New Britain herald., 1922-01-26


 retreated into his head,
 "Df course, Jim" 1 rose from the table where l had been sitting wait ing for the minutes 10 pass until the time agreed uron by Lillian and me for our excursion with Katie, Dicky and his sister, Mrs. Harri. son, had long since departed for the shopping trip 10 Southampton and the visit to the Bridgchamptoh Beach in order to see the ocean by moonlight. Mrs Ticer, after helping Katie with the supper dishes. had gone home, and Lillian and l, after seeing Marion and Junior settled for tho night, had pre- pared for the excursion. Mother Gra- ham, having awed her daughters tempestuous brood Into submission and consequent sleep, was positively beaming at her chance 10 be d god of the machine.
 Before l followed Jim from the room 1 looked at Lillian, who, I knew, had talked with him since supper. and had wrung from him the consent to katie's going which we needed. She formed the one word Careful" silent ly, and I braced myself for some thing unusual in the interview before mo.
 "You're Not Going Away"
 Katie was nowhere to be seen when entered the kitchen, and as Jim placed chair for me with awkward but genuine courtesy, l realized that he wished 10 talk with me alone, and lao, l. ized something else, also, that the man was on the verge of a breakdown. His hands were trembling, his breath was quick and uneven. and his usual y strong, stolid face was scanned and broken with anguish
 Mrs. Graham" he began faltering- y. Mrs. Graham" He came to full stop. and began twisting his cap round and round in his shaking fingers. l guessed that he cung to the cap purposely that he might have some plausible occupation for those twisting hands.
 Yes, Jim," I said encouragingly, then as he did not speak l leaned for ward and looked at him steadily Don't hesitate to tell me your trouble. Jim, and I am sure l can make you see that it isn't half as bad as you think"
 He looked at me wildly.
 Tt couldn't be any worse, Mrs Graham,' he said. with quiet, despair ing dignity. "I have seen my wife steal out night after night, when she thought 1 didn't know it, and once foJI ing to man. He took to Ais heels when l came up, so l didn't see what he looked like, but if after 1 leave he isn't good to Katie, I'll come back and kill him."
 What do you mean?" l gasped. You're not going away?"
 "Sl,c Likes Him Best"
 "There's nothing else for me to do," he said, with mulish obstinacy that knew it was useless to combat for the present at least. T always made up my mind that when l found my wife liked somebody better than she did me, I'd clear out. I'll own that I didn't do right when I first found this thing out I'm only man, and I | was crazy mad. I handled her pretty rough, Mrs. Graham, and once, l. slapped her.
 He was evidently determined to re- veal the very worst of himself to me, but l was careful to let no hint of dis approval come into my face He was suffering enough without my adding feather weight to his sorrow and re- more.
 But I only did it. to keep her from going out to meet the man again." he went on. She's only a girl, and awful innocent, like little kid in lots Of ways, Katie is, and l didn't want her to get her name up. So I've kept her | in, and waited for you to come home. l know you'll take care of her when I've gone away, and not let her into any trouble. If after while you think the fellows all right, l won't put anything in her way. She can get a divorce and marry him.
 Jim, you're talking like a man in | a delirium," l said. "katies just as much in love with you now as she ever was, and that's a good deal And | Pm sure that soon she can explain why she met that man and then everything will be all right"
 That's what Mrs. Underwood said | that after a while, Katie would ev- plain a lot of things to me, and she said you and her was going with | Katie tonight. But that don't make any difference about my going, Mrs. Graham. Katie hates me now for treating her so rough. She hasn't spoken to me since, and I know it's on account of that other man. No, she likes him best, and I'm better out of the way"