Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-12-18
MY
vi
Adele Ganison's
New Phase off,
REVELATIONS
OF A WIFE
THE DEMAND MADGE
MADE OF CLAIRE FOSTER

For a long tense minute after my
call TO Claire Foster through her closed
door there was no answer, although my
ears, always sharp. heard furtive little
rustlings, and / guessed that the girl
was making some quick change either
in her room or her clothing before
greeting me.
Then her door swung wide, and she
stood framed in the doorway, a. p1tlfui
t~rayesty Of the smartly -gowned, in
souciant ultra-modern girl whom / re-
membered. True, the kimona wrapped
around her was both costly and beau
tiful. but Claire Foster had been dis
tinctly the poppy, tweed-coated, sport
skirted and bloused type Of girl.
I could not have visualized her In a
kimona. Although her bobbed hair
with its natural wave was freshly
brushed-I reflected that 1t took but
a second or two to reduce it to order
she had no had time to remove all
traces of the rouge and powder she
must have hastily applied, and |
guessed that underneath the cosmetics,
which the glowing girl of the summer
before had never needed. there was a
pallor she did not wish me to see.
She was quick witted enough to play
up to me, as I had known she would
when I called her name through the
door. We never had addressed each
other by anything save the formal
Mrs. Graham" and Miss Foster
but she promptly responded to my use
of her first name with an exuberant
little cry.
"Oh. Madge. How dear OF you to
To Rod Sha mast
hectic time
Claire plays UP"
She put out her hand, pulled me past
her into the room. swung the door TO
securely behind me and spoke in a tone
so l~ifeiess, SO changed from the tone
she had just used that / started in
amazement.
sThat was the way you wished me
TO play IN. wasn't it? If I was too
familiar. pray forgive me
She stood a few PAGES from me-.
still, almost bristling. as If she were
an animal at bay. Her eyes were as
full of life as her voice was devoid
of it, and they gazed at me with a
defiance that | was sure was only a
mask for far different emotions.
"You did just exactly what ] wished
you to do" | said in the matter-of-
fact tones I would have used TO a
pupil. when. in my teaching days, /
had had occasion to commend a task
performed. And now. tell me about
YOUR arm and shoulder. Dicky says
they are bruised. Are they too sore
for you TO get on a travelling dress:
Her eyes widened.
"What do you mean?' she breathed.
MI ,,.r4 -, +aic Won hqfE home
with us. of course | said briskiy.
Are you able to geT
"Oh. I'm able enough" she returned.
MY arm and shoulder are a little lame,
but I've exaggerated them in order TO
keep out Of the way of those pet
stuffed poodles on the veranda. Her
voice dripped contempt and aversion.
then changed to sharp, half-susplelous
wonder.
ii Brought 1t On Myself"
you want me to go home with you
why?
Suppose we don't discuss the reason
now" replied smoothly. We haven't
time. Just now | want you TO do some
thing for me. Will youT'
She hesitated only a second.
"Of course" she said simply. What
is its'
Get into one of your smart little
understanding YOU could travel IN
tonight if necessary. and come with
me into the dining room. Mrs barker
is 10 give Mr.. Graham and me some
sumner there, If Mr.. Graham doesnt
upset everything By s~quabbling with her
before / get back there. If can man
age to smooth things out | Will stay
here with you tonight, and we viii
leave tomorrow forenoon. If not, We
will drive back TO the hotel IN aaid-
win"
Il understand" she said slowly, ad-
dressing herself rather thar me, Its
going to be like the third act of a so
ciety comedy. Effective closeup of
husband. wife and-and-third party
amicably supping together with all the
gossiping Indies peeping through the
cracks of the door. oh. yes. III join
you, and ! suppose ought TO be mighty
grateful for the chance.
But she stared at me, I'm not,
some way. haven't at all the proper
feelings for the occasion, ] assure you.
You'd much better leave me alone. I'm
planning to leave tomorrow. anyway.
and there's really nc reason why you
should mix yourself up in this mess. ]
brought it on myself. and can see it
through
She was as hard, as unyielding as a
concrete wall. but I guessed that be
hind it she was nothing but a fright
ened child. l found myself longing to
comfort her. but / knew the danger of
her breaking down under sympathy. and
/ kept my voice as cold as her own.
II ana not insulting YOU by supposlng
that there is any reason why ! should
not see you through this | said de-
iiberately. And because | have come
up here to get you out of this nest
of gossip, / expect O TO play the
game as | outline 1t"
Next-The Keen Question Claire
Foster Wished Madge to Answer.