South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-07-22

ambling all over the screened veran-
da. y ou'd be a sensible lady. as 1
am. and realize that when there Is
an unusual stress Of work on hand
man has 10 stay in the city you
wouldn't object 10 his calling on his
friends or even taking them out 10
dinner or the theater"
II cost me an effort 10 say this
calmly and pleasantly. First. because.
dear friend as little Mrs. Durkee is
l inwardly resented her structures
upon my affairs. And second. because
] was by no means as complacent
over the news she had brought me as
I Outwardly appeared
Not that I ever again could be
really jealous of Edith Fairfax. That
she still hOpelessly loved Dicky ]
was sure, although her war work
had given her other interests. and
had brOadened her horizon SO that
she would never again be as unhap-
by over him as she had been. But
during the time following Dickys
airplane accident, vision had been
given me 10 see many things. and
among them was the glorious truth
that despite his VIOLA tile unstableness
nay husbands heart was supremacy
mine.
that ] never would face the danger OF
losing him. but | knew that his fancy
would never be enmeshed by a girl
of Edith FairfaX's gentle, rather col
Orless nature. The rare beauty, the
lmperiOus ways, the touch of diable-
RE of the Grace Draper type OF girl
would always spell danger. at least
temporarily for me. But our mari
/ tai love had weathered one such test.
/ and l resolutely shut my eyes to the
I Z possibility of another. And az for
| idle, graceful attentions from Dtcky
/ 10 his studio friends. l had lOng
since made up my mind that ! would
waste neither time nor emotion IN
needless thought over them.
/ But IT is one thing TO resolve, an
| other TO carry out that resolve, not
! only in the letter. but in the spirit.
/ So, while / was able 10 keep my face
| composed. my hands from trembling.
/ yet any wife will understand that
my brain did not exactly enjoy the
/ pictures which little Mrs. Durkee' S
words had flashed upon it. Inconsist-
| entity. selfishly also, must admit.
? would rather have visualizcd my
! husband sulking in his studio over
/ our disagreement than have pictured
/ him making a joyous fourth in the
/ outings OF Alfred Durkee and the
/ Fairfax girls.
And despite my outward compo-
sure. little Mrs. Durkee was shrewd
| enough to read my thoughts.
/ You're a good talker Madge," she
said calmly. putting out a steadying
! hand toward Junior. who was doing
| his best to OYerturn the walking
l chair, but you can't bluff me. You're
/ no more pleased to hear OF Dicky
rushing a girl around 10 places than
any other woman would be. but
! suppose you'd be chewed up in little
1 pieces before you'd admit il.
How this youngster does grow
\ he must be nearly year old, ism I
/ he?"
Hell have MS first birthday next
/ Sunday" ] said proudly.
Bless my soul, my little friend
/ exclaimed eXcitedly Il didn't know
/ il was that near.
she snatchcd Junior from his
walking chair and began TO coo
: over him in her delightful fashion.
"Rless his heart. if his Auntie
Durkcc didn't almost forget dis
booful baby's birfday. Never mind.
he shall have somehng pretty, so he
shall" She interrupted herself to
| look up at me Shrewdly:
You ought TO have a party for
[ him she said. "Of course, Dicky
will be home for Sunday"
"Of course" l said confidently,
steadfastly crushing down any SEM
blance of doubt.