The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-08-17
REVELATIONS
OF A WIFE
What Dicky's Letter Brought to Madas
~ ADELE oARRIsoN.

What Dicky's Letter Brought to Madae
! I fairly snatched Dicky's letter from
the top of the small bundle William
held out to me. 1t seemed weeks in
stead of days since I had parted from
my husband. And a letter from him
is always something of an event to
me, for since our marriage he has sell
dom been away from home long enough
to warrant a letter.
Like most artists, Dicky's chiro-
graphy is execrable. "Scrawl' is al
most too dIgnified a name to apply to
| it, And as he writes but few words to
page I knew that the bulkiness Of
the envelope I held did Tot mean any
excess in the length Of the epistle.
! The bold rambling lines fairly
jumped at me as I tore open the en-
! velope without waiting to cut it in my
| usual methodical manner. A remin-
iscent smile came to my lips as did
so. How many times had heard
Dicky laughingly term me "old-maid-
ish," because of my precise manner of
opening my correspondence!
well, Madge, darling" the letter
began, and my heart thrilled at the
familiar salutation, one which is on
Dicky's lips frequently when opening
a conversation with me. I could almost
hear his lips utter the words. so
strongly did the sight of them bring
my husbands vivid personality before
me.
I've been thinking over things a
BIT" the words ran on, although I've
been too busy to start the old think
tank going very rapidly, and I've come
to the conclusion that was about
ninety-seven kinds OF a brute the
night before I went away.
'T certainly did make ructions about
that earden-tennis court stunt, and I
want YOU to know that I'm mighty
sorry. If there's any particular kind
of penance you want me to do I'll go
without the eats or drink for day,
mr. any other equally fiendish torture
YOUR ingenious mind can invent. Bu1
tell me you forgive me, won't you!
shirt NV eyes. unable to read fur
tber for n second or two. Dicks re-
pentance is always royal, ana Inc IL.
tie pleading sentence at the end OF his
apology was one frequently '
heard from his lips.
My wonderful royal lover-nusoano
whv was 1t that IL" this greatest OF an
tests Of manhood h. was hanging back
while other men Of his class Were
giving themselves gladly, regally!
Unbidden there rose oeIore my
mental vision a picture OF the "ounoeo
officer in the next room, man VINO
was playing real mans part In the
greatest of all world struggles. 1t
hurt me cruelty, this contrast Oh ule
two men which was thrust upon me.
turned to the letter again, Tor DlI-
+erness had entered into the loving
thoughts of my husband which MS re-
pentance had brought me.
started violently at the next "oros'
IF was as If my husbands messasS
was answering my unspoken crlt1cAsin
ST know you must be thinking a.!
sorts of unspeakable things OF me-
the letter went on, 'but sweetheart
don't be any more severe In yoHL
judgement than you have to BE- l
+hinlx sometimes I'm seven-eights ano
then some of a blithering idiot, put
I'm going to stick to the course Fo
napped out. Perhaps when the p1ne
comes for me to exlain you WONT Dc
"a angry and disguised as you thinA
YOU are now"
~ What Diekey Asked
T looked over at Lillian in sheer
beInless amazement, as if she were
reading the letter with me. II vas
an unconscious gesture, born OF my
,,++er bewtlderment at Dicky's words.
yuba+ he meant-what he was tr3lng
~ convey to mel had not the snfnt-
est idea.
R,t Lillian wasn't looking at me.
with characteristic consideration she
had drawn William to the other SIDE or
tho room. and was pointing OUT TO
hin, from the window the dlffGent
building on the hospital grounds,
thus leaving me unobserved to read
my letter.
aoga again. There were but few more
words. I read them quickly-re'ent- |
fully.
tcRv the way, there is bundle or
manuscript, some photographs and |
stuff. belonging to Edith Fairfax In |
the second lower drawer Of my cltfro- |
nter. II the drawer is locked you4l |
And the key hanging on a small nail |
in the corner OF the clothes closet. |
meant to have sent them to hel, but |
was called away too suddenly Would !
YOU mind seeing that she gets them?
And-please be as kind to her as you
can. Always yours,
"DIcKY."
I crumpled the letter in my hand |
In a sudden childish, futile passion of |
resentment. Again the bitter con-