South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-05-20
F'ESSION FROM ALICE
HOIEOMBE


For a moment | chung to the back
OF a chair while the walls Of the
room whirled round me in temper
airy @tigo.
From my little mother l had inn
bibed a lasting horror OF the false
friend who had lured her husband
from her. doomed her TO worse than
widOwhood. and me 10 the sad
childhood i'm which the father is
spoken of with whispered shame.
This woman was TO me like the
DOGGY man OF which some little
children stand in such terror II
seemed TO me shat / couldn't again
look upon her evil face, confront the
sneer / had watched in the cafe
upon the only occasion / had ever
seen her.
But in a few minutes the love fer
my little mother, which was my
whole life until death called her
away from me, came to the rescue
Of my will power. With almost her
last strength she had urged me TO
forgive and cherish my father
should 1 ever meet him. In the
same solemn hour she had referred
to the woman who had stolen hts
love with no diminution OF the just
hatred she had felt for so many
years 1 knew that if my mother
could know what / was doing she
would approve Of my facing and
| thwarting the malevC'ent personal
ity that had caused 30 much mis-
cry.
WHAT were my own feelings COM
pared with this opportunity for
serving my father and in part
avenging my dead mother, all i'm one
moment? My pulses thrilled with
a primitive desire for conflict and
vengeance as | went back upstairs
in hurried quest of Alice Holcombe
for the recess time was almost over
land I wished to see her before the
pupils came in.
\ Bitter Smile.
Il have been called away by
/ business matter Of the gravest i'm
portance." / told her. IF / attend
TO it properly l ought TO get that
/ train ten minutes after school closes.
/ But l hate 10 leave you alone with
the extra work"
What nonsense" she exclaimed
promptly. There's nothing here [
can't attend to easily But you can't
make il from here unless you get a
! taxi"
I'm going TO telephone for one
right now" 1 said mechanically, ror
my thoughts were busy. not with
Alice Holcombe's cheerful ready
words. but with the dismayed eX-
preston l had seen leap into her
eyes at my announcement
She didn't want me TO go for some
reason which l was sure was un-
connected with the work devolving
upon US i'm the absence of Mr.. Stock
bridge She had spoken only the
truth. There was nothing especial
on hand. and l knew Alice Hol-
cOmbe was the last person in the
world 10 object 10 extra work She
was generous in the extreme IN
thought and action Ii was not the
thought OF the extra work that was
troubling her.
With a sudden impulse I put my
hand on her shoulder.
What is IL. dear?" I asked You
don't want me 10 go for some rea-
son not connected with the work. I
can see that Ii is imperative that
60 10 the city this afternoon or
shouldn't think Of leaving. But at
least tell me what is troubling YOU.
shall go away easier for knowing.
and perhaps I can help YOU.
She smiled a trifle bitterly.
The Fear"
If you're a nerve specialist with
experience OF patients having all
sorts OF queer notions YOU may oe
able TO do something" she said with
ironical draw she has used so much
that il has become almost a part OF
her. Otherwise you can't help me.
Run along. child. and telephone for
your taxi Those hoodlums will be
storming upstairs in another minute
or two"
My taxi can wait. L said deter
minedly Il can leave my pupils
alone long enough 10 telephone. But
as il happens I've had so many
queer notions and premOnitions my
self tina; 1 feel I'm particularly We'll