New Britain herald., 1916-10-09
How Lillian Actually Won the Liking
 of Dicky's mperious Mother.

Grace Draper did not die. Thanks to the assiduous care of Dr. Petit and the two trained nurses Dicky had pro- yided she gradually struggled up from the "valley of the shadow of death in which she had lain to convales- | cence.
 As soon as she was able to travel she went to the homo of the relative in the country whom she had visited in the summer One of the nurses went with her to see that she was settled comfortably, and upon return ing reported that she was getting strong fast, and in a month or two more would be her usual self again.
 Neither Dicky nor I had seen her before she left. Indeed, Dicky ap- reared to have taken an uncontroll- able aversion to the girl since her at tempt to kill him and herself, and dis liked hearing even her name men toned. As for me, I had positive dread of ever looking into the girls beautiful false face again.
 It was Lillian who made all the necessary arrangements both for the girls stay in her own home and her transfer to the country.
 But between the time of my nlother-in-law's inopportune arrival at our house in Marvin and the de- rarture of Grace Draper from Lillian's home lay an interval of a fortnight in which, what we all considered the miraculous, happened. My mother-in- law grew to like Lillian Underwood. For the first three or four days after the ultimatum which I had given her that she should respect our guests if she stayed in our house she was like a sulky child. She kept to her room, affecting fatigue, and de- manding that her meals be carried Up to her by Katie
 Of course, Lillian and Harry wanted to go away at once, but Dicky and I overruled them. I was resolved to see the thing through. I felt that if l 1ny mother-in-laW did not yield her prejudices at this time she never would, and that I would simply have ] to go through the same thing later. Lillian saw the force of my reason ing, and agreed to stay, although I knew that the sensitive delicacy of feeling which she concealed beneath her rough and ready mask made her uncomfortable in house which held l such a disappearing element as my m mOther-in-laW.
 men, one Oay the utJlo goa or 1 chance took a hand. Harry and Dicky ] had gone to the city. It was Katies afternoon off, and she and Jim, who ! had become a regular caller at our l kitchen door, had gone away together Mother Graham was still sulking in 1 her room, and Lillian was busy in 1 Dicky's improvised studio with some drawings and jingles which were a
 rush order
 l The day was a wonderful autumn l enc, and I felt the need of walk. T think I will run down to the
 village" I said to Lillian. This is l the day the candy kitchen makes up i the fresh toasted marshmallows. l ] think we could use some, don't you?' "Lovely," agreed Lillian, enthusias
 tically.
 "A Slight Heart Attaclz..'' 1T don't think Mother Graham will 1 come out of her room while I'm gone,' | I went on. Just keep an eye out for ] her if she should need you.' l She'd probably bite me if I offered
 her any assistance,' returned Lillian,
 laughing, "but I'll look out for her." l But when I came back with the marshmallows, after a longer walk than I had intended, I found Lillian ] sitting by my mother-in laws bedside, l watching her as she slept. When she
 saw me she put her finger to her lips
 and stole softly out into the hall.
 ''She had a slight heart attack while you were gone, and I was fortunate enough to know just what to do for
 her. It was not serious at all. She
 is perfectly all right now, and-'' she hesitated and smiled a bit-'I do not
 think she dislikes me any more."
 "Oh, I'm so glad!' I exclaimed
 ecstatically hugging her. "Everything
 will come out all right now.''
 During the rest of the Underwoods S
 stay it seemed as if my words had
 come true. The ice once broken, my
 moth CT in laws heart thawed per-
 ceptibly toward Lillian.
 By the time the day came when
 Harry and Lillian left us to go back
 to their apartment the elder Mrs.
 Graham had so far gotten over her
 prejudices as to bid Lillian a re-
 luctant farewell, and express a sincere
 wish that she might soon see her again.
 Toward Harry Underwood my
 m mother-in-laws demeanor remained ] rigid. She treated him with formal icy politeness which irritated Dicky 1 but appeared greatly to amuse Mir. l Underwood. He took delight in pay
 ing her the most elaborate attentions, l laying fresh nosegays of flowers at her plate at each meal. If he had been ! lover besieging a beautiful girls ] heart he could not have been more at
 tentive, while he was absolutely inn 1 previous to all the chilling rebuffs she
 gave him.
 I think that the touch of malice
 !, ioI, O vt of I,;c
 humor was gratified by the rigid an-
 nOyance which the elder Mrs. Graha
 exhibited toward his attentions At any rate, he kept them 1ln until inc