The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-09-20
PAIIADIlAlS MAGAZINE AND HOME PAGE
Married Life
the Second Year
e. rAeEL HERBERT URNER.

tLEN Rad written a formal lit
tie nctn to Mrs. Curtis, her
4 Il other-iu-iaw. saying that her
mother was here from Missouri, Wis
ting tncn and thai they would be
glad to naa her call.
Size had done that only because she
knew b II mother would be deeply
hurt if ONE ol Warren'8 people did
not como to see her. and because she
did not v-isn her 10 know Of the strain
ed relations that had SO long existed
between Warrona family and herself.
It was almOS. a week after the writ
ing Of the note that Mrs, Curtis came.
II was about 4 in the afternoon and,
Helen had taken her mother out
sight-seeing, they were both tired and
neither Of them dressed. II was De-
las afternoon off, and Helen had to
answer the bell herself With much
embarras sment Helen led her into the
front room.
Mother and I have been shopping
and sightseeing all morning and we've
been very negligent this afternoon and
haven't dressed" she apologized.
After a few commonplace remarks
about the WEAKNESS of shopping and
sightseeing, Helen excused herself
for moment to tell her mother that
Mrs. Curtis was here.
THE MEETING OF MOTHERS.
Hurry and get into your black silk
dress" she whispered Can you hook
1t yourself?''
"Oh, yes, yes, but it hasn't any
ruching in the neck q took it out
yesterday to put fresh in and then
forgot it.
Never mind the ruching-put it on
and come in as soon as you can And
Helen hurried back to the front room
where she tried to entertain Mrs.
Curtis with stories Of the baby until
her mother appeared.
Mrs. Curts-my mother, Mrs, AL
len"
After the Introduction there was an
awkward pause.
There Is probably no situation more
embarrassing 70 a young wife than
that of the first meeting of her moth
err with her mOther-in-law.
Mrs. Curtis was most formal and
cold. And Mrs. Allen who had expect
ed the warmest COrdiality, was plainly
Disconnected.
81 believe this is your first visit to
New York." said Mrs. Curtis formal
ly.
MY first visit since | was here on
my wedding journey; but that was so
long ago, everything is so changed. 1t
is like a new city to me now
Yes | suppose So" murmured Mrs.
Curtis then settled back and left the
conversation to be directed by Helen
and her mother.
AN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION.
Mrs. Allen was so plainly discon-
certed that Helen tried to relieve her
by talking rapidly of their plans for
sightseeing while she was here.
Mrs. Curtis made only an occasional
polite assent.
And all the time Helen was pain
fully conscious that Mrs. Curtis was
cycling her mothers plain Oldfashion-
ed black silk, which was in marked
contrast to her own plumcolored
nodding plumes.
And Helen resolved that before her
mother returned, this call she must
have new and modish tailored suit.
Poor Mrs. Allen who had expected a
very friendly family discussion of
their mutual interests-their daugh-
ter and son-found instead that Mrs.
Curtis was making only a most stiff
and conventional call in which there
was no element of kinship or cordial
ity.
Helen was glad when Winifred woke
up and began to cry. She at once
brought her in. hoping to relieve the
awkwardness of the situation. Mrs.
Curtis held and played with her for
few moments, but not with the
same loving tenderness which Helen's
mother laviShed upon her.
Isn't that dear little sack?" asked
Helen.
Her Aunt Laura sent her that and
mother brought her the daintiest lit
tie dress-I must show it to YOU
She brought out the dress with a
sense of pride. slad that Mrs. Curtis
should see that her mother knew
something of dainty baby clothes,
even ii her CWn clothes were plain and
old fashioned.
Yes, that is very pretty" murmur-
ed Mrs. Curtis. examining the fine
hand made tucks, but without enthu-
siasm.
Here Winifred who had been strug-
Cling prOtestingly in Mrs. Curtis's
arms, began TO cry,
Let me take her" cried Mrs. AL
len, coming anXiously fortard. And
Winifred, who had already grown to
love her Grandmother Allen, reached
out her little hands
MRS CURTIS LECTURES
ON BABIES
That's not the way to act! You
mustn't cry like that, Good little
girls don't cry that way.
But evidently you're spelling her.
It's just temper when she cries like
that. Don't humor or notice her and
she'll soon stop"
But Winifred showed no intention
of stopping. And now Mrs. Allen who
could not bear it any longer, stopped