Great Falls tribune., 1922-01-17
MY MARRIAGE
.V1 PROBLEMS
Adele Garrison's
New Phase off,.
REVELATIONS
OF A WIFE
WHAT KATIE BEGGED
MADGE

| "Oh. Meesis Graham, My darling
Meesis Graham. You come home to
/ your katie--yuu safe me! You safe
me!'
| Over and over again as my little maid
clung convulsively to me, her twisting
| lips repeated the words with which
she first had greeted Inc. From the
depths Of the hall l saw Mother Gra-
| ham look back, pause irresolutely, then
shrug her shoulders and continue her
journey upstairs to minister to Junior.
Marion, on the steps, turned, stared at
! us in frightened fashion, while from
| the hall, three boys and girl. Eliza
beth's children. came rushing out.
| Lillian descended from the car quick
| ly and put reassuring hand on my
arm.
Take her 10 Dicky's studio she
whispered. "Il see Mrs. Ticer, and
be with you in a few minutes
She ran up the steps to the children
as lightly as Marion herself, and |
turned--half leading, half carrying
| Katie-toward the picturesque old
| corncrib which Dicky had transformed
| into studio, and which had been the
scene of Grace Draper's terrible scheme
| to kidnap my baby boy. ] shivered as
l drew near it. and knew that never
would / be able to enjoy the place
again. But it gave me the seclusion
, | needed for my talk with Katie, and
| welcomed its quiet isolation now.
With one hand holding her firmly, ]
unlatched and flung open the door with
the other. Then / led the sobbing
girl inside. As | closed the door after
us. / caught a glimpse of Jim leaning
against an apple tree, his arms folded
across his chest, his eyes watching US
closely. 1t was but glimpse that
had of his set, white face. so different
from the good -humored if bit stoiid,
countenance which | always had asso-
ciated with Katie's husband. The con
sciousness of something sinister. men
acing. in the atmosphere surrounding
nv faithful little maid settled upon me
oppressiyely.
"Come! Be Sensiblev
| drew her with me to couch, sat
down, and held her close. But she
twisted away from me to her knees,
herself up to the fit of tempestuous
sobbing which l knew must precede
any confidence upon her part.
While the paroxysm continued |
smoother her hair and murmured the
soothing words / would have given to
frightened child And it was not
until she lifted her tear swollen face
to mine after her sobs had subsided
that | spoke to her directly.
Tell me all about it, Katie, | com
manded.
Her eyes widened with terror, her
face blanched.
Dots shoost vat l no can do, Meesis
Graham" she replied pitifuly. Il no
can tell you nuttings. / get me keeled
if ] do"
That's nonsense, Katie | return
ed. trying to keep a commonsense atti- |
tude toward her emotion, but scarcely |
feeling myself infected with the terror
that was SO patiently obsessing her. |
There is nothing you cannot tell me. !
And well make short work Of anybody |
who is frightening you. Come! Be |
sensible girl and tell me everything |
that's troubling YOU
] felt conulsive shudder 60 through |
her slight figure, and she looked at me |
with pitiful, apologetic, yet obstinate |
defiance.
"Oh. Meesis Graham. You no ask
me dot ven you know she stopped, |
trembling.
Know what, Katie?" l encouraged. |
What Is It2'
Know dot / swore me great, big |
swear on my life, Jeem's life, my soul, |
Jeem's soul, on everything l lof in dis I
vorld-und you know dot means dot /
Junior babee-dot would nefer tell /
till he gifes me leave
Until who gives you leave, katie!'
interposed quietly, but she was too
quick for me. I
Nobody. | no mean dot she said
sullenly.
knew the look which was in her
eyes. IT was the fanatic superstition
which her years in this country had
never entirely banished Some one had
brought it all back to her, and she
would be cut into pieces before she
would break the letter of her oath.
But there was something else in her
eyes, also, childish cunning which
told me that she had some scheme in
mind. I spoke in as matter-o Of fact
manner as could manage:
"Yeu want me to do something for
you, Katie, don't you! What is it?'
l54 4-4 4 : i Il