Rocky Ford enterprise., 1901-02-22
|orsakins all Others

D, AMELIA DvoHEAIs

longer. Then. II matters do not change
come to the city. Your money will
enable you TO live in good style there,
and enter society. 1t is your money.
Gladys" she added significantly.
Never forget that. Consider well be-
fore you make further sacrifices to an
overstrained sense of duty. You should
never have 50 inundated yourself had
! known your intention In time"
Mrs. Anterior did not answer as she
walked with her friend to the door.
eneountsrins on the threshold u tall.
handsome young woman about 10 en-
ter.
"can you see mo now. mo;hsrf" the
newcomer asked. when Mrs. Leonard
had taken her departure. u have u
little matter OF business to discuss
with you"
Gladys hated business. She looked
Fuefully AT her sons wife as with u
great rus,iing OF crisp skirts she took
a seat nj n small onyx table by the
window and produced a number OF
neatly folded bills and receipts. with .
brand new account book whose pages
were headed by various names in
scribcd In the piainest of writing. and
followed by beautifully shaped nkures-
Even on n check Gladys detested
figures.
household matters last night. mother"
began Helen. in the concise tones tina;
no well matched hcr clear cut person.
aiity. land decided that In future Il
would be best for us-you and me-to
examine the ,rndesmen's lons-drawn
accounts every quarter
''why,' asked Gladys. evidently
disturbed by the suggestion. u have
pertce, faith In the people deal with"
Il know you have: too much. per-
hap.. Our bills las, quarter were very
high"
There were additional persons In
the house. Baby Harvey brought his
own court with him." said Gladys.
smiling. However. l have no ob)cc-
Tomlinson. I never meddicd with sach
matters In my life
THAT Is really nothing to be proud
OF. mother" replied Helen. with a
dcprcc,tinH smile. As for Mrs. Tom
iinson. how do we know she Is not In
league with the trades!olk! Such cases
are not unusual
Il would sooner suspect myself than
Phcbc." said Gladys. her soft voice
hardening. "shc has been in tho fam
lily for over thirty years
"And so. II she takes what she con-
siders her commission. regards her
self safe. Really. mother"
"oh. Helen. l wish you wouldn't
call me that" cried Gladys. who found
her daughter In laws manner unusuai-
ly Irritating.
why. how else should l address
your" asked Helen. COMPRISING her
full red lips.
by my name. Gladys. or Madam
Gladys, II you like. Harvey always
called me so before his marriage"
"A mother should not be ashamed
Of the proudest of all titles. l have
been taught to venerate my elders"
Gladys was an amiable woman. but
she had n pretty ones vanity. At this
allusion to her seniority over the
speaker she lost her temper.
Don't be absurd" she retorted.
There Is no common sense reason
why woman Of your age should ven
crate one OF mine. When you call me
mother you make us both appear RI
diculous. One should regard the 1T
ness OF things"
what shall call you them" Helen
steadily repeated.
Anything but that. Mrs. Atherton
will do II you really decline my previ-
GUS suggestion" said Gladys. careless
ly. She was warming to the fray. and
felt some pride in her new found cour-
age. And now l must ask you to
excuse me. ride at three
Helen methodically replaced her pa
pers In the account book.
shall you have time to attend to
this matter when you return. Mrs.
| Atherton?" she coldly asked.
| Gladys almost flinched; the deliber-
ate utterance OF her name seemed like
a doiche Of cold water. Before she
had time to rally her forces the door
was thrown open with the abrupt
movement that indicates perturhed
spirit. and clumsily made woman OF
sfty. with keen, gray eyes and a
shrewd. plain face. entered.
Now, now. now, Mrs. Harvey, what
are you worrying the mistress abont'
she asked. in deep voice roughened
nv n proyincial burr. shes not to be
troubled with business.
"Phebe. be quiet! I'm ashamed Oh
you," cried Gladys. looking even more
disturbed than Helen, now covered
with angry confusion. MY sons wiie
il at liberty to do as she .pleases IN
these matters"
"Tm not saying otherways; she