The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-09-03
REVELATIONS
OF A WIFE
BY ADELE oARRIsoH.
What Happened When Madge Told
Robert Savarin the Life Story of
Lillian Underwood.


What Happened When Madge Told
Robert Savarin the Life Story Of
Lillian Underwood.
I fairly held my breath while Rob-
ert Savarin studied the pictured face
of Lillian Underwood which he held
in his hand. 1 had told him of the
wonderful success she had had in her
work, and Of the gratitude which was
hers to the man who had long ago
helped her to realize her ambitions.
He had replied with a tender exclar1a-
tion, "the dear, p1ucky child" and the
caressing intonation with which he
pronounced the words had startled me
with it's suggestion of long hidden ro-
nance.
Could it be that this man SO cruelty
buffeted by fate had once been at :.
tracted by the friend 1 loved so dear
ly? 1 knew that Lillian, with charac-
teristic self-depreciation, believed that
the gifted artist who had aided her
early ambitions had no thought Of her
other than as one of the recipients Of
his many kindly acts. I had shrewdly
imagined that the consciousness of
this indifference had added to the hurt
she experienced in putting away from
her the girlish romantic alteration she
had felt for the artist in that long ago
time.
I don't know exactly what I ex-
pected to hear from Robert Savarin's
lips when he should have finally fin
ished his inspection of my friends
picture-perhap an impulsiye little
confidence concerning his own feeling
But he put back the photograph with
out coment and, seating himself by the
fire, fell into a brown study which
did not venture to break
When at last he spoke it was with
an earnestness that startled me.
who is this Mr.. Underwood? Does
he make her happy"
Happy" The 4scornful exclama-
ton broke from me without my realiz-
ing it. And I didn't know whether to
be sorry or glad I had spoken when I
saw the look which flashed into the
eyes of the@ man before me. felt
vaguely as if / were rousing from
slumber something which would not
be easy to put to sleep again.
But there was one point which I
decided in an Instant would not
shield Harry Underwood The truth
might be dangerous to the peace of
mind of Robert Savarin, but the truth
1 meant to tell
The artist himself aided my deci-
sion by the words with which he
greeted my involuntary exclamation.
II can see that he has failed to make
her life happy" he said slowly
Would you be breaking any conf
dence in telling me a little about it?
have very grave reason for ask
ing"
I waited long minute before an
swering. for I was debating how much
or how little of Lillian's life story I
should relate to the man waiting so
eagerly for any particulars concerning
her. If Lillian's affairs had not been
made the subject of so much unfor-
tunate publicity. I should not, Of
course. have felt free to give Robert
Savarin any confidence concerning
her But knew that when he Renter
ed his old world of art and artists
it would only be a question Of story
not in the loving light in which I could
tell it. but tinged with all the breezy
cynicism of the studios
He broke abruptly into my medita-
tons.
"Of course. he said gravely. eff you
don't wish to speak or it. please con-
slider my request not made"
There was pathetic cadence in his
voice that reused me. and when rails
ed my eyes and met the hurt disap-
pointment of his own, made a swift
.and startling decision.
would tell Robert Savarin the
whole Of Lillian Underwood's story
as had heard it from her. from the
time that. helped by his generosity,
she had gone to Paris to study. r
meant to draw such a portrait Of the
woman as she really was. with all the
brave self-sacrifice that was hers. that