The Day Book

CONFESSIONS OF A WIFE
DICK UNEXPECTEDLY RETURNS

(Copyright, 1915, by the Newspaper Enterprise Association.)

If ever any one was thankful for small mercies it was I, when Mother Waverly decided she would not be able to come over to dinner and spend the evening.

She was very peevish that Mollie had gone out without consulting her.

There, you have the attitude of so many old people, little book.

They want to stay home and enjoy the quiet and maybe want to go to bed at 9 o'clock and they want you to do the same. Aunt Mary is not like this, however. She did not ask any questions when I asked her if she would go with Mollie and Jim to the theater.

She said "Yes" immediately, although I know it was some little effort for her.

After they had all gone and I had made sure that Mother Waverly nor any one else was coming over, I called up the hospital and asked them if they could tell me where Mr. Waverly was stopping.

They answered that "Mr. John Waverly had left the hospital two days ago and they supposed he was going to his home in Mr. Richard Waverly left the city three days ago for his home."

My heart stopped beating.

Where was Dick? Could it be possible that he had been killed in some out-of-the-way place? A chill that made my teeth rattle took possession of me. I could hardly get away from the telephone. I had no one to tell my troubles to, as I could not burden Mollie with mine when hers were so hard to bear. I managed to get undressed and into bed, where even after I had gotten a hot water bottle and piled more coverings over me I still continued to shiver and shake.

It began to be afraid as I thought of myself in the apartment all alone.

I wondered if I should send for Dr. Atwater, but finally decided to wait until Aunt Mary came back.

Of course, little book, countless women have experienced that horrible chill which seems to strike the heart and paralyze the nerves, but it was the first time in my healthy life that I had done so and it seemed to me that I was going to die there all alone.

I began to cry weakly when all at once I heard a key in the latch of the front door. My tremors turned to terror.

I was sure that burglars were about to ransack the apartment.
The door opened: there was a sound of a grip dropping on the floor with a thump, a quick step across the hall and Dick stood in the doorway of the living room.
It seemed to me that I screamed and then I knew no more for quite a while. When I came to myself Dick was chafing my hands.
There was a smell of camphor and my night dress and the bedclothes seemed saturated with it. For a minute or two I did not realize what had happened. Then Dick brought me to myself by saying: "What is the matter, Margie? Why are you all alone? Why did you faint?" When he asked this, even though he had me in his arms, I flamed with anger.
"I expect I am alone because my husband sees fit to stay away from me for over a week without letting me know where he was."

Dick's voice had that exasperating quality as though he were explaining to a child.
"But, Margie, you know I had to go to see Jack, who was very ill."
"Jack was well enough to leave the hospital two days ago and well enough so that you could leave the city, ostensibly to come home, the day before he left."
Dick's face grew red.
"Been spying!" he exclaimed contentiously.
"No, but things here have come to such a pass that I thought it necessary for you to come home and so I telephoned the hospital and they gave me the information as a matter of course.

Dick rushed for the evening paper and as he read the item about Mr. Hatton's going away and that he was in pursuit of him, his one comment was "H
(To Be Continued Monday.)