New Britain herald., 1924-05-16

kee mirrored mild astonishment at
 Edith's request to see me alone for
 minute or two before she should go
 upstairs to Mrs. Durkee's room.
 Katherine nodded a quick. under standing approval, for she had shared our low-toned conversation when Edith had commented upon the lines in her sisters face, and she knew that the newcomer wished to question me as to my special knowI- edge concerning her idolized sister s happiness.
 ''Edie :" Leia's voice was suddenly tragic. q hayc"'t even given you a cup Of tea :" Her voice held all the horror of the gently-bred southern woman whose first impulse isao feed guest
 Afterwards dear" Edith answered decidedly T lunched at the station in my wait for a Long Island train, and 1 am neither hungry nor thirsty. But after l have seen your mother in-law I'll take a cup Of tea with you. You know my weakness"
 Reassured, Leila, with Dicky, fol-
 
 and Edith Fairfax turned to me tensely.
 'Now, what is this about Leila?" she demanded. There's something radically wrong, and I know it, else my little sister wouldn't look like that. Why. there are lines in her face that aren't in yours or mine :"
 That is because we have had to face realities" l replied steadily. all though it took more of an effort than Ihad expected to talk unemo- tionally to this girl whose unrequited love for my husband lay always in the consciousness of both of us.
 Always Sheltered."
 felt & bitterly whimsical impulse to tell her that if was no fault of hers my face did not hold etched lines of mental suffering. But, of course. I repressed it, for if all the smothered words of the world for just one minutes time could he re- leased, what cataclysm they would make of life Instead l went on to speak of Leila;
 she always has been sheltered" I said, first by you, and then by her husband I don't suppose she ever had a really unhappy moment until Rita Brown tried to undermine her confidence in Ali just before her we'd ding. Remember"
 "I remember" Edith returned, her roive low but deadly with anger. You don't mean that Rita" Il
 NO, no :" I answered emphatically.h "1 haven't since seen Rita Brown, | nor has Leila. She is in Paris, I be- i lleve."
 "rhen who Is the woman?" Edith said impatieniry For, Of course, its that Ar simply couldn't be unllind to any one, and Leila's too good sport to let anything, save some other woman. matter. mean, if Ali were drinking or gambling, 1. or neglecting his work, she'd be | worried. of course. but not heart broken, the way she appears now"
 l opened my eyes wide at this calm assumption that wife would put a slight offered to her love so much higher in enormity than things that would in time destroy the physical. and moral calibre of her hus- band. That it is an ugly truth, in many cases, I know but it is not generally spoken alouS, and l had hard work 10 conceal my astonish- nent at Edith's frankness. i
 There IS woman who has caused Leila much unhappiness, I saii, but Ar isn't in love with her, llthough------"
 "Tell me everything about t." Edith interrupted ruthlessly "Sit down." I said quietly It's quite long story"
 The Truth Uns,ipprcsecd She looked at me oddly for a sec ,nd, then sank into the chair l in- Heated. I pulled another chair to ace her. and then I outlined the ale Of Bcss Deans machinations. [ old Edith her pose of friendly. help : ul comrade 10 the whole family, ( which had so taken Ar in, and the ' petty malicious persecution to which | he had subjected Leila. Then l | -etailed Dr. Braithwaite's ultimatum O Alfred, and tho young husbands avoidance Of Bess Dean. an avoid Ince which that astute young woman ] vas doing everything in her power Q nullify. n "Rut Why?" Edith asked finally. il