Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-05-31
GETTING RID
OF HER
iosplI.1as lss.. b Jo..pA ). 1svIsal
By DOROTHY DEAlsE

some little body, tyranny WOulu nave
adored her, for was she not Johns
child? John was her first born, hel
only son. A good son, too, John was
But he grew ambitious after he mar
fied Lida--that was the way Granny
tried to explain 1t to herself. Ida was
m ambitious woman, driving and en-
argetic. John thought Of his wife and
child, and wanted to get on In the
world. And the parlor needed piano
None Of these things troubled Daisy
She did not know that the house was
too small for Granny, now that she had
grown feeble, and had lost her bit OF
money. To the baby's notion, the
world held nothing BONNER than Gran
ny's cuddltng arms, nor prettier than
the bits Of curls that nodded at either
Oar.
II was one afternoon while Daisy
was asleep that Ida took her sewing
and went upstairs to Granny's room.
The unwunted attention set the old
lady In . flutter, but Ida herself was
cool and calm, though she wished
Granny hadn't such disagreeable way
of staring straight into ones face
while Ghe listened.
How would you like to go visiting
this winter, GRANNY" Ida asked,
presently, keeping her eyes on the
seam che was sewing.
'To Ma4y's?" cried Granny, eagerly.
IAda fsowned slightly. "You know
weA enough Il amt to Marys. She's
got her hands full, with seven chill
dren."
"Yoe," ahod Granny, II know; but
shed be - 70 have me come, Mary
Wchld, n sAe was able. She never for
gets hSE nO4Asr."
IAda ~ az fresh thread, with un-
necessary SA~Uy. Some Of my folks
Over n otTuAAurd would like flrst-rate
TO have yOG come there and stay
awhile. 1t wv1ld be q change for you"
CkanAys fAsS frightened. do they
ready waHt mof"
nAa AoddDd. Her face was huSned
4 IittlA "JsAA and I have been talk
ing It oven He can take you over
nezt NondaV."
Il but tharo'a the baby" said Granny,
hev' eyGs damned II can hardly bear
20 think Il leaving Daisy"
Ida gave her sewing jerk,
sDdisy's been shut up here with you
too much. want her outdoors more"
Granny wiped her eyes when she
thought Ida was not looking. "lt's
real kind Of you, Lidy. l know you
think I'm ungrateful after you and
yohn have planned 1t for me. But 1t
kind Of took my breath away, coming
20 sudden. You see it's 20 years since
went visitin' anywhere.
"And l suppose 1t will be hard for
me to feel at home anywhere except in
my little room. It's always been mine.
Father planned 1t for me when he built
the house. He had those drawers built
In for me, and the cupboards under
the windows, because like cubby-
holes" She laughed softly, and
brushed of another tear that had
erept out on her withered cheek. She
had forgotten her listener. John was
born in this room, and Mary, and little
Buaie-she only lived to be 1--WE. And
1ohn was such cunning little fellow.
Sometimes Il seems as II l could see
him in his short dresses"
Ida Hounced up suddenly. TITS
time John was out Of short dresses"
she cried; then she whipped out Of the
room.
"Why, Hdy-wait-" gasped Granny.
Il Amt said anything, have II" But
Johns wife had already slammed the
stair door behind her, and Granny was
left alone with her slow tears and her
slow thoughts,
When John Williams came home that
night, his mothers place at the supper
table was vacant He Redeemed and
glanced ACROSS at his wife.
"She said she didn't want anything"
Ida explained.
you've told herl You didn't waste
any time"
you're glad enough that l have"
Fetorted his wife. ut wasn't anything
Of pleasure.
sYou needn't have been in such
hurry"
"she didn't suspect anything. l
font believe she'll mind 1t much"
John pushed away his plate and left
he table. She'll like II well enough
when she gets used to It." he said,
testify. 1T amt such q bad place,
pver there at stratford. It's Just the
naane Of the thing. But you needn't
lsli her beforehand"
sAnd you needn't tell Daisy. She's
cot to know that Granny Is going"
When Monday came, and John drove
~ TO the door, Granny had been ready
and waiting for an hour.
John went into the kitchen where
his wife was He sat down INSTEAD
NJ. ~LAdy," he said, ut seems an
awful thing TO do"
Ida gave him 4 scorching glancs
but her Vulcs was quiet Il thought
nkely youid back out At the last min
ntA Yea never did have much back
bona"
John ihasd his head and looked a
hls wife suIisnly. mo- he said. Il
hooa rou'u remomber that Wheneyel