South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-04-18
Revelations of a Wife
My Heart and Ny Husband
BY ADELE GARRISON

replied, setting herself into an atti-
tude OF attentive listening
began at my fathers enthusiasm
over our outing together. and re-
viewed the whole series OF incidents
which had so impressed themselves
upon my mind. Lillian didn't inter-
rupt me with a single question un-
III 1 had finished. Then for several
minutes later she sat mOtionless. her
chin in her cupped hands. Then
she lifted her head. looked at me
steadily.
"A ghost from the past" she re-
peated. "Madge, dear. pardon me
for raking up unpleasant things, but
you told me once your mothers un-
happy history Do you know wheth-
er that woman for whom your faith
er deserted her is living or dead2"
Why LILLIAN Asked Madge For a
Minute Description Of The
Woman.
Lillian's question opened a dark
avenue OF thought, the gates 20
which I had resolutely kept closed
ever since my fathers revelation TO
me OF his identity. Queerly enough,
the odd actions OF the woman In the
cafe had suggested no connection
with my mothers tragedy, although
at Lillian's words l wondered at my
own blindness.
"Of course, that's ALL" I ex-
claimed, then answered my friends
question. MY father told me a long
time ago, when he first revealed his
identity 20 me, that he hadn't seen
that woman for 20 years. and did not
know whether she were living or
dead. It was the only time ne ever
referred to her, and have no reason
to think he has learned anything
about her since, except"
Is Lillian Right?
Except for that night IN the cafe"
Lillian finished the next sentence.
Depend upon ii, Madge, that wo-
man is the answer From what you
tell me. the sight of her was a COM
plete surprise and shock to him.
Your father is, OF course. old, and
much reduced in physical strength,
mental vigor and power of will from
what he used to be, but he's too
much a man Of the world to be so
upset by the sight Of any woman
unless she had the power to make
you suffer. You are the darling or
his heart. the one person on earth
whom he loves. and his love for you
is alteration, nothing less Because
OF his deep remorse for the suffering
he caused your mother, his love for
you, his wish to keep suffering away
from you, might lead him into all
sorts Of absurd QuiXotic actions, es-
pecially If he thought that the suf-
fering were coming from the same
source that caused your mothers
mo doubt he is buying her off,
the most ridiculous scheme in the
world when you consider the power
he could WELD If he wished IL. With
his Affiliations, just a word from him
Of attempted blackmail on her part
and she would be landed so deep IN
jail that she couldn't dig her way
out in a hundred years But he,
no doubt, is so afraid that you
might in some way get a hint Of her
that he IS submitting to any eXtor-
ton, perhaps even himself propos-
ing to pay her for silence and exile
from your vicinity.
She stopped and looked at me
Questioningly. l nodded my head IN
confirmation Of her words.
II am sure you are right" said.
Everything about that incident IN
the cafe fits your theory perfectly.
For instance, bear a striking re
semblance 10 my mother-at least
people have always told me so. And
when that woman first saw me that
night had my back tuNed toward
her. or she saw my father first-her
eyes showed horror as well as IN
mistakable recognition. though / am
sure that I never saw her before"
Exactly" Lillian replied. and
followed her assent with a question.
'In what cafe did you dine that
night?"
I told her. She drew tiny note