New Britain herald., 1923-06-11
The Caafsssta lslla Made
In Ma.Ise

tn hasish
when, after iri.a's PaFoNEsm Of
sohs ara ifaFs. / suggested fhaf she
tel me rail- about a, ! expected fully
60 hear recital, npFf or lfss hFsisFi'
cal, ~ her grievances against Ress
Dean, Ana } knfN OnlK too well that
the things she might tel nae would
~ ne ehimeFas horn ~ an excited
imagination, hut real facts calculated
"a arouse Jealous wrath N the heart
Of any woman, linl, instead, her
clutch On nay hands frightened, and
she drew ms closer while she Nhis'
peFed fearfuily;
"oh, Nadgs, am afraid-so
afraid r.
"AfFail :" ! echoed, Wcreiulausly,
and then, a. her terrified eyes stared
into mine, there flashed into mY brain
an iRkling Of her meaning, and with
eager 10y ~ my Naiee, dropped n
my knees beside her, ami gathered
her once mere into ms arms,
"0h Leila, dearest , n0 yau
mean f-yAn must how wonderful ="
exclaimed, as her head nodded a
quick, shy aequieseenee, and her eyes
dropped. "Ilui, sweetheart, there is
nothing 70 be afraid Of, There's 50
small margin nf danger IN thes.
modern days, and as for the pain, Of
COURSE"
She raised herself on one elbow ala.
ruptly, her cheeks flushing rarminH,
her eyes gliniing with Indignation,
DO YOU think me such a coward"
she asked, 'a6 TO care for pain Aor
danger"
~ know you're not" replied
quickly, hut you spoke Of being
afraid"
She sank back upon her pillow
with TINT ineAplienhle look OF terror
again creeping over her face.
4 Haunting Fear
II AN afraid" she moaned, "Iior-
rihly afraid. I-am--not
haven't even told Alfred or Mother
but should have gone mad
] think, " couldn't have talked to
some one. and you arc always 80
poised and strong mot a silly, useless
thing like me-"
You mustn't call my friend
names" ! smiled. In an effort TO di.
vert her thoughts. an effort which I
saw In the next second was as use
less as II was banal. for she went on
as II she had not heard II.
"Oh. II can't he true, Madge ].
can't have II true Not now To
think this should come to me now !"
At the anguish in her voice there
swept over me memory of the Joy
Gus sacred hour which was mine when
first realized that / was TO have the .
accolade of motherhood. ! had known
that TO some women the knowledge
brought dread instead of joy, but &C
quilted gentle Leila Durkee of mem
bership In that class There must be
some unusual terror swaying her to
the hysteria which / saw IN her eyes.
frightened my clasp on her twisting
hands, and spoke sharply.
"Nyhat DO You Mean"
But. Leila dear you must tell me
why you feel this way. ] can't help
you unless 7 know the reason for your
terror
Her eyes widowed in amazement
that ! should not guess her meaning.
Haven't you seem" she asked.
THAT girl--Alfred--it's killing me -
but If it were only myself ] could go
to Aunt Dora and get away from it
all. But to have a--little--child come
into the world with no home. oh,
Madge 1t is awful can't stand
it -
There was such agony in her face
a m n |
been within reach of my hands | am
afarid he would have had to sum
mon a physician Immediately after
ward. To think that gentle Leila, in
the hour which should have been her
greatest Joy. should be suffering men
tai torture like this because of a cal
lous girls vanity and her husbands
masculine blindness.
But there was no aid for Leila in
anger against Alfred She was on
the verge OF hysterical breakdown,
and | knew I must act quickly If |
were to be of service to her. With :
deliberate intent ] drew my hands
away and spoke with slow, derisive
GOODNESS:
II suppose you mean Bess Dean
Really, Leila. You are the greatest
IDIOT ] know"
she started as if | had struck her,
and | was glad to see resentment
against me flash into her eyes. Any
.hink was better than the despairing
error which had dominated her, 9,
What Do YOU mean" she faltered
1t last. V