New Britain herald., 1923-03-05
The "Bit OF Advice" Lillian Gave Jim
About Katie.

The "Bit OF Advice" Lillian Gave Jim
About Katie.
There was such sorrowful earnest
ness In Jim's honest voice as he de-
clared his unwillingness TO question
Katie concerning the actions which
had sent him into exile that felt
my throat construct with pity-and
admiration--for him, No knight or
romance could have shown more 10y
atty to his liege ladye. none could
have evidenced more delicaey and
tenderness.
But underneath his brave exterior
the poor chap was suffering tortures
OF uncertainty, an agony OF mind
which was only natural in view OF
the performances Katie had staged
Just before his going away mo-
toned Katie to chair near me.
drew my own opposite Jim, and bens
forward, holding his gaze steadily
with mine.
Jim" I begin slowly, II haven
words to tell you how much | admire
the position you have Just taken.
Katie may thank her stars that she
has so generous a husband, and 7
hope she never again will give You
such pain as that she caused you be-
fore you went away. But 1t is much
better that all that unhappy business
should be cleared up. II will relieve
your mind utterly--T can promise
you that--and it will enable you to
understand Katie better--and shield
I, he nf nj
misfortune which was no fault of
hers"
"Oh, Jeem-Jcem!'
Jim looked at me with sudden
startled comprehension.
You can't mean, Mrs. Graham"
II mean this" / interrupted. "You
went away because you had found
out that Katie was stealing out to meet
a man. You thought she no longer
cared for you, that she loved some
one else, and you-in your own
words-cleared out so as not to both
er her
ooh, Jeem--Jeem :" Katie sobbed.
and without taking his eyes from my
face, he put out his hand, caught
hers, and drew her into the sheltering
circle of his arm.
Madge Explains
Now, the truth was this" l went
on. Katie was stealing out to meet
a man, but she only went because of
the most deadly terror woman can
feel. And the man she went to meet |
was the person on earth she loathes
most, the man she has most cause to
hate and fear, but who threatened to
kill you and me and my little lad
whom Katie loves SO dearly if she did
not get a certain paper for him-a
paper containing an important gov
eminent secret, which he thought was
hidden in my fathers room. 1t was
only because Katie loved us all and
feared for us that she went to meet
the man of whom she was in such
terror. and while she was very foolish
not to tell you and me, yet we can
not blame her"
Jim's eyes were blazing with fury
when 1 had finished.
IF I only had known, he never
would have troubled her again unless
his ghost came back" he said thick (
ly. IL suppose it's that devil you
told me about when Katie and l were |
married"
YES, Jim l answered. He is the
man whom Katie married when she
was Just child, and then found out /
that he had wife. 1t was merci-
full release for Katie, to know that he !
had no legal claim on her, for he was
and is an abysmal brute, but you re-
member how she suffered when she
asked me to tell you about that early
mistake"
II remember" he said, and / knew
that Katie's Inundated anguish at
that time was fresh in his mind. And |
remember I told her I'd take care
OF her and settle his hash If he ever
turned up and tried TO make her
trouble. But I was sure he'd been
killed in the war over there when she