The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-08-10
REVELATIONS
OF A WIFE
Why Did Dieky Say "Don't Worry
About the Price?"
BY ADELE GARRISON.

For a moment the French millinery
room at Hambeps went black before
my eyes. Then the mist cleared, and
l again saw the face of Edith" the
girl from Virginia, he flower-liaxe
face upturned to Dicky's beneath the
blue hat I had wished to purchase.
/ drew little nearer to them as If
fascinated. They were so engrossed in
each other that they noticed nothing.
The girl was speaking, and I felt that
I must hear what she said.
But you ought not to get this one.
Dicky," she said, and In her voice
there was the familiarity of long in
innate friendship. Il am afraid you
are an awfully extravagant boy"
Don't worry about the price" There
was the trace of irritation in Dicky's
voice that always appears when any
one tries to limit his expenditure. The
hat just suits you; it will be per-
fectly stunning with that white suit
with the blue trimmings, and 1t is the
last word in modishness, or I'm no
judge. Wen take it,
The saleswoman lowered over him,
pencil in hand, and I distinctly heard
Dic1y give her his studio address.
Then, as he took out his billbook to
pay for the hat, 1 turned and, regard
les of what the saleswoman who had
waited upon me might think, rushed
toward the seclusion of the waiting
room.
My world had fallen in ruin around
me, and felt that / must reach some
place where 1 could face my misery.
Then the thought of Mrs. Durkee made |
me pause. What could 1 say to her? |
A Toll From Temperament.
But the actual physical illness which |
was fast overwhelming me soon made |
me forget almost the existence of my |
little neighbor. I stumbled through |
the waiting room to the door of the |
room marked Rest" The white |
capped attendant rose to meet me, ex-
claimed as she saw my face and then |
silently and helpfully guided my foot
steps into an inner room and handed |
her hands wildly.
81 am Mrs. Graham" stammered. |
TELL Mrs. Durkee outside"
Then I tainted dead away.
When I came to myself again I was !
lying on cot, there was strong smell
of hartshorn in the air and Mrs. Dur /
KEGS frightened face was beside that
of the nurse.
"Dicky!" l said feebly.
Ell telephone for him right away"
Mrs. Durkee said, but at the horror /
stricken mo! mol" which burst from
me she stopped and stared at me open
mouthed.
us she delirious?" I heard her ask
the nurse feerfully, as 1 closed my
eyes again, and I felt the nurses care
full steady fingers upon my pulse.
NO" the nurse replied, nor is she
ILL., / think she has had a shock of
some kind. Let her rest now. She
will be all right in a few minutes. But
don't bother her with questions"
My gratitude to the woman for her
cheerful sanity can never be- meas
ured in words. l chung to her hand
and pulled her down to me-
Tell her to go and eat her lun-
cheon, 1 whispered, and then come
back here for meg I'll try to go to
sleep for little while. But she must
not telephone my husband until give
her permission.
could hear Mrs. Durl<ee's expostu-
lation, and her gradual yielding to
the persuasion of he nurse. Then
through half-closed eyes, saw her
slip a bill into the nurses hand with
the injunction to get me coffee, broth
or anything she needs" and with a
troubled backward look at me she
went out of the room.
Is Madse's Dream Over?
With a sigh of relief, turned my
face to the wall. The nurse bent over
me again, and I spoke evenly, steadily.
ct should like to be alone for little
while, if you don't mind"
Il will be within call in the next
ROOM" she answered, with wonderful
understanding, and blessed her very
thoughtfulness as she went out.
For 1 could not bear the thought of
any human eye upon me as I wrestled
with the awful problem which con-
fronted me.
My dream of happiness with my
husband was over. That I knew when
l saw him pull out his purse to pay
for the shat that he had just selected
for the pretty Virginia art student,
whose friendship with him had vague
Iy troubled me for sometime.
No friendship, however, could ex-
cuse the sordid thing had just wit
messed. To my Puritanical mind there
was but one explanation for girls
permitting a man, especially married
man, to buy her clothing, and that
was an explanation that made me
shudderinglv cover my face with my
hands and rock my body in torment.
Politicians Make Conditions.