New Britain herald., 1921-12-19


 first thing that came into my head,
 "It you had permitted me 10 finish my sentence" said with mandacious dignity you would have learned that not Miss Dean. but your sister, Eliza beth, is thr real reason for my wish ug to delay i'm going home"
 His face darhcncl, l knew the ooH, It was the "in-law" glance worn by most husbands and wives when he relatives upon the "othcr side" are being discussed, l am not so sure that my own face had not uncon- sciously assumed it.
 "Whats the matter with lisa 2" he demanded, she's always been pretty decent to you"
 "i'li Wire Hcr-"
 'ls that to be counted an especial star in her crown of rcioicing?" 1 retortcd But, as it happens, I'm not denying her kindness and for bearance to an outIander. I'm simply looking at things in a common sense way, You know very well that with Elizabeth and William and four children there, it will be most con. fusng for us to come in upon them Mother and Katie will be fit to be tied"
 1 hurried nerVousy through my last words, for l was trinc ashamed of the reference l had made to an old grudge of mine.
 When Dicky and I were married, his mother and his sisters had been decidedly cool and lofty with the evi- dent attitude that the idolized male of the family had made a mesalliance. All three of them in the years since then had tried to atone for their lack of COrdiality, but 1 never had felt that Elizabeth's contrition was sin ccre.
 My mother-in-law l had grown to love sincerely, and l felt distinct affec- tion and admiration for Harriet Dicky's elder sister. But Elizabeth Harrison--to outward ap- poarance the sweetest tempered, most placid of the three Women-always had affected me adversely, and in my inmost heart I knew that l never had forgiven her for those long past sights, although I had tried to keep
 
 edge as much as it was in feminine nature to do.
 Dicky sprang to his feet, crossed the room and lowered above m~, 
 Commend me to woman for dig ging old grudges from their graves, " he said scathingly. "But if your sen sitive soul is so wrung by the pros pect of Lisa's proximity, why there is nothing more to be said I'll wire her that you'd like to have her clear out before you get there"
 \ Tense Moment
 That in sudden gust of anger Dicky would be perfectly capable of doing the preposterous thing he had suggested, I well knew, And Il thoroughly appreciated the necessity of turning his anger in some other or diverting him to good lumor if it were possible to do so.
 "Command me to a man for twist | ng innocent remarks to suit his own :" I retorted. Because am planning to save confusion, | guard your mother from worry, and | incidentally, to keep you-the one who would most dislike the confusion | from a distasteful experience, you 1y into a passion and plan to send an insulting message like that to your sister. As for this sudden hurry to l 20 home, don't think you are mis- eading me. l am perfectly well | aware that there will be no especial for you here after Bess Dean goes home"
 I stopped abruptly, breathless, a rifle terrified, and bravely suppressing | desire to. laugh. For Dicky's face was a study in bewilderment.
 It is my pride that l have always | kept any jealousy under such rigid | control that Dicky could have no pos Sihle knowledge save his own keen in | .uitions that it existed And l had had no need of suppressing any feel | ng concerning .Bess Dean save a pos That Dicky had fathomed my attitude toward her l was sure, and I ap- oreciated to the full the bewildered surprise which was his at my out ,urst. Well, I'll be eternally boiled in oil f you aren't the outside limit :" he gasped. Do you mean to tell me that iou'Ve taken seriously"
 Something in my eyes must have betrayed me, He stopped short and he seized me by the houldcrs and shook inc with bur | esqued energy, his good humor restored. You little devil :" he said, Eve | lad nothing on you for getting out of slippery situation. "Because you we're peeved at me for mind-reading | our desire to let Bess Dean fly the | oop first, you drag Lisa in. Then, | when you're afraid I'll spill the beans | n that direction, you switch back and | ry to make me believe you're jealous. ! barn it I'd like to make you red icaded, crazy jealous of me just once | st1f Irpll'ra tpp d. zbIoolnIlv I1uritnn n