The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-11-13
New Revelations of
a Wife
By ADELE GARRISON

why Madae Determined to Take Marion
Into Her Own Particular Care.
Hot water bag and a restorative?"
I asked the question Of Lillian quietly
throwing off my hat and wrap as I did
so. Hr eyes were anxiously searching
hr little daughters face but she gave
me a signal of assent with her head,
and I went swiftly out of the room.
| Luckily I am familiar with very cram
ny of Lillian's menage so it was but the
work Of a few minutes to gather to-
gether all the things I thought she
might need. AS I worked, my mind
busted itself with the problem which
Marion presented.
| I knew that she was an intensely
nervous child, had been so from birth.
And the strangeness of her upbringing,
her separation from her mother, her
fathers indifference, her loneliness, save
| for the feeble grandmother whom she
| adored--but who couldn't take proper
care of her-had thwarted her chances
for normal, healthy childhood.
From babyhood she had been her
grandmother's idol and her grandmother
hers. Old Mrs. Norton belonged to the
emotional, hysterical type Of women, and
she petted the child constantly and
spoiled her outrageously. And when
Lillian finally regained control of the
little child her mother heart was too
hungry for the baby of whom she had
been deprived so long to see that the
little girl had the judicious letting
alone which her taut, childish nerves
demanded.
Now the grandmother lay dying, and
was sure if the little girl went through |
the awful experience of seeing her
grandmother dead or dying-for death |
is a sight no child should wltness-the |
shock would have lasting, perhaps ir- |
reparable effects.
Lillian, feared, was too absorbed in |
her little daughter to use correctly the |
keen judgment which was habitually |
hers. And the sight of Marion's pinched |
bloodless face, her twitching eyelids, |
had borne in upon me the conviction |
that she ought to be removed from the
house Of death as quickly as possible.
"I'm So Cold"
But the decision, the mental submits
sion to the opinion Of others which had
been mine for many months, chung like
a hampering hand to my thoughts. Aft
er, Marion was distinctly Lllian's bust
ness, not mine.
Then the selfishness Of my attitude
flashed upon me like a revelation. Lii
liam, whether she were conscious of it
or not, needed aid--Lllian, who had
HSVeT ldlIeu me OF any OLDeI OF neT |
friends when her clear brain and ac-
curate judgment were needed!
My cheeks burned with shame at my
own vacillation. And, as I hurried back {
to Lilian's bedroom with the articles
I had gathered, l resolved that I would 4
take the matter Of Marion into my own
hands. Il
Just what was going to do didn't '
know. Only one point was clear. l
meant to get her away from the house ]
and from the knowledge of her grand Y
mothers condition as soon as possible.
AS I entered the bedroom I saw Lii t
Ian already had undressed her little t
daughter, and had put over her night t
garments a soft, warm robe. But hesv-
lily covered as she was. and with her e
mothers arms closely holding her, the
child was murmurins family; "Oh.
mamma. I'm so cold" Over and over
she spoke the words, and 1 could see
her slender little figure trenble with
the nervous chill that had seized her.
I tucked one hot water bag against
her back under the robe and laid the
,ther upon the sheets Of the bed. Then
held the tiny glass Of restorative to
her lips.
Drink it, darling Lillian said ten
ierly.
And the child, always an obedient
little creature, swallowed the draught
With Inns that tremb1ed visibly as she
aid them upon the rim OF the glass.
into Quiet Sleep.
"Get into bed with her." 1 whispered
to Lillian, land 1 will
,,le the covers on. Then I'll hurry back
With a cup of hot milk. AS soon as we
ret her warm she will be all right"
Lillian looked across the child's head
II me with eyes that were both CRATE
nj and understanding There was some
hing more-an approval that was sweet
indeed to me- 1t was an expression
uh;cb had missed from my friends
YES. for which systematically, I had
onged without knowing either that
i'd so or why.
7 brought the hot milk, saw that Mar
IN drank it, and waited quietly by the
edside until the child's convulsive
,yitchinr ceased and she dropped into
o,,iet slunnber. Then I rose and quiet
? removed the heavy cover from both
lother and child.
"She will be all right now" I whts-
arad "Don't attempt to leave her. |