South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-05-25

Dicky is always most pUnctilious
IN his courtesy TO me before outsid-
ers, always afraid when we have
had a quarrel that some one will
suspect all is not perfectly serene
between Us. Because OF this, I could
not tell whether he had really for
gotten our unpleasant parting, or
was only feigning TO do so, when
he followed Alfred Durkee up the
/ walks. his face insouciant as II he
hadn't a care in the world.
''Leilal Sweetheart I heard AL
fred murmur as he bent 10 the girls
hower-hke face, kissing her with
blssful oblivion OF our presence and
that Of the taxi driver. who was
looking from the motor car at Us
with evident enjoyment.
We'll, Madge!" Dicky pecked at
my cheek carelessly. where's the
rod? ] know you've got one in
pickle for me somewhere for at
tending that bachelor dinner with
out asking your permission. Lucky
dog" He apostrophized Alfred.
You probably won't even get a re-
monstrance or a reLroachful look
at this stage OF the game But just
you wait till the little girl has worn
her wedding ring for a spell-Ill bet
you'll go through your catechism
every night"
Alfred looked up absently.
What did you say?" he re-
marked blankly, then flushed boy
ishly at Dickys shout OF laughter
Leila, however, wOmanlike. had been
able to give apparently undivided
attention to Afreds tender MUIR
murs and yet hear everything
Dicky had been saying.
You're Perfectly horrid. Dicky-
Bird" she pOuted. 81 don't believe
Madge ever says a word to you, al
though she ought to thrash you
soundly about every other day"
ooh, say not so. gracious LADY,
Prithee, make it only once a week.
DO you hear, ALI, how these women
do together stick? You didn't think
you were getting such a ferocious
female. did you? Better break off
the match. There's time yet, you
know"
Leila's eyes met mine for a
shame-faced instant, and I knew she
was thinking how nearly Diclly's
jesting words had come TO be truth.
I'm not afraid" Alfred smiled
fatuously at Leila. But If were
in your place, Mrs. Madge, I
wouldn't stand for any such asper-
sions as the Dicky-b bird is handing
out. But then, OF course, you
probably do have to trim him up a
bit now and then. Now I'm going
to be the one and only model hus-
band-never need a bit Of disci-
pin
'Leila'd better keep you in a glass
cage and charge admittance for a
look at you after next Tuesday" I
retorted, with the suspicion Of an
edge 10 my laugh. I had been so
absolutely magnanimous in my men
tai attitude toward the bachelor
dinner that it irritated me absurd
~ enough to have Dicky pretend
that I meant to call him TO account
for attending it.
Tuesday" Dicky calculated.
That's right You do hop over the
broOmstick next Tuesday. Your time
is short, old man. l only hope you
don't get in the blue funk I did. It
came over me all Of a sudden that
I was leaving my free, gay life be-
hind, and I dropped the ring and
nearly swooned away. Madge had
TO slap my hands TO bring me to
enough TO go on with the cere-
mony."
Probably If she could have seen
into the future shed have let you
die" Alfred drawled. you see, she
wasn't drawing the matrimonial
prize Leila is. But, honestly, folks,
there is something I'm in a blue
funk over, but IT isn't the wedding.
It's that family dinner tomorrow
night. when all the cousins and the
aunts look me over TO see II I'm
worthy TO be let into the family.
You're coming, Of course. If I don't
have some practical northern Yank-
ees 10 back me up I'm going to be
smothered. I know 1 am, by the
mere weight of the family tree rep