New Britain herald., 1916-10-30

How Katie Said "Good-by," Mother
 Graham Departed, and Madge
 Met the Lotus Study Club.
 "Goot-by, goot-by, my dear, goot Missis Graham. I never, never can tank you all you do for me and Jim. I never forget, never. Ven I coon back I vait on you joost as if you von baby all day long,
 Katie stood on the veranda steps, attired in her white wedding dress and floating veil. Jim, in brand new suit of clothes, freshly barbered' and his honest face agloW with em- harrassed joy, was on the path below waiting for her.
 A grinning taxi driver also waited, holding apen the door of the machine which was to bear Katie and Jim to the little church in the village where they were to be married.
 Whether from embarrassment or for some other reason neither Katie nor Jim had appeared especially to desire our presence at the ceremony, an attitude which much relieved Dlcl5y and me.
 They were to go straight from the church to the home of Jim's mother and father, where a wedding feast was to be served to Jim's cron1es. Jim had already carefully taken ever to his mothers home Katie's travelling suit and hat, while the suit case with the things she wished to take with her on their litle trip he had deposited proudly in the taxi.
 I knew that Dicky was grinn1ng in ecstatic enjoyment of my embarrass-. ment as Katie poured out the vials of her emotional gratitude upon me.
 Katie was making a distinct drama of leaving us to be married, and was enjoying herself immensely, although I feared that the tears which stood in her eyes might become the torrent of sobs in which Katie sometimes 1n- du7ges.
 ''There. there, Katie,'' I said, trying to calm her by the quiet Of my own manner, you'll only be gone a week, after all, so you really shouldn't say good-bv at all. Now run along with Jim, my dear, and take my very pest wishes for wedding" I kissed her lightly on the cheek as I spoke. l It did not need the snort that 1 l heard from my mother-in-law stand
  tell me that she utterly disapproved l of SO familiar an action toward my maid, but to me 1t seemed unutterably pitiful that Katie should go to her l wedding with no woman relative near l to kiss her and wish her Godspeed. i I would not have omitted that gOOd-by ! caress if hundred nOther-in laws l had made me feel the weight of their 1 disapprOval for doing it. l At my words and kiss Katie threw her arms around me. regardless of the way she was crushing her pretty wed- 1 ding dress hugged me convulsively, returned my kiss with a hearty smack l that must have sent shivers of horror down my mother-in-law's back and 1 dashed down the steps to the waiting 1 Jim.
 "Coom now, Jirn,'' she said briskly, ''I ready now. We go queeck before I cry''
 She sprang into the taxicab before Jim had a chance to help her, and in of sight.
 3I'm glad that's over," Mother Graham commented grimly. "One would think, Margaret, that Katie was vour dearest friend to see the farewell you gave her.
 My mother-in-laws tone was even IT. ore caustic than her words. I knew that she was simply spelling for a good old-fashioned row, but I did not intend to give her the chance to begin a quarrel.
 "I do not know that I have a more ! faithful friend than Katie" I said quietly, and then more briskly: ls there anything I can do for You Mother Graham. before you go?
 "Oh. no, thank you,' she returned with the crushing dignity which she affects when she is displeased 'l have everything ready, and can start
 at any moment"
 "very we'll then," I returned, "Dicky and you can easily make that $50 express from Crest Haven I will try to see you before I go to the Study club this afternoon, put II