New Britain herald., 1923-12-01
MY HUSBANDS
 Carlson New Phase of RELATIONS OF A WIFE

around here. Madge, I'll call a limousine and you and Leila drive around for an hour. You've probably got some shopping or something that you can do. I'll stay here with Ali, and we can walk around the block and smoke. What do you say?"
 That it's splendid scheme" returned.
 Come, Leila, let's look for those handkerchiefs your mother-in- Ia W wished us to purchase"
 She agreed listlessly, but he gave me no trouble on the drive. xhd when we returned to the hospital recep- I tion room, we found Dr. Braithwaite, vsibly worn. with Dicky and Alfred on either side of him, and were just in time to hear him say:
 She's all right. Operation a suc- cess, heart in fine condition, things not as bad as l feared. although they were bad enough, but you have every right to be hopeful as to the future. And you"-to Alfred-''prob- ably will be able to see her for a min ute or two this fternoon-Madge {! | quick 7"
 I did not need the warning. I had been watching Leila closely and my arms caught her fragile figure as she swooned against me.
 Dr. Braithwaite Wanted to Know
 All About Leila. It was but an instant after caught Leila in my arms that Alfred and Dr. Braithwaite were at my side, with Dicky close behind them.
 Let me take her 70. Alfred said hoarsely, but Dr. Braithwaite inter- posed sharp command:
 Don't touch her. Here, Madge, this way :"
 He was down on his knees beside me, and hnd lowered Leila's insen- sible figure to the floor even as ne spoke. An office woman and a nurse appeared as if by magic, and curt command from the surgeons lips sent them scurrying. to return al- most instantly with water and re- storatires, which the nurse, under Dr, Braithwaite's direction, applied.
 Let me have the nearest room and rolling cot at once" the sur geon said to the office woman, and Leila scarcely had opened her eyes before she was stenderly transported to a room on the floor above us Alfred, Dieky and I stood helplessly by while the surgeon and nurse worAed over her. but 1t was only few minutes before Leila's weak voice spoke her husbands name, and Dr. Braithwaite beckoned to him peremptorily.
 "s't beside her and hold her hand, but don't let her talk" he said, and with nod to the nurse to renain within call, he swept Dicky ana me out Of the room with him.
 That girl is in a bad way" he said when we were again in the re- ception room. 'lf she had a more robnss physique she could conquer those nerves of hers, but as 1t is----"
 He stopped and eyed me sharply. | wondered if my face had betrayed anything to him.
 The Doctors Questions
 What do you know about herr" he demanded. Has she any especial cause for worry? It's all nonsense, you know. to account for this per- formance by anxiety for her mother in-law. l can sec that she is very much attached to her. but a col- lapse of this kind would not follow anxiety for her own mother, unless she was in unusually bad shape. Of course, 1t may be-"
 He broke off again, apparently studying the patterns Of the rug at his feet Then he turned 10 Dicky:
 T wish you'd telephone Harriet that the operation was successful and that everything is going we'll Tell her I'll come directly to the apartment when I leave here, which will be in about fifteen minutes"
 Right away" Dicky answered promptly, and his brother-in-law put a possessive hand upon my arm.
 Come over her." he said leading me to a deserted corned Of the re- ception room, where he could not be overheard.