South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-12-16
WHY MADGE WAS NERVOUS
WHEN SHE CALLED ON Thu
OTHER MRS. GRAHAM"

The amount of interest which
found myself enjoying in my invita-
ton % take tes with the other Mrs.
Graham surprised me It vas an
unusual thing for me to be so af-
fected b. such a trivial occurrence.
Upon analyzing my own thought
processes-a thing I frequently do
/ I discovered that while part OF my
interest was accounted for by the
rather unusual circumstances Of my
telephone acquaintance with her, the
greater portion Of it was due 20 her
apparently casual question concern
ing the hospital 10 which I had been
taken after my ostensible "automo-
bile accident"
The chimerical idea that there was
some connection between her Ques-
ton and my dramatic days at the
hospital became a conviction, then
an obsession in the "A hours that
elapsed between her telephone invi-
tation and my arrival at the door. All
vainly did 1 score myself with the
lash OF my own contempt for the
weakness which made me magnify
and dwell upon every incident con
nected with my hospital experience.
| I could think of nothing e. je save
/ the other Mrs. Graham's" query.
Could it be possible that through
! this accidental acquaintance with a
woman of the same name as my own
7 should perhaps gain a clue TO the
story Of the wounded officer whose
| personality had so large a place in
my thoughts, and about whose iden-
\ tity / knew only the bare name?
/ had inferred from one of his speech
es that he. himself was "One of the
/ poor devils who have no home worth
/ speaking Of" to whom ne had so
/ feelingly referred And from the
/ burning flush which had overspread
/ his face at my laughing, careless al
I fusion 10 1.-THE word of an officer and
"A gentleman" ! had surmised that
there was a painful story. perhaps
| one connected with disgrace. some
where in his life.
/ BY the time 1 reached the "other
Mrs. Graham's' door I was shaking
| inwardly with nervous excitement 1
don't think 1 would have been sur
prised TO have seen Capt Hugh
! Grantland himself open the door to
greet me, so fantastic a riot had my
unchecked imagination run with
me.
The woman who opened the door
to my ring was. however. in her very
appearance, "a sedative for overstrung
| nerves. She was tall and slender,
with coils of silver hair surmOunt-
| ing a face that spelled quiet strength
and calm as plainly as if the words
had been actually written across her
forehead.
! felt as if a quieting hand had
been laid upon my wrist An old
scrlpturaI verse flashed into my mind
THE peace OF God which passeth
/ all understanding" Never in my life
have I seen a person whose very ap-
pearance exemplffied the words as
did the presence Of the woman be-
fore me.
The Service Pin.
She was dressed in a gown Of gray.
/ silky. clinging material that soften
ed the severe simplicity of its lines.
/ An exquisitely embroidered vestee of
white linen with only an army seTv-
ice pin for fastening. and wristbands
to match were the only trimmings.
The service pin caught and held
my eyes. Could il he possible? Then
by a mighty effort I drew the reins
Of my will faulty over my frenzied
Imagination. and transferred my gaze
from the wOman's service pin to her
eyes, which were smiling at me with
ii question in their placid depths.
ct am sure YOU are Mrs. Richard
Graham" she said brightly you
look exactly as 7 had pictured you,
only-prettier' finished with
| charming nairete as she drew me in
side the hall door.
I flushed and took refuge in a con-