accompany Miss Hol-
combe and me to the upper cham
Der where our wraps were, he put
a restraining hand on her arm.
"Alice can do the honors, dear"
he said tenderly. "You are tired out,
and I'm sure Mrs. Graham will ex-
cuse YOU"
Continued Monday
Prentiss- Barnes.