New Britain herald., 1923-03-14
The Angry Decision Dieky's Trade
 Forced On Maiige


 At Dicky's snecrng characterize, ton of Tom Chester as n boob" and tame robin" l pressed my lips tightly together in an attempt to dam the torrent Of angry invectivc l felt surging against him.
 "I will not answer him, no matter what he says--no matter what inc says" l said over and over again 10 myself,
 Dicky momentarily out Of breath, strode up and down the room Sud- denly he halted in front of mo, and glowercd down at mo. his face dis torted with rage.
 q wondered why you didn't make moro of a fuss over that Claire Eos ter business" he snarled, No won der you came running when l sent for you--wth this"
 "You Pitiful Coward v
 You pitiful coward v
 The words tore from my throat without my voliton. The torrent could no longer be stcmmed, l saw Dicky's face as through a mist-a mist shot with flame that seemed to en- vcop me with it's heat. Then I felt myself go icy cold. and heard my own voice speaking slowly, measuredly, as if from a great distance away.
 You have chosen to twist the hys- terical gratitude of boy injured in serving us into something iustifying cowardly taunt to me-" l said. "As for the humiliating ordeal l have just undergone on account of the Claire Foster episode, please know once for all that I did not come running when you sent for me, either because of my own conscience. as you have so chivalrously intimated, or because of the slightest feeling for you. I hur- red upstate in order to stop the publicity which would have been un- bearable on account of your mother and-and-Junior."
 My voice came near breaking at the name of my little lad, but I stead jed it, and rushed on.
 Even if I had been responsible in any way for Tom Chesters foolish ness--which 1 was not-I deny your right to call me to account with a single word
 "You-you-why, almost since our wedding day. you've humiliated me and made me suffer because of your affairs. Grace Draper, Edith Fairfax, Claire Foster-oh ! I haven't words to tell you of what I have gone through And have stood by and pretended I did not understand, and strengthened things out for you. And this is my reward.
 Dicky Is Incohercnt
 T thank you, however. for the sharpness of the knife. It has cut a bond of loyalty to you to which II foolishly had clung. Never again, my friend. will you have the opportunity to taunt me with having stood by you. Nor will you be given an opportunity to interfeye with any course of con- duct of mine.
 But you can be assured I shall do nothing of which my boy. when he is older can disapprove. I do not think l can have that assurance concerning you. But it matters not farthing to me. I am only glad that we can ring the curtain down on the farce WlicH we nave Cdlieu our marriage. And--I am sorry to be discourteous and inhospitabe, but I should prefer your staging any further melodrama in some other room than mine" I ierked the door behind me open and was glad, indeed of the support my hand on the knob gave me, and I was horribly afraid that in another few seconds my voice would break into hysterical, incoherent anger. II could have flown at Dicky with primi- tive tearing blows and scratches, and I wanted more than anything else in the world to have the barrier of a locked door between us. For second or two which seemed an eternity. Dicky stood staring at me as if he were trying to remem- Der where he had seen me before. Then he bowed ceremoniously.
 T am charmed to have this revela- tion of your real sentiments" he be- gan with icy courtesy, then the blood rushed into his face again, and he choked out an incoherent trade of | which I could distinguish only the i words:
 "--will get out of here in an hour"