New Britain herald., 1922-04-28
The Arrangements Lillian Made
 With Tom Chester.

With Tom Chester.
 Lilian's hand firmly held over my lips not only prevented me from con fessing the vain weakness which l had discovered In my own soul as lis, tened 10 my mothor-in-law's tiradc, but also from indignantly disclaimine my friends own assumption thai Mother Graham's derogatory comparl- son Of Tom Choster's age 10 mine was the thing which bothered mo most. '"
 Thankful. indeed was l second later, when she removed tho kindly hand, that l had not uttered the dis claimer, for another turning Of my psycho-analytical llashight into my mental recesses had shown me that her statement was true. Even through the mental nagellatIon which had followed my mother-in-law's ac- cusatons had run the panic stricken mutterng Of my vanity.
 Tt isn't true. 1 am not much older. And-l look the same as when l married Dicky. l do! I dol"
 As if l had really spoken the words, Lillian pulled me to my feet and held me facing her while she spoke brisl<ly, positively:
 Did you ever know mo to salvo anybody's feelings with an untrue complment?' she demanded.
 Never" l answered truthfuly,
 Then you'll believe me when l tells you something's as Katie would put 1t. You haven't begun to break yet. In fact, 1 believe you're look ing better in some ways than you were u-ho I 6re hot nt the theater. and thought that night you were about the prettiest bit Of flesh and blood I had ever seen"
 She drew a sibiant breath and bent . suddenly-keen look upon me.
 You have a number of years yet before you come to a beautiful wom- ans Gethsemane-the first ravages of time in her face But unless you want to let that time spoil all your after-life. you'd better get yourself into different mental attitude toward it. There's only one way to face that time. Amputate your vanity before hand with a sharp swift stroke, then, | when the wound has healed, you can grow old gracefully, almost contcnted- ly. Come along now. the sermon is | over, and I have important things to say to you and young Mir. Chester"
 What Madge Regretted.
 I followed her with gratitude and | humility, pushing out of sight the vanity which she had just appeased- gratitude for her timely succor of my wounded spirit, humility before the sanity, the greatness of spirit, which she. a woman who had pos sessed rare beauty. had seen her youth pass, and welcomed with banners the silvering hair and etching facial lines of middle age.
 Mir. Chester spring to his feet as we came across the lawn. and l caught in bis eyes the same look of boyish ad- miration which l had seen in them before I quickly averted my own with a fine little rage at my mother in-law in my heart. By her outburst she had effectually prevented mo from ever again regarding young Mir. Ches ter with impersonal friendliness. should always be self conscious when in his presence, always be wondering 1, how much of what she had said con cerning his thought of me was true.
 Lillian gave mo no time for foolish introspection, however. She was speaking briskly almost before we reached Tom Chester's side.
 Now Madge. Mir. Chester has only a few minutes before he must leave to meet those operatives, and we have to arrange a way of getting the re- ports from the men to me. l have a very definite reason for not having /. them by mail Until Smith leaves this neighborhood he mustn't know of any unusual activity on the part of any member of this household. Katherine. at the hospital, won't come back here even for five minutes until he is safely out of the way. If we , see her, it will be in Dr. Pettits office. And while MT. Chester will receive the reports Of the operatives, C he must not come here again with them. found out today that Smith , went with his employer into the next county to look at some horses, so he is out of the way for a few hours, but ' we must not risk another conference t here. And you mustn't be seen speaking to Mir Chester, yet he must P manage to see you whenever the men o have anything to report to noe, Therefore, I have arranged this" z l hel0 my breath, NonueTlnS what r she meant me to do, Y
 The First Rendezvous"
 MT. Chester will ask a friend of f Legion boy, whose f people occasionally sell milk-to call f us up whenever he has two quarts of r milk if we wish to call for it, His 2 friend does not know the reason for r the call, but obligcs Mr Chester, is discreet, and will be silent, Now q here is where you come in. You q drive along one of these roads until h you come to the place we shall desig nate. stop your car and step into the woods as if gathering autumn leaves I one who has ever seen you f knows what bug you are on that, anyway. MT. Chester will be near, f. and will deliver you the messages, i, which you will remember exactly. He h will give you also the next rendezvous on a different road, and will then vamose while you cut enough autumn {, caves to give an ostensibe reason Il for your stop, pile them in the car and drive home. The first rendez- !" fous I'll give you now.