REVELATIONS OF A WIFE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 1163, 2 November 1917, Page 8

REVELATIONS OF A WIFE.

t THE STORY OF A HONEYMOON [BY ADELE GARRISON.] XX. (continued).— LITTLE MISS SOX NOT'S OPPORTUNITY. Miss Sonnot's face brightened again "Is Mr Bickett in this country*" she asked, her voice carefully nonchalant "I have not heard anything about bin for two or three years." "lie sailed for France a week ago,' I-answered slowly. "He intends. t( join the French Engineering Corps." Vhere was a long moment of silence Then Miss Sonnot spoke slowly, am there was a note almost of reverence ii her voice. "That is just what he would do,' and then, impetuously, "how I euvj him!" "Envy him?" I repeated iucredul ously. "Yes, indeed." Her voice was mili tant, her eyes shining, her face aglow "How I wish I were a man ever shut this war started! I am ,iust waiting for a good chance to join a hospital unit, but I do not happen to know any surgeon who has gone, ami of course they all pick their own nurses. But * my chance will come. I am sure of it, and then I am going to do my part. Why! my greatgrandfather was an officer in Napoleon's army. I feel ashamed not to be over there." I saw very little of Dicky'a sister and her husband" during the week they spent in New York before sailing for France. True, Harriet spent some portion of every day with her mother, but she ate at our table only once, always hurrying back to the hotel to oversee the menu of her beloved Edwiu. Reasoning that in a similar situation I should not care for the presence of au outsider, I left the mother and daughter alone together as much as I could without appearing rude. I think they both appreciated my action, although, with their customary reserve, they said very little.to me. Dr Braithwaite came twice during the week to see us. each time making a hurried call. Harriet appeared to wish Jto impress us with the importance of these visits from so busy and distinguished a man. But the note.l surgeon himself was simple and unaffected in his manner. One thing troubled me. I had done nothing, said nothing to further Miss Sonnot's desire to go to France as a nurse. She had left us the day after Dicky's sister and brother-in-law arrived, left with the admiration and . good wishes of us all. The big surgeon himself, after watching her attention to his mother-in-law upon the day of arrival, made an approving comment. "Good nurse, that," he had said. I took the first opportunity to repeat his words to the little nurse, who flushed with pleasure. I knew that I ought to art least inquire of the big surgeon or his wife about the number of nurses he was taking with him, but there seemed no fitting opportunity, and —I did not make one. I did not try to explain to myself the curious disinclination I felt to lift a hand toward the sending of Miss Sonnot to the French hospitals. But every time I thought of the night she had told me of her wish I felt guilty. Jack was already "somewhere in France." If Miss Sonnot entered the hospital service, there was a possibility that they might meet. I sincerely liked and admired Miss Sonnot. My brother-cousin had been the only man in my life until Dicky swept me off my feet with his tempestuous wooing. My heart ought to have leaped at the prospect of their meeting and its possible result. But I felt unaccountably depressed at the idea instead. The last day of the Braithwaites' stay Harriet came unusually early to see her mother. . "I can stay only a few minutes this morning, mother," she explained, as she took off her heavy coat. "I know," in answer to the older woman's startled protest. "It is awful this last day, too. I'll come back toward night, but I must get back to Edwin this morning. He is so annoyed. One of his nurses has fallen ill at the last moment and go. He has to secure another good one immediately, that he may get her passport attended to in time for to-morrow's sailing. And he will not have one unless he interviews her himself. I left him eating his breakfast and getting ready to receive a flock of them sent him by some physicians he knows. I must hurry back to help him through." Miss Sonnot's opportunity had come! I knew it. knew also that I must speak to my sister-in-law at once about her. But she had finished her flying little visit,, and was putting.on her coat before I finally forced myself to broach the subject. "Mrs Braithwaite"—to my disgust I found "my voice trembling—"l think I ought to tell you that Miss Sonnot, the nurse your mother had, wishes very much to enter the hospital service. She could go to-morrow. I am sure. And I remember your husband spoke approvinbly of her." My sister-in-law rushed past me to the telephone. "The very thing!" She threw the words over her shoulder as sue took down the receiver. "Thank you so much." Then, as she received her con neetion, she spoke rapidlv enthusiasticall f "Edwin, I have such good news for you. Dicky's wife thinks that little Miss Soniiot who nursed mother could go tomorrow. She said while she was here that she wanted to enter the hospitui service. Yes. I thought you'd] want her. All right. I'll see to it*right away and telephone you. By the way, Edwin, if she can go, you won't need rac this forenoon, will you? That's . good. I can stay with mother, then. Take care or yourself, dear. Goodbye. '' She hung up the receiver and turned to me. "Can you read, her by phone right away, aud if she can go' tell her to go to the Clinton at once and ask for Dr Braithwaite?" I paid a mental tribute to mv sister-in-law's energy as I in my turn took down the telephone receiver. I realised how much wear and tear she must save her big husband. "Miss Sonnot!" I could not help being a bit dramatic in my new.-. "Can you sail for France to-morrow? One of Dr Braithwaite's nurses is ill, and you may have her place, if you wish." There was a long minute'of silence. »nd then the little nurse's voice sounded in my ears. It was filled with awe and incredulity. "If I wish!" and then, after a preg-

;.' e I nant pause, "Surely, I can go. "When t J do I-learn the details?" '■> i I gave her full directions and hunt ■ i up the receiver with a sigh. 11 1 She came to see me before she sailed 'I and after she had left me, I went inti imy bedroom, locked the door, and lei [ the tears come which I had been forcing 11 back. I did not know what was the t. matter with me. I felt a little as I did '•! once long before when a cherished dol fjof my childhood had been broken be e -yond all possibility of mending. En "! reasonable as the feeling was, it was as p I if a curtain had dropped between m< and any part of my life that lay behind n ■ me. ii J XXI.—LIFE'S JOG'TROT AND A ' QUARREL. [ Life went at a jog-trot with me for a 1 i long time after the departure foi | France of the Braithwaites and Mis; y '' So-inot. j! My mother-in-law missed her daugh [j I ter, Mrs Braithwaite, sorely. I believe f if it had not been for her pride in hei . I brilliant daughter and her famous son ,'in-law she would have become actually a ill with fretting. I found my hands full in'devising ways to divert her mind gland planning dishes to tempt her deli--3; cate appetite. I Because of her frailty and consequent r ! inability to do much sightseeing, or, .' indeed, to go far from the house, Dicky \ I and I spent a very quiet winter. j Our evenings away from home to- , gether did not average one a week. And fi Dicky.very rarely went anywhere withI out me. [I "What a Darby and Joan we are s getting to be!" he remarked one night I as we sat one on each side of the iij ■ brary table, reading. His mother, as r ; was her custom, had gone to bed early s ["in the evening. n "Yes! Isn't it nice?" I returned [.'smiling at him. "Ripping!" Dicky agreed enthusiJastically. Then, reflectively, "Funt i niest thing abput it is the way I cotton .i to this domestic stunt. If-anyone had -! told me before I met you that I should [ I ever stand for this husband-reading-to-I knitting-wife sort of thing I should ,' have bought him a ticket to Mattea- , wan, pronto." , He stopped and frowned heavily at me, in mimic disapproval. . "Picture all spoiled," he declared, , sighing. "You are not knitting. Why, . oh, why are you not knitting?" "Because I never shall knit," I re- , turned, laughing, "at least not in the , evening while you are reading. That ' sort of thing never did appeal to me. . Either the wife who has to knit or sew or darn in the evening is too inefficient ' to get all her work done in daylight, or ( she has too much work to do. In the first case, her husband ought to teach , her efficiency; in the second place, he ; ought to help do the sewing or the darn- • ing. Then they could both read." [ "Listen to the feminist?" carolled Dicky; then with mock severity: "Of course, I am to infer, madam, that my stockings are all properly darned?" ; "Your inference is eminently cor- [ rect,'' demurely. '' Your mother darn- . Ed them to-day." What I told him was true. His . mother had seen me looking over the stockings after they were washed, and had insisted on darning Dicky's. I saw that she longed to do some little personal service for her boy, and willingly handed them over. Dicky threw back his head and laughed heartily. Then his face sobered, and he came round to my side of the table and sat down on the arm of my chair. "Speaking of mother," he said, rumpling my hair caressingly, "I want to tell you, sweetheart, that you've made an awful hit with me the way you've taken care of her. Nobody knows better than I how trying she can be, and you've been just as sweet and kind to her as if she were the most tractable person on earth." He put his arm around me and bent his face to mine. • "Pretty nice and comfy this being married to each other, isn't it?" "Very nice, indeed," I agreed, nestling closer to him. My heart echoed the words. In fact, it seemed almost too good to be true, this quiet domestic cove into which our marital barque had drifted. The storms we had weathered seemed far past. Dicky's jealousy of my brothercousin, Jack Bickett; my unhappiness over Lillian Underwood —those tempestuous days surely were years ago instead of months. Now Jack was "somewhere in Fiance," and I had a queer little premonition that somewhere, somehow, his path would cross that of Miss Sonnol, the little nurse, who had gone with Dr Braithwaite's expedition, and who for years had cherished a romantic, ideal of my brother-cousin, although she had never met him. Lillian Underwood was my swovn I friend. With characteristic directness i she had cut the Gordian knot of our misunderstanding by telling me, against I Dicky's protests, all about the old 'secret which her past and that of my | husband shared. After her story, with all that it revealed of her sacrifice and her fidelity to her own high ideals, there never again would be a doubt of , her in my mind. I was proud of her friendship, although, because of my mother-in-law's prejudice against them, Dicky and I could not have the Underwoods at our home. (To be continued.)

Cameron, W. IF. tJ. Cameron, New PH--I mouth i. 1 I*fr, E. >l„ L.-Cpl. (Mrs Carr, Sydenham, w.i. Tarter. 11. \V„ Sgt. . I'. Carter. Otnrnhangii).! Christie, \V. »\V. Christie. Fcilding). Louie, K. K. (Mrs Coote, I’p.MUIU. Collett, G. (Mr* Collett, South Dunedin). Paugen, .1. (If, Haugen, Mangnnun. Pixies, \\ . H. iT. Davies, FnglainD. gdwards. J. 1.. iMrs l .lwanls, Waverlevi. ' Kvaii.s. K. w. {.I. I vans. I upland >. j Kvans, I . \V. iA. Kvans. New Diymouth». Kyles, A. (Mrs Kyles. Takakai. Fullerton, l>. G. i D. Fullerton, Te KowliaD.l Gallagher, A. W.. Company Sgt.-Mjr. i.I. ; Gallagher, Fpsomi. HarrU, F. i:. T.Mrs Harris. Christchurch, \\.» lies, T. A. «J. lies, Itotornai. Irvine, (.., 1..-C.pl. T.Mrs Irvine, Mangomii, } m.>. I\es, H. J. <Mrs Ives, Victoria, m.i. Johns, S. C. i Mrs Johns. Tiinani, ni.». Kelly, 11. »F. Kelly, Mercury Has t, Kirby, It. (Mrs Hawkins, Wanganui >. King, J. 11. (Mrs Kin*. Darguville). Cott, (I. M. ill. Collier, Wanganui t. Dundy, W. J. (W. Lundy. Wakanni, f.). j McCausland. C. iMrs SlcCau.sland, Christchurch, in. i. Mcl imr, I- I). (Mrs Oslmrne, Te Awaimitn). •’ Meehan, N. J., S K t. (Mrs Meehan. Makikihh.i Nixon, I). C„ Sgt. iJ. Nixon, Christchurch, I f.). j o‘Connor, Michael |D. O’Connor, Hinds. 1*.i.1 O Keefe, J. (.1. O’Keefe, I.ondoni. i Pearce, V. W., L.-Cpl. iW. IVarce. Fngland). Price, \\. A. (Mrs Price, w.t. itoderlck, D., C.pl. (Mrs Hode rick, Gis-j liome i. Smith. J. i P. Smith, Svdnev). Turner, W. t\V. Turner, Tokanuh. Wade, .1. 1 1,. J. I*. Wade, Pahiatuai. I Wilkins. A, K. (Mrs M. Wilkins, I’arnira > West, in.i. j Woodward. F. M. i\V. Woodward. Whangarrii. Ortojier 11. Aitkm. W. iMrs Mrla-an, Wanganui). Alexander. J. (Miss Al.-xand.-r, Scotlandi. I Atkinson, J.. Sgt. (J. Atkinson, Ngaioi. Atkinson. T. It. (Mrs Atkinson, Mount I Eden). Bagfey. w. (Mrs Itaßlrv. Dunedin). Best. 11. C. u. Best, Nelson). Booker, A. B. (C. Booker, Mangatoki). Brett, E., L.-Cpl. (A. Brett, Wanganui). Brosnahan, J. (Miss N. Brosnahan, Wellington i. Ilanieroii, H. tC. Cameron, Blenheim), taint. I- B. (W, Cant, Christchurch, f.), <iassi*ly. J. (Mrs Hogan, Musselburgh I. ChaaiT, W. (Mrs Chaafr. Hastings). Chappie. C. .1. (W. Chappie, England). I Churrlihtmse, H. iJ. Churchhouse, Petone). J Christini, F. (Mrs Christini, Auckland). i Christoffersen. H? O. (Mrs C.uldhrandseii. Norsewood). Clarke, 1-,. (Mrs Clarke, Fairlie, ni ) Corbett, H. IMrs Corbett, MaWield, in k. CouLsou, .1. P., Cpl. ill. M. Coutson, Hoki-* tika). Bower, J. M. (Mrs Dower, Gisborne) Dronjfleld, G. (Mrs Dronstieid, England). Dyer, A. I_ (Mrs Dyer, Kamo). Edmonds, P. H.. L. Cpl. (Mrs Edmonds, Mount Albert). Ellen, G. E. C. (Mrs Ellen, Chertsey, w.). October 11. Gee., E. (Mrs Gee, Northcote). Gilligan, 1.. (P. Gilligun, Patea). Graham, E. J. (Mrs Graham, Waipiata) Hamilton, (i. C„ 1.. Cpl. (Mrs Hamilton, 1 1 iinaru, w.). Handley, G. H. (.1, Handley, Kelbnrne). Heekm, W. <P. Heekin, Ireland). Hobbs, A. (.Mrs Hobbs, Wellington). Irwin, W. J. (F. Irwin, Morrinsvilte). Jackson. M. F. )./. Jackson, Auckland). Johnstone W. R. (M rs Johnstone, Ruapuna.l South Canterbury, m.). Kenna, H. B. (R. Kenna, Ashburton, f ) I Landreth W. H„ L. Sgt. (Mrs Landretb, 1 Dunedin). Uoyd. D. (Seth IJoyd, Merivalc f) M-!l rid, '.a H o- ~ Mrs J* Bride, Kaukapnkapa). I M Donald. !). G. (Mrs M’Douaid, Gatlins niv€*r). M'Guiness W, (Miss M Guiness, Grcv-i mouth). ’ • I v'vvm"’ I?’ ‘M/s M-Millan. Tinwald, M-C| *’ S' M - " Nickle, Hamilton). -M Pherson. J. S. (Mrs M'Phcrson, Mosgiel, Mably,’ R E- (G. Mal.ly, Ashburton, f ). Macken, (E. Macken, Tairauea). Martin. ,E V, Sgt. (E. Martin, Pafciatua). -litchell A. M. (R G. Mitchell Albeit Street, Kangiora. f.». ur I |’ ( )r N ', lM ! s Moody, Linton, in.). Murphy, M. J (Miss Sheridan, Aslihurst). O Rourke, I). J. (Mrs Quinn, Timuru O'Shea. D.(Mrs O'Shea. Wlwiigarci). Penman, \\ . S. (G. Penman, Kaitangata). - icrson, R. W iMrs Pierson, Kaiwara). rotter, A C. (Mrs Potter. Nuliaka). Pitcher, R. (Mrs Pilcher. Clive). kSSok «» Salterthwaile, T. iJ. Satterthwaite, Hast-I; Shaw H Sgt (Mrs Shaw. Palmerston X) I w )’. A * ,Mrs Li,.woodi I Shipman. P H.. Cpl. (Mrs Pumpn, Balfour) Thompson, \\. 1. IE, Thompson, Linwood’ , E I T. Tinnnings, Rakaia, L). •’ l ~ S * V ,Mrs PonC U S. (Mrs Walton, Scotland) Hawer' 1 ; H * G ’ CP I - (H - Wldttingtm), R T - ~ R; 'y°-'N England). Wylde H ii V,■ 1 J.’ " IK, ds, Ohaeawai). > . luc, li. til. Wylde, Grrynioutli), October 15. Ald North) <MrS Ha\clock aefver’ C - Knglaad). Cleaver, C. (C. Cleaver, Petone). C„I ms J p. ,j. Collins, Fox ton) I Lade. P T (Mrs la.de, Obmtau) S ": J - J r »Mrs Elder, Scotland). ‘ Elliott M L. (Mrs Elliott, OiKitiki). W * CpL (Vf rs'(i ra v! * A k'a roa *’) Gla nG ’ Hart': T.' u! w-era J )-. T ” CpU <MrS Hurl< -'- Wai- 1 Mcßurney' S. W. (Mrs Murton. Hastings) dale. n M( ! rbm) M ’ L^:pl - (Mrs “^kinM “ C wd!’ P * ' MrS Milcll -". Tl)ri*stchurcli, Morris, F. E. (Mrs Morris, East Gore) t '' Vl! “. l j’ Jv, ,M ji SX Mulvil,i| l. Geraldine), n" lT Jey ' ,M " vr Hutf). Tengri. ,y rs i Christchurch, m.). 'r *. IA - Tempero. Midhirst), rtidhias, I- J. (Mrs Thomas, Hamilton), leung, (.. A. (Mrs (.. Young, Whangarei). October 10. ' x?- , P , V ( A - Oihsou. Wellington). Hughes’ W. O. (Mrs Moiibath, Palmerston I 1 North). Hooper, J. P. (Mrs Hooper, Tolaga Bav) I McDonald, R. J. (Mrs McDonald, Jnvercir- ' Rill). i! McEnimey, \\. i Mrs McEnirnev Wellin-'- 1 ton). * I Nilsun, S. (Mrs Clark, Grey Lynn). f - J- '.Mrs Tonkin, Timaru, in.). ' Williams, )i. E. I A. Williams, Napier). 1 October 17. i Campbell, 11. W., Sgt. (Mrs Campbell, Wba- ; katane). Sprague F„ T_-C.pl. (R. Sprague, New Ply- J mouth). ■ i Reported Slightly Wounded. Remaining I with Unit. | EIEI.I) A RTiLT.ERY. I 1 October 11). t Dalton, L. J. (Leonard Dalton, Chch, f.). | MACHINE-GUN COUPS. I October 7. Ashbj, P. (~. Lieut. (G. Ashby. Mornington). 1 FIELD IAGINEERS. October It. M Mull, It. (Mrs Hull, Wellington). < October it. I ■ Banks. If. (J. Banks, Tekao, b.). Greatbatch, C. T. P. (J. Greatlpitch, Christ- . ( church, f.).i 1 October 18. ; ’ Parvuis, It, <Mrs l*;irs»nis, Mornington). j* A UCKLA XD IN r.VNTHV. October 12. j , Morgan. F. L., L.-Cpl. (W. Morgan, Obinemuri). McGulnnevs, N. W. (Eliza Mango, Timaru). i October 11. ] Morris, If. ».Mfs.s Morris, Weilington). I s (ANTKHHLHY INFANTKY. j* October U». i * T.tim.iliill, (i. J. ( Westport). 1 ' October 17. McKinty, 1). ill. McKinly. Ireland). October 18, I i Janus, W. A. (Mrs Onaipc, Kaituna, friend). | OTAGO ESI ANTRV. i; October 12. ! Campbell. 1. E. (J. Campbell, Mornington)J i Campbell, E. 11. (Mrs Stirling, < hristeliuicli ! m-». ’!■ Craig. J. (W. N. Craig. Dnin-din). ; Drummond, G.. I_-Cpl. (Mrs Drinmnond. ' Pnlmerstoii South*. Dive, li. i Mrs Dive. Lttham'i. t'Uiry. l>, J. 1 1*. Geary. Dunedint. (•utlirie. A. W. (Mrs Watt. Dunedin;. . Gtiy, I. D., (Mrs Guv, Dunedin). D'bbs. A. 1.. G.S.M. U. 11 ibbs. Methven, f.). , McCord. C. i Mrs McCord, Scotland*. jMclntyre, A. (Miss Mcfntyre, Dunedin). Mamie; «J. Maude, Gore). Napier. ». S. (A. Napier, A It’i edlon I. Darker, I . (Mrs Darker, Derliampon), Darker, H.. ( pi. (Mo Darker, Dahiatua). I D« terseii, i:. D. (J. D. It rsf n, Dalm. r.ston N.). | Scarlet, \V. G. < \V. Scarlet, Gore), WVIIv. \. i M; s Wells, Clive). Wilson, J. 1C (A. Wilson. Dunedin). October 17. VcCregor. J. L). (Miss L*:e t Dunedin). I

IH FEE BRIGADE. October 12. Chisnall, C. 11. (Mrs Chisnall, Christcluirch, ni.). Cray. W. .J. Cray. Mataura). Toms, S. W. |W. Toms, Timaru, m.). October i:i. j Lowery, .1. N. (T. Lower.., Lovell's Flat). | October 1 I. I Mayne, O. (Mrs Mayue, Onehunga). | BAILWAY OPERATING SECTION. j October !). I Winchester. 1!. H. (W. Winchester,; Oainaru). 1 MEDICAL COUPS. October 10. Martin. 11. .Mrs Martin. Wellington). Slnde, 11. It. (Mrs Slade, Sed.lonvillel. MAORI CONTINGENT. REPORTED WOUNDED. October 13. [ Taiaroa, M. IL, L.-Cpl. (M. Karetai, Otak.iu). [Heinaiia. K. T., L.Cpl. (T. Ilemana, Pain). Bu. 11. (It. Itn, Mangonui). jTaipari, T. (.1. Taipari, Abip Ba). Takimoana, P. (TakiinoHiia Ilarawira, I Tekao). October 17. Tupe. Patena (Teomuki, Taiuiiarunui 1. ICiendon, 11. P., 1.. Sgt. (K. Cleii.lon, Ba--1 wbiti). Evans, C. (L. Christian, Devonport). Haku, T. (H. Wali, Kaikaumau). 1 liorupapera, T., Cpl. (11. Horopapera, WhaI katane). Mataira, S. iKarepa Mataira, Nukakai. 1 Pomare, T. (P. Pmiiare, Kaikehc). • Bogan, B. IWi Bogan, Matakohe). j Reported Wounded, Admitted to Hospital. ' I Paputene, T. (Mrs Hall, Tokomaru Buy). j Reported Slightly AVounded, Remaining with Unit. Tainui. T. (Mrs Tainui, Ar.-ihura).