The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-11-16
New Revelations of
a Wife
What Katherine Told Madee About Her
Heart and Plans
BY ADELE GARRISON

| What Katherine Told Madae About Her
Heart and Plans.
katherine drew her hand away from
| my clasp with little jerk, and as SIZE
sprang up from the couch, dashed the
| tears from her eyes.
What an idiot you must think me,
| Madge!" she said. Pm a fine speci-
men Of nurse. going to pieces This
| way"
There was bitter self condemnatio
in her tone. She evidently meant me
to believe that sheer nervousness bad
caused her emotion, but 1 refused to &C
| cept the tentative explanation. 1 vas
sure that she would feel all the better
for opening her heart to me.
/ slipped to her side, put my arms
7 around her.
us Jack still worrying the life out of
your I asked srftly.
She started violently, then turned her
face to my shoulder, and for a nom IT
or two I could feel her slight shoulders
shake with the sobs she had repressed
SO long.
I smoothed her soft hair, waited for
the ebullftion to pass. I had deliberate
ly encouraged the outburst, for Kath-
crime, because of her pride in her call
ing, seldom allows herself an instantis
deviation from her poised calmness Of
demeanor.
How did you know I just had a
cry?' she demanded whimsically a few
moments later.
From experience" I returned. "Now
just suppose you tell me all about it,
unless you think l ought to go down
for Lillian first"
Time enough for Lillian when the
physician calls me- she replied. And
there isn't very much to tell. It's the
same old story. Jack insists upon my
marrying him and giving up any KIND
of work when old Mrs. Morton shall have
passed away. He has money enough, you
know, from that last investment of his,
so that he can take care of me COM
fortably,- and 1 don't believe they are
going to let him go back to the front.
g.. part! impossbIe!'
We'll, why don't you?" I asked, try
ing to keep note Of sympathy out of
my voice. I know from experience that
there is a perverse strain in KatherinL's
mentality. The surest way to get at her
real inner thoughts is to sound a note Ct
scepticism.
why Madge Graham"' she ex-
claimed, wide-eyed. You know I can
which work." 1 asked quietly Red
Cross or secret service?''
She was silent a moment.
you've put your finger on my trouble,
child" she said at last, and there was
hint OF tragedy in her voice. "Of
course, I'm glad to be of service to Lii
liam here, but this service isn't never
will be. my vocation. Why, Madge!-
her voice grew tense--'Im just as much
consecrated to my Red Cross nursing
as Jack was to his fighting. Nothing
can take its place, nothing must hinder
it,"
But suppose Jack should consent to
your going back to the Red Cross mrs
ing after YOU had married him?'
You ought to know Jack better than
that" she said reproachfuly. BE
sides, you can see what an impossible |
arrangement that would be for him-he |
here, unable to do any more for his |
country, and his wife nursing in |
France. II he could go back himself |
it would be different. No. dear, there's |
only one way out 1t seems to me, and |
that is for Jack and me to part"
Part! Jack and you! Impossible!" I
exclaimed. why, he's mad about you!"
And what do you think I feel for
him? she blazed out, and for a moment
I had an insight into the smoldering
fires beneath my little friends demure
exterior.
1--WE thought it all out, dear girl"
she went on a moment later, her voice
colorless and even, land there's no use
about it. It's hard enough as
it is"
Have you told Jack?' asked
What Madge Resolved.
mot yet. No use saying anything
until old Mrs. Morton is gone. TIL. n
I'm going to ask Lillian for my -elaase
and go back to France.
But Katherine" 1 protested, rem~:n-
boring the story she had told me OF Dr.
one time romantic interest
~ her, don't you realize wtat Jack
will think If you throw hlri over this
way and go back to France? lie VIII
II know perfectly well what he will
imagine" she retorted. He mas '"c:l
ina ginning it a long, long time. And
II he chooses SO to misjudge the purpose
TO which I have devoted myself, 1 can
not help it,
There was that in her tone which told
me that Jacks foolish jealousy of Dr.
Braithwaite had at last aroused resent
nent. in Katherine's patient heart. And
knew her we'll enough to realize that
she would be as slow to forgiv. as she
was to be angered.
My heart was heavy for my brother
cousin, but I couldn't help realizing
he Justice of Katherine's position. But
resolved grimiy to meddle,. aud NEEDLE
hard, with their love affair if 1 saw the
opportunity to do 50.
cHAPERONES FOR BACHELOR ,