The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1914-02-06
HER LOST AUTH. .RlTY
ax IANE KELLY.

ily mother nad never b&iOre been i'll
She had tied up cut fingers and flleS
hot water bags and portioEed Ou,
medicine to everybody else. but never
had she taken to her bed and causst
these services to be performed 70,
her.
SO when she fell i'll recently TIE
Loffett family was badly disorsanizel
as though a bomb in good workiDl
order had dropped and exploded. With
united zeal everyone turned to ant
took care of Mrs. Loffett. When shs
was too III to mind they had lovely
time. They piled on blankets ans
then held consultations and tool
blankets of; they raised shades ant
then decided TO lower them; they reg
ulated what she ate and they tAlke(
IN subdued tones and kept the liah'
burning dlmly. And when she begAl
getting better they had grown % t
enjoy their unaccustomed authority
that the invalid could not cope witt
them. ~
mo, no, mother" Ruth Loneti
would say, soOthingly, il Mrs. Loffeti
attempted to throw back one OF hei
bed coverings, you must keep thai
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 az sLt
tucked back the blanket about hsi
parent. Just lie still, mother
Loftett was exactly az bad: WheI
she appealed to him he merely sAool
his head and said, Nov, mother, yor
just lie quiet and let us manage
things"
Rebellion slowly grew in the breas,
of the invalid.
As she felt the returning health ~.
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 beet
spanked and put to bed supperless
was actually bossing her reused Mrs
Lonfett's grim ire.
Likewise that Henry, who only 8
shortstlme ago had been refused more
Jam, should be regulating what sht
ate and depriving her OF what shs
wanted bewildered and irritated her
The day Mrs. Loffett said she want
ed to get up the entire family proceed
ed to shrek in horror
mo, mother" said Lotfett anxious
ly. you stay in bed and get q EOoG
rest while YOU have the chance"
Il should say SOL" added Ruth LOT
fett. "And let me wait on you. am
so glad to do it. Don't throw thai
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
die cakes this morning, remember!
Griddle cakes, mother!" Henry spoke
in tones OF horror. sj
Then Ruth lowered the shades five
iRches and Henry absentmindedly
raised them 10 inches, while Lofeti
Abstracted the salt cellar on her tsbl,
and removed one slice of toast from |
her tray. you must not oVerest," he
reminded her.
Now, just lie quiet, mother" they
said in chorus as they left her.
Alone. Mrs. Loffett breathed hard
and glared at the ceiling. "HaVSni
got sense enough to know when In |
well?" she demanded OF herself |
finally. Then she smiled Srlmly to
herself.
"Tll be all right with this maVs.
zine." she told Ruth when that younS
person had brought up scanty lunch
son. You run along to that card |
party this afternoon. shan't need
thing
I'm tell Mary" said Ruth, dubious
ly, ito keep an eye on you. don't
like leaving you at all. mother. You'll |
be sure to do something foolish"
ooh, MOI promised Mrs. Lottett |
while she clutehed the bed clothes in |
Ordeh TO restrain herAeik
When Mary appeared. according to
promise, to cast her eye upon the in
valid she found Mrs. Loffett up and
dressed.
How do you do, Nary" said the IN,
valid, casually. Il wish you would &C |
hack downstairs and bake me a lot of
griddle cakes at once. And bring I
plenty OF butter and sirup. And I'll |
have coffee. too, and you might ~ well |
fry an egg or so while you are about |
1t. I'm hungry"
The family. walking IN uDoa Mrs