New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1923-05-11
the Secret Ahont Herself That Mrs.
nnrkae Told Madgr


Al the sight Of little Mrs, Durkss's
sudden eontorled face and swaYinE
nEnFe. ! pushed my chair hack and
sprang 70 her side, holding her close
w.
"Whst is II, dear" ! asked, "Whai
can I get you9 let me put sou down
on the couch"
mo. no." She sllffsnel in protest
THAT makes II worse Just hold me
tight, oh hh the pain :"
! saw the great heads Of peFspiFa'
ton start ont upon her forehead,
heard her little moaning cries, and
knew that she must be suffering In.
tense agony, fer "Her Flnffiness, -
despite her ehildlike ways, II one Of
the eamest little women know,
But ! attempted no aid except hold
Ing her as she requested. until after
an interval which seemed endless, but
which in reality was only a minute,
the tension OF her flgnre loosened and
abe sagged In my arms with a long
drawn shuddering sigh OF relief,
Observation-Disclosures,
she said. and l hatfield, half.earried
her 10 the couch. and laid her ten
derry upon II.
In utter exhaustion she closed her
eyes. and. covering her warmly. ! sat
down beside her. and took her cold,
shaking little hands between mine,
holding them firmly. For perhaps five
minutes we remained thus. and then
her eyes--still beautiful despite her
years, always reminding me OF wood
nolets-opened widely and looked at
me.
Tell Me Where II Is
This is why came 10 you.
Madge." she said. II had 10 tell
somebody. I couldn't stand this pain
any longer. and Leila would he
frightened to death n she knew. She's
as nervous as cat, anyway, Leila is,
and she isn't one bit well. either.
told All he ought not to have her
come into town yesterday. but he had
his mind set on a blowout with you
people. and, Of course. she was as
crazy to go. And this morning he
telephoned that she was SO tired he
was going to make her stay In bed at
the hotel until this afternoon. He'll
bring her out home tonight after din
ner, and l grabbed the chance to
come into see you. Don't you think
Leila looks sick?"
she doesn't look well, certainly"
I replied slowly, "but | fancy it's
nerves rather than physical illness.
With you, however, It's something
more than nerves, so If you please,
we'll drop Leila for while. Tell me,
what Is the matter with YOU"
She looked up in my face with eyes
that held frightened appeal.
II wish I knew" she said. DIR
Pringle has been away for weeks. I've
been waiting for him, until l don't
dare wait any longer"
Pm glad he's away !" I burst out
vehemently. and was sorry for my
outburst a second afterward. For
DR.. Pringlc, an elderly practitioner of
Marvin, who, in my mind, was no bet
ter than well-meanng but ignorant
quack, was the only physician in
whom little Mrs. Durkee had any con-
fdence. I could not bear the idea of
her consulting him upon anything
vital, but l knew that any criticism
of him was a Haunting of the tradi-
tional red rag, and / had no wish to
excite her
Her cheeks flew danger flags i'm |
mediately
II might have known you'd say
that" she said crosby. But L can
tell you, Madge Graham, he's Just the
finest doctor anywhere around. He's |
pulled me through sickness many a
time. And I'd great deal rather
take his word than that skinny Petit
with ramrod for a spine
I laughed at her tempery out
burst. 1t was impossible to do any
thing else. And though at first she
pouted, it was but second before
she was smiling with me.
But / wouldn't take DR.. Pettit's
word where a mysterious and severe
pain like this is concerned" | ar /
gued after a minute. 1T seems to
me a matter for specialist, Tell |
mo where it is"