The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-07-20
Revelations
of Wife
How Jack Made II Necessary For
Madse to Break the News Biuntly.
BY ADELE GARRISON

so, 1 obeyed him, and lifted my eyes
to his.
What read in them made me
tremble. This was a new Jack facing
me across the table.
The cousin brother, my best friend
since my childhood, was gone. I did
not know this man who reached out
his hand and covered mine as it lay
on the table before me.
I did not admit to myself why, but I
wished, oh, so earnestly, that I had
told Jack over the telephone of my
marriage during his years absence in
the South America wilderness,
where he could neither send nor re-
ceive letters.
No brother could have been kinder
or nearer to me during all my life
than this distant cousin of mine had
been. I had felt guilty at having
married during his absence without
his knowing about it. So / had wait
ed to tell him Of my marriage until
we should have finished the dinner
to which Jack had asked me on the
first day he returned from his exile.
1 must not wait another minute,
told myself.
Jack said brokenly, there is
something 1 want to tell you-Pm
afraid you will be angry, but please
don't be, big brother, will your"
Jack Declares His Love.
There is something I'm going to
tell you first" Jack smiled tenderly
at me- land that is that this big
brother stuff is done for, as far as
I'm concerned. In fact, I've been
just taking the role for two or three
years back, because knew you didn't
care the way I wanted you to. But
this year out in the wilderness has
made me realize just what life would
be to me without you. I've been kick
ing myself all over South America
that 1 didn't try to make you care
I've just about gone through Gehenna,
too, think you might fall in love with
somebody while 1 was gone. But II
saw you didn't wear anybody's ring
anyway. so I said to myself. I'm not
going to wait another minute to tell
her love her, love her, love her."
Jacks voice, pitched to a low key
anyway, so that no one should be able
to hear what he was saying, sank al
most to a whisper with the last
words.
I sat stunned. helpless, grief
stricked.
To think that I should be the one
kindest friend I had ever know!
"Oid ! startIe You 2"
Worst of all, to think that by my
own shortsightedness and obstinacy
1 had let him tell me this secret,
which 1 knew he, never would have
revealed if he had dreamd was mar
ried.
Mrs. Stewart, my old landlady, had
limited that Jack was in love with
me.
My husband had told me point
blank that 1 would find out Jacks
brotherly attitude to be a myth.
And yet I had gone on blindly to
this. 1 had even removed my we'd
ding and engagement rings and hid
den them in my mesh bag that Jack
might not know of my marriage before
1 was ready to tell him.
Did 1 startle you, dear?" Jack
leaned over the table, his face anx-
ious, tender close to mine. Il should
not have told you here, 1 know, but I
couldn't keep it a minute longer"
ooh, Jack, don't!" I moaned, and
then, to my horror, 1 began to cry. |
could not control my sobs, although
I covered my face with my handker- |
chief.
There, there, sweetheart, I'll have |
you out of this in a jiffy," Jack was
at my size, helping me to rise, get
ting me into my coat, shielding me |
from the curious gaze Of the other
diners
'Here!" He threw a bill toward the |
waiter. PAY my bill out of that, get |
us a taxi quick, and keep the change. |
Hurry"
yes, sir, thank you, sir" the wait
er dashing ahead Of us AS we emery |
ed from the door he was standing |
proudly by the open door Of a taxi" |
where to, sir?" The chauffeur |
touched his cap.
Anywhere. Central Park" Jack
helped me in, sat down beside me,
the door slammed and the taxi rolled |
away.
The only other time in my life Jack
had seen me cry was when my
mother died. Then I had wept my
grief out on his shoulder secure in
the knowledge of his brotherly love-
AS the taxi started, he slipped his
arm around me.
whatever it is, dear, cry it out in
my arms" he whispered.
But at his touch 1 shuddered, and |
drew myself away. 1 was Dicky's
wife. This situation was intolerable.
must end it at once. With a mighty
effort, 1 controlled my sobs, and,
wiping my eyes, sat upright.
Dear, dear boy" I said.' please
forgive me. 1 never thought of this
Or 1 would have told you over the
telephone"
Told me what?' Jacks voice was
harsh and quick. His arm dropped
from my wrist.
There was no use wasting words
in the telling. 1 took my courage in
both hands.
'T am married, Jack" I said family.
II have been married for over
month"
"Godi" The expletive seemed forced /
from his lips. 1 heard the name ut
tered that way once before, when a