South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-02-22
Revelations Vile 8qoA a25s5
WHAT BESS DEAN CALMLY TOLD
MADGE WAS HER Plan.

WHAT BESS DEAN CALMLY TOLD I
MADGE WAS HER PLAN.
"Bess Deani" / sprang 10 my feet. .
letting the papers and letters fan
unheeded TO the ground. Where /
ever did you drop from ?''
1t was the most banal Of greet
ings. but it was the ony one I could
think of in the confusion OF seeing
her. and the certainty that without
telling a deliberate lie, I could not
say 1 was glad TO see her.
My attitude toward Bess Dean
always has been one of distinctly
mixed emotions. admire her
rather superficial briluancy, enjoy
sometimes the clever. flashing chat
ter which is her general manner of
speech. and behind which l think
she masks whatever real thoughts
she may have. for I never have seen
heR serious. while I disapprove the
hardness, the cynicism, the petty
unscrupulousness which 1 believe
her TO possess I think she has
enough conscience and cool blood
to keep her from being fendishly
evil as Grace Draper is. or cauti-
ousIy wicked as is Rita Brown.
"You Seem Surprised"
The best thing about Bess Dean
always has been her friendship for
Alice Holcombe now Alice Stock
bridge And the news which Alice
had written that Miss Dean had not
been asked to come back TO the Bay
view school, because of her cham
pionship Of Alice and Kenneth
Stockbridge. softened my heart to-
ward her. although 1 instinctively
felt that unpleasantness for me was
apt TO follow her presence in my
vicinity
I had not forgotten the distinct
penchant she had shown for Dicky
upon several occasions. notably my
last meeting with her, when by
piggy go to Cork" tactics I had
thwarted her expressed wish to pose
for one of Dicky's magazine illustra-
tions. That she had comprehended
and resented my maneuvre and its
success with Dicky I knew from a
little singing reminder that she
would not forget my Efforts TO
help her. But in her laughing face
now there was nothing but friendly
goOd-humor, save for the touch Of
malice which always appears to
Turk in her eyes.
you seem surprised, ma cherie,"
she said with a Gallo little shrug
, Although I happen to know from
Alice Stockbridge that there is no
French blood in Bess Deans ances-
( try. yet have observed that she de-
lights to use French words and
I phrases. not always correctly and
I affects sometimes a foreign spright-
liness of manner which I think has
been a matter Of painful acquire
ment. Her natural cynical malici-
Gus raillery is much more attrac-
tive.
Bess Maneuvres.
You really startled me-" I re-
turned. And yet, 1 was just read
ing Alice's letter which said that
you were at her wedding, and that
might see you. I see what she
means now"
NO you don't. unless Allies a
mind reader" she rejoined tartly.
"and I never gave her credit for any
particular powers in that direction.
I didn't know myself that 1 was
coming up in this section. But she
read me a letter in which YOU raved
over the beauties Of the region. and
having been brought up on Wash
ington Irving myself, and having an
extra two weeks-oh, you private
schools, I'm for you'll thought
that I'd meander up this way and
see what IL looked like You haven't
established any monopoly on the
region. have your"
mo. indeed" I rejoined. laugh
ing at the piquant little moue with
which she punctuated her question.
Where are YOU staying?'
I'm not staying anywhere" she
retorted. Il came up last night.
got off at this station because It was
your address. and went TO the only
hotel the Cold Spring House for
the night. Then I came down here
at mail time. because I thought I
probably would have the opportunity
TO say Surprise. Surprise" and find
out something about the farm re-
sorts down here No hotels for me!
A picturesque farmhouse for mine.
What's the matter with that para
disc you've been touting to Allie? or
would I be too disturbing an ele-
ment?"
There was more than = tinge Of
malice in her voice and eyes now.
/ They plainly said that if 1 did not
arrange for her TO stay at Mrs Cos
groves she would interpret my ac-
tioE a. having It's root in apprehen-
sion OF her being thrown into
/ Dicky's COmpanionship. OF course.
being a woman and proud. I did ex-
actly what she had maneuvred for
me 10 do-summoned my sunniest
smile and most cordial tones
Indeed. I think you'd be Just
, what we need" I said with an en-
thusiasm that I fiatter myself was
plausible We've been dull as ditch
water all summer But I do not
know whether Mrs Cosgrove has
any possible place 20 stow YOU away.
| Nevertheless, you must come back
with me 20 dinner-only noon din
ners up here. YOU know-and then
Wen find out about it,"
That viii be delightful" she re-