Great Falls daily tribune., 1920-03-30
Mu Heart and
My Husband
Adele Garrison New Phase |
Revelations
OF a Wife
Show Leila Fairfax Solved Perpiexing
Problem

"How Leila Fairfax Solved a Perpiexing
Problem
let little Mrs. Durkee have that
cry without an interruption from me
save the timely proffer of one Of AL
fred's large linen handkerchiefs.
To tell the truth. was so annoyed at
the foolish short sightedness which she
had shown in the matter Of the conserve
Leila had made and Alfred had praised
so extravagantly that l did not feel like
sympathizing with her outburst as
otherwise would have done. So with an
air Of detachment l withdrew to the
window seat and sat down. was
while waited, but refraincd, knowing
that my little neighbor would be griev-
Ously offended if l did so.
When the last sobs had subsided and
an unromantic shifting had heralded
her return to composure l rose and
walked to the bedside.
Just you watt she said with childish
vindictiveness. It'll Junior tells you his
fiancee knows more about history or
school teaching or cooking than you do"
Il sincerely hope she will,'' l said
gayly. "Td pity Junior if she didn't
oh, it's all very well for you to talk
now when Juniors only a little more
than year old. But you'll see" this
i'll voice dripping with dark prognosti-
cation.
If I do. I'll come to you and 'ac-
knowledge the corn,' as Dicky says" |
retorted lightly. But don't yo, think I'd
better bathe your face and eyes now:
You don't want them to suspect you've
been crying"
Woe Beyond Comfort.
Little they care whether I've been
crying she said pestishly. '.Alfred's
probably holding that pink silk COM
forter while she tries experiments to
get that fruit stain out Of it, and tell
ing her all the time not to care what old
cranky mother ::ays about the conserve.
because it's the best stuff that ever
came down the pike Oh. you can't fool
me-
IL shan.t attempt to, l replied quietly.
You're simply talking the most arrant
nonsense, and you know it,
'Alf's to blame mostly" his mother
SAID with quick unreasoning shift OF
opinion. Leila was really quite decent
about asking my advice about things,
and she brought a sample Of everything
up Tor me to see If it would do before
she finished it. and she didn't do half
bad for beginner, but l suppose now
IL
with her.
bathed her face and hands without
replying, and brought her a glass of the
iced orange juice which was her favor
lte beverage. There was no use talking
TO her. l saw that beside her maternal
jealousy, her vanity had been sorely
wounded by Leila's undoubted skill in
preserving. 1t would be hard task for
the girl to regain the undoubtcd liking
with which little Mrs. Durkee had re
garded her at first.
With little hot feeling Of indisna-
tion l wondered whether it were worth
the girls while to make the effort Sh.
had made strenuous efforts to please her
mother inlaW. and | knew
from Alfred's face as he had stalked out
of his mothers room that his sympathirs
were all with his sweetheart
Poor little Mrs. Durkce. She had
thrown the game she was playing, and
pltlful. petty game it, was, too, directly
into the hands Of the girl she had con
strained unwillingly to be her opponent.
What would Leila do with her victory:
Whether by accident or design. Leila
made no reference to preserves for two
Or three days, and brought no more
samples for her mother in law to try.
Her manner was perfect in it's exquisite
but l thought l detected a |
of the warm hearted en-
thusasm which had characterized her !
before. Little Mrs. Durkee, never very
subtle. was frankly puzzled. and I watch |!
I'd with amusement her efforts 10 solve
the problem.
What Leila Did.
The speculation did her good. and as
Alfred, while courteous and attentive to
her. carried around with him an unmis-
taxable CROUCH I think the little wom-
an grew really alarmed at last for fear
that She had gone too far.
One morning l came into the upstairs
hall just Leila was taking a breakfast |
tray to Mrs. Durkce. She did not see
me, and l saw her stop and peer into
the room before she entered. Behind
her l could see what she was seeing
The reflection of my little neighbor in
her big pier glass.
1t was woebcgone little face re-
.lected there. one from which its owner
vas Wiping away a furtive tear. l saw
leila nod her head emphaticalIy, as K
'he had just settled something in her
,Wn mind. aud when she had greeted
ne and left Mrs. Durkcc and hcr break
asst tray in my care she rushed back to
he kitchen.
When she came back Alfred was with
Ter. looking bit shcepish. as is the
masculine custom when dragged into :,
purely feminine controversy.
My dear Leila began viyaciousiy
will You please discipline this son Of
ours: He's been raving for days about
hat delicious chill sauce YOU make. his
special favoritc. and he insisted that he
lad helped y"n make it often enough to
- able to tell me how. so that we could
urprise you with your winters supply.
IL even has all the things piled up in
he kitchen. Will YOU tell him to get
Tut Of the way. and then will you tell
ne. step by step, just how You do it,"
Little Mrs. Durkec's eyes sparkIcd.
Kiss me. 4Alf. and run along she
aid ssuccintly. Now. Leila, you take
our tomatoes
l slipped out of the room. all m,
oubts as to the future happiness Of
ella and Alfred and my little ncighbor
'anished into thin air. The gentle
'irginia girl might not be able to paint
anvases that would live. but 1 maid
ribute to her as genuine artist when
onfronted with her life canvas.
Next: "what Madge Felt Forced to
ell Lillian"
DESlRABLE.