South Bend news-times., 1921-01-23
Revelations of a Wife

BY ADELE GARRISON

would bo withou: the help Of our
volatile, garrulOus but efficient little
maid
7 had succeeded in my purpose.
Tv mOther-in-law had been most
Rratifyiugly startled. but my shot
had proved boomerang indeed. II
was ] who now faced the problem 0:
letting Katie leave or calming her
temper instantly. I knew her tenn
pcstuOus nature sufficiently 10 realize
that 81 she once let herself go sha
would no doubt say things that
vould make Il well nigh impossible
for Us 20 continue in the relation oi
mistress and maid.
With a feeling that IL was my last
resort I went up to the girl, put my
hands upon her shoulders with the
old half-stern, half-affectionate
manner which I have many times
found effective with her, and SAID
kindly vet with frmuess.
Katie, YOU little goose, look al
ue. Nobody wants YOU 20 leave
here. would like 10 keep YOU anC
Jim an my life. But you deserve
vacation. and there is a reason
why r want Mother Graham 10 think
YOU aren't coming back. But ] want
you back I'm six weeks. Don't YOU
understand me, YOU foolish gir!2'
Katie had been twisting and turn
ing en- my grasp. her head held sui
lculy down as 81 she were deter
mined not 10 mce- my eyes. knew,
however. that she was listening 70
what 7 was saying. Yet I held my
breath as 7 finished. wondering mis-
crably what the outcome would be.
Several years experience OF Katie's
r1oCds has taught me 10 be prepared
for anything. Therefore I was not
surprised TO feel her relax Imply
my grasp. and the next minute hear
her laugh with a glee equal in in
tensity 20 her fury Of the moment
before.
"Ha. Ia, Ha," I guessed she was
almost hysterical in her relief. ~
see now vot YOU get at. You want
70 play vun joke on old vOmans !
bet yoI she always say. Wy you no
get rid Of dot Katie? She vun
bunch Of SOUP greens2' Oh. useC
20 feel bad from dot, but I know
better now. poor old vOmans." 1
was almost malicious enough 10 wish
my martinez mothAr-in-law co.ld
hear the superb magnanimity in
NaGe's voice. and you think ven
YOU get chance YOU ioost slam her
yuu in Stats. make her sit Oop and
Use her bean yun leedle bit, amt II ~
Ny mental reactions upon listen
ing 20 this atroCious vulgar tumble
OF what Katie fOndly supposed 10 be
the latest thing in American slang,
the hallmark Of her graduation
from alien speech. gave me distinc'
food for thought wheni I had left
the kitchen. leaving a radiant Katie
behind me.
can remember the time when /
would have felt only disgust and
LANCER at her little speech, and would
have sternly reproved her for it.
New, the only emotion l experienced
was desire 10 get away from the
girl as quickly as possible for fear
that the laughter ] was heroically
/ trying 20 repress would escape. and
either mOrtally offend her or give
her an idea OF herself as a humor-
/ ist.
Had I deteriorated from the stan
dards I had held during my early
married life or had I simply become
more human The question fingered
with me after ] had said lamelS
enough 20 Katie:
yes. it is q joke. Katie. Please
do as / ask" and had received her
joyous familiar promise:
"All right, Meesis Graham. ] feeX."
4 glance at my wrist watch told
me that II / wished to catch the
! train Z had promised Lillian TO take
I I could indulge in no further intro
spection and retrOSpcctiOn. So
/ promptly shelved the matter Of my
diminishing ideals. hurried through
THE last touches OF the careful toilet
/ 7 always make for a trip 10 the city
and made my train with only a few
/ Easping seconds TO spare.
hate 20 hurry. Ii upSets both
my nerves and my dignity. Th,
/ cCnsciOu sEess that was flushed
that my. hair vas disarranged. that
THE passengers had gazed at my
/ breathless entrance with varying de
rrecs Of amusement made me un
/ Icomforta ble all through the hour:
| journey. 10 was Only when I alighteC
from the train that 1 recovered my
poise.
As 7 walked up the stairs 20 ths
line OF waiting taNis. 7 caught just
a GLIMPSE OF a woman's figure enter
ing a limousine on the other side OF
1.-THE driveway Her face was turned
from me. but something in the
graceful lines OF her figure and the
way IN which she managed her en-
trance turned me fairly faint.
For though I knew that she was
an occupant OF prison, that 7 mus
be mistaken. the image OF Grac,
/ Draper flashed in memory before my
eyes.