South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-09-24
Revelations "a Vile e9oAAsasHsios

There they are. I can see Uncle
Alfred pointing out the place 10 the
taxi man."
Marion's sharp eyes discovered the
returning travellers first, and her
clear voice heralded their coming
The next minute the taxi turned into
the Durkee driveway and / heard
Marion's urgent whisper to her
mother.
Mother. what shall I call Uncle
Alfred's wife? I've always called her
Miss Leila before, but she's a Mrs.
now"
Why not call her Aunt Leila p
Lillian suggested.
"Oh, I'd love TO! But, you see, ]
don't know her so well as 1 do Uncle
Alfred, and was afraid perhaps she
wouldn't like me to-"
I'm quite sure she'd like it." Lii
! liam assured her, and then the tax
drew up TO the veranda steps, and
Alfred, springing out. caught his
waiting little mother in a bear hug
while the bride, with Dicky's quickly
proffered assistance, aughted almost
as swiftly and rushed into her sis
ter's arms.
1 think both Lillian and I, specta-
tors of this reunion, were psychically
aware of a certain tension in the
mental atmosphere. Not on the par
OF the bride and groom. one could
see their bubbling happiness with
half an eye. But that here was both
] .
loved ones supremacy in the mind.
of both Leila's sister and Alfred!
mother was easily discernible.
1 was conscious OF a certain ten.
sion in my own mind, predicateC
upon my knowledge of the uncer,
tainty Of Mrs. Durkee's moods. How
would she greet her new daughter.
lin-law? The manner Of that greet
ing and welcome would sound the
keynote OF their future relations, anC
I hoped intensely that my ear would
catch full, true pitch.
Even as the thought came to my
mind Her Fluffiness disengaged her
self from her sons arms.
but where's my new daughter?'
she said in her most charming way
with her most delightful smile, on,
which Dicky declares would "charn
the most Bolshevistically inclineC
bird from its wild freedom"
Right here, mother, dear" LeilI
carolled. leaving Edith's arms, anC
rushing up to her mOther-in-law
Her taller figure stopped 10 the tin!
one, and the two women were locked
in a close. emotional embrace, while
Alfred stood by beaming fatuously
Edith drew a long breath, whether
Of approval or some less pleasur
able emotion I could not tell, while
Lillian and 1 involuntarily glanced
at each other, and I fancied I reaC
the same relief in her eyes which
1 knew was mirrored in my own.
It was Dicky. OF course. wht
turned the tenseness of the momen
into laughter. 1 used to think tina
he acted the part of the clown from
wanton high spirits. 1 am beginning
TO see he often saves the deteriOra
ton of a moment from sentiment t.
pathos by his antics.
"Alf, old dear" he said sorrow.
fully. "Hain't there nobody goin' t
weep over me. 1 rolled in only {
few minutes before you. Did I ge
any tears or kisses or embraces
I'll tell the world, all I had handed
to me were shrieks of Don't rumpl'
my gown!"
The falsetto with which he haC
mimicked Mrs. Durkee changed 10 ;
deeper tone as he added:
IF 1t hadn't been for my little
sweeheat here I'd have gone fortl
into the croo-el world 10 die alone.
I knew that he had caught sigh
OF the child's expressive, Inundated
face when he said that nobody haC
kissed him, and had fastened t
make amends. Her face changed 1T
expression so suddenly that she gavu
the effect Of laughing and crying a
once. but little Mrs Durkee's laugh
ing voice fortunately took our atten
ton from her.
you may kiss me now IL you like
Dicky-bird.' she said, with he
pretty lips adorably pouted toward