South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-07-03
I What Dicky and Madge Did for
Alice HoIcombe.

7 What Dicky and Madgc Did for
Alice HoIcombe.
From the moment that Dicky en-
tered our kitchen he gave Alice
Holcombe no single moment of time
for retrospection over the horror
! which had sent her flying to me.
, Knowing nothing OF the real
tragedy underlying my simple state
ment that Miss HOlcombe was much
upset over the sudden death Of her
/ old friend. Mrs. Stockbridge. he
/ evidently assumed that her shock
and grief were not so grave "A ma
l ture as 20 call for a reverential at
I titude on his part, and therefore
/ set no limit to his mood.
/ When Dicky is in such a mood
\ there Is no resisting him. One must
perforce follow him in his whimsi-
/ cal aerial soarings or sit mentally
1 twidling ones fingers, waiting for
/ his return to earth and sanity.
AS for myself. I was glad indeed
/ TO follow wherever his MOOD might
lead The events eliminating in
the death Of Milly Stockbridge had
! piled upon me in such pell-meI
fashion as TO leave me numbered
| mentally.
knew that there was a distinct
| menace 10 my peace of mind in the
revelations which might follow the
probable inquiry into the cause OF
| Milly Stockbridge's death But I
| had not yet had time TO cOmpre-
bend the real magnitude of the
/ trouble which might come 20 me.
! and / was thankful for Dicky's non
sense, which gave me a necessary
I
introspection.
Culinary Superiority"
And when several times durir
our stay I'm the kitchen l caught a
| involuntary smile cross Alice Hol-
| combe's pale face at the ludicrous
/ picture Dickey presented in one Of
| Katie's bungalow aprons. which he
had insisted upon putting on, to the
| Incidental ripping Of seams and
bursting of buttons. 1 appreciated
| still more my husbands volatile
spirits
Now will you admit mans
culinary superiority. Miss Hol-
cOmbe?" he demanded when at last
after much spectacular show OF
cooking stunts upon his part he
seated Alice and me at the dining
table and proceeded to serve the
]
prepared.
Not a MANS" Miss Holcombe re-
! Joined promptly. but perhaps after
, I have tasted these things l shall be
! ready TO acknowledge"
The mans" I interrupted with
a smile at Dicky
/ He rose, his hand on his heart,
made me a flamboyant bow. but in
his dancing eyes rad his instant
I satisfying comprehension of the
| real sentiment that lay beneath my
| little gulp.
You overwhelm me with honor.
milady I shall reward you-so-"
He bent his head and kissed me
lightly, laughingly. as if still carry
| ing on the jest. But I. thrilling to
the touch of his lips upon my cheek,
knew that he was not jesting. and
| glanced involuntarily consciously.
! at Alice Holcombe. surprising in my
! turn look upon her face which I
knew she would not have conscious
ly betrayed for worlds
Alice HolcOmbe's Eyes.
For II was a gaze OF hopeless,
longing envy. not of my husband,
but OF my happiness. a look such as
I have seen in the eyes of poverty
stricken children gazing through
| ignteQ ShOp windows at the CHRIST
mas toys. ] turned my eyes hastily
away lest she should guess that
had seen. tried TO voice some laugh
ing Jest. found that queer chok-
ing In my throat prevented words
for a moment or two.
And then, all at once there came
to me the astounding realization
that Kenneth Stockbridge was free
al last, and that perhaps flushed
guiltily at my own thought as dis
respectful 10 the dead-happiness
was yet TO be the portion Of the
man who had suffered so long and
Of the sad. whitefaced woman
| across the table.
Alice. my thorny sweet rose. :
Kenneth Stockbridge had written
across her picture when he thought
no eyes but his own would ever see
the words as 1t possible that he
might IN the future gather that
rose for his own?
Dicky surprised me by voicing 4
thought upon a similar line later in
the evening while we were return
ing home from Bayview, where he
had taken Miss Holcombe During
the ride she had volunteered sever