Omaha daily bee., 1919-09-15
My HEART and
MY HUSBAND
Adele Garrison's New Phase Of
Revelations
of a Wife
How Alice Holcombe Re-
turned to School.

when will she be back?"
II don't know. She may not re-
turn at all. There is nothing for her
to do"
| "Ill bet a cookie | know where
she's gone" Miss Dean put her
palms upon the rather high desk,
Ieaped lightly to the top of it, and
began swinging her feet. She evil
IDENTIFY was in a cosby mood, andI
wished her anywhere else.
What are you doing here?" l
asked. trying to turn the converse
ton from Alice Holcombe. !
thought you had left with the rest
of them as soon as you reported
this afternoon.
Bess Dean Digs"
ooh, I'm trying to get into the
class with Winesy," she said airily
She didn't leave until just a few
minutes ago. That's the reason pro-
ceeded cautiously until | saw you
were alone. | thought perhaps she
was skinning and cutting her up,
and far be it from me to interfere
with a 1ady's diversions
laughed in spite Of myself her
saucy nonchalance was irresistible.
| have often envied her power to
throw of everything disagreeable,
and at no time more than at this
moment whe9 the weight of the
world seemed to be resting upon my
shoulders.
Then you've really been work
ing" I tried to speak banteringly,
but failed miserably.
"Pos-i-tive-ly.. Got everything
cleared up for a week And let me
tell you something-don't look for
little Bessie in the morning, cause
she's going to be sound asleep in her
little bed. Oh, yes! | know the
orders that old stuffed owl left to-
day, and anybody can obey them
who wants to. But not for me
You can send a written report if
YOU like on my absence, but they
won't fire me for oversleeping, and
should worry if they dock me-"
Il shall file no report unless one
is asked for" I replied a bit stiAly,
"and as far as | am concerned the
entire staff may sleep the whole two
days away"
Don't fool yourself. Day after to-
morrow we'll all have to be in evil
dence at the funeral with teary eye
lashes and black bands on our
sleeves. That's one reason why I'm
going to get good sleep tomorrow.
III need it. If it's one thing, more
than another I can't stand it's a
funeral, and especially one like this
will be-"
opened my lips to say that
under no circumstances would l
attend the funeral of Milly Stock
bridge, and to express my opinion
upon the bad taste OF making. 1T
other than a strictly private affair,
but an instant's second thought
closed them again. Not to Bess
Dean could | utter any CONFIDENCE.
I might as we'll paste it upon the
postoffice bulletin board.
Oh, Lady, Please
Oh. YOU can keep it to yourself"
Miss Dean tossed her head offend
edly.
WHAT" I asked unguardedly.
"Whatever you opened your
mouth to say just now.But never
mind that. 1t me tell you some
thing that you can't deny. Alice
has gone to the coroner's inquest as
a witness, and / know it"
eff you know it, why question
Are?" | asked with a non-commit-
tai air.
"Just for the fun Of seeing you
souirm," she retorted with malc-
ious laugh. II always did enjoy see
ing little goats meandering around
the lawn, and your small Nanny has
certainly slipped its tether about
now. Ta-ta. Keep your secrets
dearie but don't you think you TOOL
little Bessie, for you don't. You'll
have to get up earlier in the morning
than you ever did to pull the wool
over dis chile's eyes"
She slipped from the desk with
careless grace, swept me a hooking
bow that, after all, had no i'll nature
in it, and danced out of the room. |
heard her humming little tune as
she went down the corridor, heard
it again as she came back from her
room and left the building.
stood idly at the window and
watched her little figure tripping
down the path, as if she were the
spirit OF careless, happy youth itself.
and felt old and careworn as
watched her.
| stood at the same window a
number of times in the next hour,
for an uncomfortable restlessness
had seized me, I felt as il | could
rot stand the interval Of waiting
until Alice Holcombe should return:
Upon my sixth OF seventh trip |
saw taxicab being driven rapidly
I'D the curving. private road lead
ing to the school, As it drew up in
front Of the door recognized in the
driver a boy of whom Alice Hol-
combe had spoken as former fav-
orite pupil of hers. The lad got
down from the seat, threw open the
door, and l saw him give a dis
tinct start and thrust his head into
the taxicab. The next instant he
had withdrawn it and cast frantic
look toward the school building.
I leaned from the window, which
was only on the second story, and
called down softly: 49,
What is the matter"
ooh, lady, please come down here
ouickw he implored. miss Hol-
con1be's dead or tainted or some
thing"