South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-07-30
Revelations "a Vile sYoAa5asHs56u

7 don't think second times are ever
as good as first. do you. Auntie
Madge Pc
NO. dear. don't" returned
promptly. a shade too promptly. I
think 20 deceive Lillian. for I caught
a swift. quickly glance from
her sym pathetic eyes which told me
that she comprehended my bewild.r-
I ed resentment toward my husband
trip 70 the city.
Not his boys FIRST ASKING triumph.
but Edith Fairfax's smiles were oc-
cupying his attention, / said 10 nv
self bitterly. and the barbed little
thought efrectually spoiled the rest
OF our last last days camping for me
and stayed with me through the
hustle OF our return.
Fortunately. however. was given
no time 10 indulge my morbid fan
cles. for the cause OF our coming
back was a message from DR.. Petit.
brought 20 US by Jerry TIGER, who
was waiting at the cottage when we
returned with our really unusual
catch OF fish. Lillian read It and
passed it TO me.
AT last " she said tensely
LuIlan's hand firmly held over my
| lips not only prevented me from
confessing the vain weakness which
7 had discovered in my own soul as
listened 10 my mother-in-la IT,
rade. but also from Indignantly dis
claiming my friends own assump-
I ton that Mother Graham's deroga-
I tory comparison OF Tom Chester
age TO mine was the thing which
bothered me most"
Thankful, indeed, was l a second
later. when she removed the kindly
hand. that had not uttered the dis
claimer. for another turning OF my
psycho-analyticaI dashlight into my
mental recesses had shown me that
| her statement was true. Even
through the mental flagellation
which had followed my mother-in-
laws accusations had run the panic
stricken muttering of my vanity:
1T isn't true. I am not much old
or. And look the same as when
1 married Dicky. I do! I do"
As II / had really spoken the
words, Lillian pulled me 10 my feet
and held me facing her while she
spoke briskly. decisively:
Did you ever know me TO salve
anybody's feelings with an untrue
compliment" she demanded.
Never" 1 answered truthfully.
Then you'll believe me when l
tell you something's as Katie would
put It.
You haven't begun 10 break yet. In
/ fact I believe you're better looking
in some ways than you were when
/ first saw you that evening at the
{ theater. and I thought that night you
we're about the prettiest bit OF flesh
and blood I had even seen.
She drew a sibilant breath and
bent a suddenly-keen look upon me.
You have a number of years yet
before YOU come TO a beautlful wo-
mans Gethsemane-th first ravages
of time in her face But unless you
want TO let that time spoil all your
after-Iife. you'd better get yourself
into a diffeTent mental attitude
toward it. There's only one way to
face that time. Amputate your van
ity beforehand with a sharp, swift
stroke. then when the wound has
healed, you can grow old gracefully,
almost contentedly. Come along
now, the sermon is over, and have
| important things to say to you and
young Mr.. Chester"
1 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,
with which she, a woman who had
possessed rare beauty. had seen her
youth pass, and welcomed with ban
ners the silveSing hair and etching
facial lines of middle-age.
What Madge Regretted.
Mr.. Chester sprang TO his feet as
we came across the lawn, and l
caught in his eyes the same look OF
boyish admiration which I had seen
in them before. 1 quickly averted
my own with a fine little rage at my
mother-in-law in my heart. BY her
outburst she had effectually prevent
ed me from ever again regarding
young Mr.. Chester with impersOnal
frinedliness. 1 should always be
se6-consCiOus when in his presence,
always be wondering how much OF
what she had said concerning his
thought Of me was true.
Lillian gave me no time for fool