South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-08-22
Revelations of a Wife
My Heart and Ny Husband
By ADELE GARRISON

Mother Graham. Lillian and I
sprang to our feet simultaneously as
little Mrs. Durkee rushed away from
the q BILE. The men. less used 20 50
purely feminine an emergency.
looked at each other in awkward be-
wilderment. augmented in Alfred
Durkee.s case BY an ugly brick red
lush or anger.
Pretty Leila Fairfax's color had
faded instantly. Even her lips were
white AS she glanced up piteously at
alfred. then looked down again
quickly. She was evidently suffer-
ing an agony of humiliation, and I
felt my heart hot with Indignation
against Alfred's mother as l started
toward the door with the intention Of
bringing little Mrs. Durkee 70 her
senses II l had 20 turn the fire hose
on her in order 70 accomplish my
purpose.
Evidently lillian and Mother era
ham had tho same thought, for we
found ourselves confronting each
other as we neared the door. Mother
Graham waved US aside imperiously:
Go back 20 the table," she said.
Y will attend 10 this.g
she sailed out OF the door majes-
tically. Lillian spoke softly in my
ear.
..She is right" she whispered.
There is no other woman at the
u bic with Leila"
rushed TO the girls side. and put
my arms impetuously around her
What wonderful news. Leila,
dear" cried, frantically signaling
the others TO back up my efforts at
STRENGTHENING out matters. 1 doubted
the success Of my ruse. however. for
I felt the girls body shaking IN my
arms with the sObs she was trying TO
suppress.
\ Saving Confession.
Leila, Sweetheart" Underneath
its frantic tenderness Alfred Durkee s
boyish voice held note I had never
heard in II before. grim, steely In
Fiction which IL was as we'll his
mother did not hear. Look at me.
You know what 1 think of this dam
rable business"
Don't. don't" the girl whispered
pIeadingly from the shelter OF my
shoulder. 81 knew"
Look here. folks" Diclxy's voice,
cheerily insouciant. seemed 20 clear
the mental atmosphere. Let me
tell you that you're making noun
tain out or a darned tiny mOlehill.
staged doesn't mean that Airs
mother disapproves or won't be SIM
ply wrapped up IN Leila when she
gets over the first idea Of having her
boy married. There is something
nout that idea which makes a pros
peCtive mother-in-law bite holes IN
the atmospheric just naturally af-
fects EN- that way. You should have
seen mine when I first broke the
news that the lady who now graces
the head OF my table had consented
10 make me the happiest man on
earth
He paused TO make a grandilo-
oUent bow and throw me a kiss, while
i smiled inwardly at this revelation
which Dicky had never made before
of Mother Craham's behavior when
he told her OF his approaching mar
rage. although had guessed IL from
her attitude toward me in the first
months OF cur marriage.
And now" DiCky continued
there's nobody Ike Madge on the
face of the earth for mother. OF
course. she rags her sometimes-my
1.ater hasn't my beautiful disposi-
tcn." he smiled engagingly, but
MadCe's the white-haired girl with
mother just the same, and I'll wager
Enu -FOUR cents tndL she : out IN Ine
hall now reading the riot act 20 Mrs
Durkee in blissful forGetfulness OF
the ructions she herself raised once
upon a time. So hold up your head
Leila. and look pleasant. for I'm 60
ing 20 kiss you in about fourteen
seconds"
JightcnCd Eyes.
knew that he had purpCsely spur
his nonsense out in order 20 give the
girl time 20 get herself together. That
he had succeeded ] knew when
saw her lift her head in pretty laugh
ing confusion at his threat, the color
restored 20 her cheeks, the light &c
her eyes
lie had succeeded in something
else. too. in softening Alfred Durkee''
hot anger towards his mother. max