Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1914-05-09
HER LOST AyTHoRI7Y
By JANE KELLY.

Within the recollection of the fam. l fly mother" had never before been i'll. > She had tied up cut fingers and filled
 hot water bags and portioned out l medicine to everybody else, but never had she taken to her bed and caused these services to be performed for ) her.
 So when she fell i'll recently the
 Loffett family was badly disorganized,
 as though a bomb in good working
 order had dropped and exploded. With
 united zeal everyone turned to and
 took care of Mrs. Loffett When she
 was too i'll to mind they had lovely
 time. They piled on blankets and
 then held consultations and took
 blankets off; they raised shades and
 then decided to lower them; they reg
 ulated what she ate and they talked
 in subdued tones and kept the light
 burning dimly. And when she began
 getting better they had grown so to
 enjoy their unaccustomed authority
 that the invalid could not cope with
 them.
 "No, no, mother" Ruth Loffett
 would say, soothingly, if Mrs. Loffett attempted to throw back one of her
 bed coverings, you must keep that
 on. You'll catch cold"
 "But I'm really too warm," protest
 ed the invalid.
 You'll feel all right presently"
 Ruth would say in level tones as she
 tucked back the blanket about her
 parent. Just lie still, mother"
 Loffett was exactly as bad. When
 she appealed to him he merely shook
 his head and said, "Now, mother. you
 just lie quiet and let us manage things"
 T Rebellion slowly grew in the breast of the invalid.
 As she felt the returning health in
 her veins her eyes often snapped after she had been routed and laid low by some solicitous member of the family. The idea that Ruth, who was scarcely
 past the age when she had been
 spanked and put to bed supperless.
 was actually bossing her reused Mrs.
 Loffett's grim ire.
 Likewise that Henry, who only a
 short time ago had been refused more Jam, should be regulating what she ate and depriving her of what she wanted bewildered and irritated her. The day Mrs. Loffett said she want
 ed to get up the entire family proceed ed to shriek in horror. No, mother" said .Loffett, anxious. ly, "you stay in bed and get a good rest while you have the chance" } 'I should say sol" added Ruth Lof. fett. "And let me wait on you. am \ SO glad to do it.. Don't throw that !. cover back, mother!"
 And if you get up," put in Henry, Jr., you'll be eating all sorts of things that you shouldn't. You wanted grid ! dle cakes this morning, remember! ) Griddle cakes. mother!" Henry spoke in tones of horror.
 Then Ruth lowered the shades five . Inches and Henry absent-mindedly } raised them 15 inches, while Loffett abstracted the salt cellar on her table ) and removed one slice of toast from , her tray. You must not overeat," he 3l reminded her. } "Now, just lie quiet, mother" they
 said in chorus as they left her. II Alone, Mrs. Loffett breathed hard } and glared at the ceiling. Haven't got sense enough to know when I'm well?" she demanded of herself 3 finally. Then she smiled grimly to l herself.
 "I'll be all right with this maga' . zine," she told Ruth when that young : person had brought up a scanty lunch. con. You run along to that card party this afternoon. I shan't need a thing"
 "I'll tell Mary" said Ruth. dubious
 ly, ito keep an eye on you. don't } like leaving you at all, mother. You'll l be sure to do something foolish" E "Oh, no!" promised Mrs. Loffett
 while she clutched the bed clothes in ! order to restrain herself.
 I When Mary appeared. according to promise, to cast her eye upon the in
 valid she found Mrs. Loffett up and , dressed.
 7 "How do you do, Mary?" said the in. , valid, casually. q wish you would go z back downstairs and bake me lot of griddle cakes at once. And bring J, plenty of butter and sirup. And I'll ,, have coffee, too, and you might as well
 fry an egg or so while you are about 1t. I'm hungry"
 ;. The family. walking in upon Mrs. . Loffett just as she finished her repast. fell against the wall and then stag ! gered toward the telephone. Jl "You needn't call the doctor" or dered Mrs. Loffett. T just phoned him that I was well and he needn't
 come around. I'm tired of this fool
 ishness. Ruth, you'd better change that dress at once. Henry, have you fixed the furnace? And, father, what
 on earth are,you wearing that disrepu'
 table tie for?"
 T Then the family felt itself slide back
 into it's several places with a jolt.
 Mexican Mines Becoming Wells.