New Britain herald., 1925-07-06

nave llnlC tO TeCGN 0 most 1slLl honor in the meantime. Hal Mere dith Is going to bring his lady wife to call upon us"
 kathcrinc's Talk Causes Madgc to
 Scent n Romance
 l looked at Katherine in surprise, born not of her news, but of her evident reaction 10 1t.
 We'll what of it?" I demanded. The gifted Dr. Meredth's wife isn't gorgon, is she, that we should dread a call from herr"
 she's worse" Katherine said with a grimace. She's one Of the snobbiest kind of snobs, and I think spends most of her waking hours trying 10 decide whether cutivating the bridge crowd or the literary set will get her Il rung or two farther up the social ladder. Shes th" daughter of an alienlst who has made money and reputation saving scions of our monoyed fast get from the electric chair when they indulge themselves in the gentle pastime of murder. He can find more reasons for dubbing murderer temporarily insane than Mother Graham can in- vent epithets for Katie"
 He must be good" interpolated dryly,
 He is," Katherine rejoined, "and he's brought Hal Meredith right along with him. Hal was a sort of ! protcge of his. son of a brother physician. to whom the old man owed some sort Of thanks for favors done. Hal certainly feathered his nest when he married Lucia Ben ton, for he's been old man Benton's white -haired boy ever since. But. ye gods!- please page the immortal Willie Baxter how he has paid for it."
 "As Jealous as the Deuce"
 T cant imagine anything worse than to be compiled to watch and defer to Lucia BHlton's airs. To add 10 the gayety Of nations she's jeal- ous as the deuce of him. but to do her justice she represses 1t heroiCal- ly. But I've always suspected that the reason she keeps herself in hand so well is because the women of whom shes jealous, her hus- 1 bands patients, can do so much for her socially. Can't you imagine how i idle rich women with nothing to do but take their souls out and, play with them, simply dote upon con- sulting Dr. Meredith and having those handsome eyes gaze sympa- ! thetically at them?'
 ''I can indeed" I answered, for my first meeting with pr. Meredith | had impressed me with the fact that he was most personable man.
 "She plays the social game for him all right, according to her lights. She keeps the background Of a correct address, and an exquisite ly appointed apartment in the city winters. The summers they spend out here at Southampton, where so many of her husbands patients SO journ during the hot weather, But she always appears to me as weigh ing to hair every smile or nod she gives anyone; measuring her cordiality according to the social status of the person to whom she is talking"
 "Hc's a Regular Human Being"
 Pleasant lady to have inflicted upon one for life," I commented. "Dr. Meredith impressed me as be- ing far different type"
 Hes a regular human being" Katherine declared enthusiastically. "The work that boy did in the war. and the way he made life easier for everybody associated with him, l never shall forget. Of course, I've known him for ages. He was an jn- terno when l was taking my train ing, and we were always good friends"
 I was looking iptently at her as she talked, and something in her tone, and in the way she faltered the last words lit spark of con- lecture In my consciousness which in another second famed into lively interested curiosity.
 For either the comprehc nsion in my eyes, or her own reco!ections flooded her face with warm color, . and I registcred again the impress ,son received urop the day ct Dr. McrcdIth's frt visit to the house, that R romance Of some lun1 lay in The background Of their mutual 'nemories.
 Katherine is still a beau,tal and slngd!aIly attractive woman, and in her young sirlhool she must have been lovely enough to turn any mans head. And I could easily see what Hal Meredith mus: have been as d youth. They were suited to each other, too, She wonld haze been Il lar better wife for him, than Inc woman Katherine had described 10 me Then I added, with a sense o' disloyalty strong npon me that HG! Meredith would have made her happier than my hrother-Cousin, Jack Rickett, whom Katherine mar ried.