New Britain herald., 1916-03-25
Why Madge Failed to Score.

Why Madge Failed to "Score'.
 You are not eating your luncheon at all. My mother-in-law spoke ac- Cusingly. What is the matter, isn't your salad good?'' "Oh, yes, indeed, it is delicious" I replied warmly, but I am not at all hungry, and that hot chicken kroth was very filling"
 My motherin-law looked at me keenly.
 "Nonsense!" she said brusqueIy. "You're too healthy a young woman to content yourself with a cup of tot chicken broth after a cold morn ing's tramping. There must be some thing on your mind"
 l made no answer, only loved with my salad in an attempt to eat some thing. I did not look at my mother ln-law, but 1 knew that she was gazing at me shreWdly.
 well. it's your own affair" she said at last, and returned to her salad.
 She did not refer to the subject again, for which I was truly grateful. When she was through with the salad, and l noticed that she finished every Dit of it despite her disparagement of
 
 waiter.
 Have you any preference as to desserts?" she asked conventionally as the man appeared.
 'J think I should like a lemon ice or lemon sherbert if they have it." l replied, feeling that the light ice with it's tartness was just what I craved to soothe the fever that l felt in my veins.
 She turned to the waiter. One lemon ice and one baked apple with cream,' she said.
 Very well, ma'am," and he van ished again in the wake of the omni bus who had cleared our table.
 It was while we were eating the dessert that I received andother lesson as to my status in my mother-in-l laws scheme of life.
 "Check, please.' she said to the waiter. That did not surprise me, for she had taken the lead from the moment we entered the restaurant. ] fully expected to see her bring out her purse and settle the bill. l had made up my mind to utter a con- ventional protest but not to oppose her strongly, and then when we reached home tell Diclly about it so tbat he might give her back the H4Oney.
 .'Madgc's Come Back"
 But when she had scanned the bill thoroughly, and l knew the waiter shared my fervent hope that the items were correctly added, she reached over and laid it beside my plate without any comment what ever. Then, calmly, without looking at me. she began to draw on her gloves
 1t was exactly the manner her type Of woman would use toward d paid attendant. 1 was conscious of the walters eyes upon me, and I felt myself flushing. But my manner was a s calm as her own as l took d bill from my purse, placed it upon the added list of items which lay be- fore me, and, reaching over, laid it beside my mother-in- laws plate.
 T am so sorry,'' I murmured lleekly and apologetical1y, that I did not notice you had not enough with you. Why did you not tell me hefore?'
 Then without waiting for an an- sWer l rose and began putting on my coat.
 I do not know whether my ruse to avoid acting as a kind of upper serv- ant to my mOther-in-laW would have succeeded or not if the waiter had been less quick. But the eagerness of the average resta urant waiter to get his order paid for and his tip secured was something on which l had counted. I had scarcely laid the money and the bill in front of my husbands mother before the man had taken both and hurried away tc, the cashiers desk.
 I finished fastening my cloak and turned to find the elder Mrs. Ora ham smiling grimly to herself. l was relieved, for I had feared she might be angry at me.
 Mrs. Grahams Decision.
 Shall I help you on With your cloak" I asked, as l saw her take up the heavy garment. l fully ex- rected her to refuse. knowing her dislike of being assisted in any way, but to my surprise she assented.