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THE CONFESSIONS OF A WIFE
DICK EXPLAINS
Chapter LXXXII.
I was still up on Dick's bed at his
father's house when I heard the door
bell ring in short, quick peals and I
knew that he had come.
I could not stop crying, although I
tried very hard, for I did not want to
let Dick know I had been crying. I
went into the bathroom and washed
my face with cold water, brushed,my
hair and powdered my nose.
" I could see, however, that I looked
perfectly ghastly. My skin seemed
lifeless and even my hair looked as
though some of its life and color had
gone out of it.
Dick came rushing upstairs, call
ing: "Margie!" His mother called
him and I heard him say: "In a min
ute, mother, after I have seen Mar
gie."" But again she called imper
iously: "Dick, your mother wants
you!" as though her claim came be
fore any other. '
I heard Dick give a smothered ex
clamation of impatience as he turned
into his mother's door, and I was very
glad he went, for I did not want to see
him alone just yet.
I tried to slip downstairs quietly,
but he heard me and came out on
the landing and grabbed me in- his
arms.
"Margie, Margie!" he said. "Will
you ever forgive me? I know I am a
brute, but, dearest, I have been all up
in the air lately over that contract I
lost, and when some men I knew
came in town last evening and asked
me to go out to dinner with them I
went in my usual heedless way glad
to forget everything. Yes, even you,
dearest," he sUid as I raised my head
and let my eyes ask the question.
"After dinner we began to play
poker and, of course, I drank more,
than I should. Honestly I was com
pletely surprised when I found it was
morning. But, dearest, I did not think
you would take it like this," as I be
gan again to shake with sobs.
"Why, Margie, do you know I have
never seen you cry before? Don't
don't, dearest. I can't let you do this,
for it makes me feel like the beast
I am."
"If you had only telephoned to me,
Dick, that you were going to play
cards I would not have been so wor
ried, but you can't tell all the agony
that twisted my very heart strings as
at different times during the night it
came to me that you were dead or
hurt somewhere. Oh, Dick! Dick!
Don't do it again I can't bear it."
Dick took me in his arms is if I
were a child and soothed me with his
hps against my cheek.
We were still sitting on the top of
the stairs when Mollie came up and,
bending down, she whispered: "What,
have you been doing to Margie, Dick?
Where have you been all day to make
her look like a ghost and tremble
every time the telephone rang?'
"I have been a brute that's all,
Mollie," said Dick hoarsely, "but I am
going to be good after this. I was
at the Turkish bath today, but I told
them at the office I was called out of
town."
"Is father still asleep?" I asked.
This brought Dick's mind "back to
Dad and he asked:
"Madge, do you think we had bet
ter send for brother John?"
"Not yet, dear. The doctor says
he is better and it will only take a day
for John to come home from college
if it is necessary to bring him."
Up the stairs came the white-capped
nurse; who said: "Mr. Waverly,
your father is now awake and wants
to see you."
(To Be Continued Tomorrow.)
o o
WELL, ANYWAY
Sillicus I admit that I am lacking
in imagination.
Cynicus I don't believe it'. The
girl you are engaged to tells me you
write beautiful love letters.
