New Britain herald., 1917-04-02
NEW BRITAIN DAILY HERALD MONDAY APIslI 2 l9l7:'
REVELATIONS OF A WIFE
By ADELE GARRISON

! Please present my excuses to Richard and. Margaret. and tell them we shall hope to see them at the family reunion at Christmas time. trust Margaret will not be inconven- fenced. She probably can invite some friends of her own if she has made preparations for us, and will probably have much better time than if we came. You know as a usual thing wives arc not very keen on entertain ing their husbaAd's people.
 with much love. mother dear,
 Your affectionate daughter. VI
 .'Elizabeth. Harrison"
 "A Heavy Heart.
 put the letter down with a feeling of amazement at it's careless callous- ness. The covert sneer at my hospi- tality did not resent, partly because Ii was used to similar slurring re- marks from the lips of Dicky's mother, partly beca,ise knew in my heart that the writer was correct in her inference. I had not been anxious to entertain Dicky's sister and her family, but had done my very best to make adequate preparation for the guests.
 But that a woman could disappoint an old and frail mother In 8 birthday visiA because she wished to avoid in- conveniencing the members of a wo- mans club seemed to me the acme of heartlessness. My heart ached for the lonely old woman who, was sure., was weeping bitter tears of dis appointment in her room up stairs. I. lonsed to 60 to her and comfort her, butI was afraid that she would repel me, afraid, too. that Tn some way she would attribute her daughters failure to make the visit to some fencied lack Of cordiality on my part. {
 Then n1y mind turned to the prac-. tical side of my problem. My pantry was provisioned for the feeding of six extra guests. It seemed 2 shame and mockery of the day for just three of us to sit down to the feast for which we had made such preparation. But where was I to lind gueats at this late. hour especially those who would meet my mother-in-law's approval?
 One thing I must do at once. get ready gone to meet his sister, and meet. I went at once to tho telephone and gave the studio number to the operator!
 Mother Graham's Oner.
 s'what,s that? They're not com ing?" Dicky's voice was. sharp with angry amazement as told him the news, ''Whatever's the matter with Elizabeth. Does she think we're runl ninR a short order restaurant here that she can break an engagement as coolly as that? But don't you care. I'll ring up the Underwoods We always used to dine at some hotsl to- gether and know I can get them to come out. And perhaps the Dur kees are goinEto dine quietly athome. They do freq0ently, know. I'll bet they'll come over. We'll have . better time than if Elizabeth's gang did come"
 \ ..But Dickyy' I protested. T don't think we ought to do that. Your mother i'd terribly disappointed about this. and you know while she doem't 0bject- to Lillian any more. she does not lilse MT. Underwood at all. feel who would annoy her at al. am 70 sorry Tor her, for know shs is really ..a:r1aret.. Mi mothsr-in-law's voice; ipaperious as ever. but with softened ffiAndliness instsad of its usual acerbity. sounded from the landing bf tho staircaAe above me. ..PIease tell Dicky to ak the Under woods or anyone elsgyou and he lwishs for tomorrow. shall not mind in the least. IndeedI | think guests. no matter who they arc. will make 1t ea3ar Fay snaA
 Pausing only to give Dicky her message, hung up the receiver. ana hurried up the SstAircase to tho pathe- tic old figure still standing upon the landing.
 ..Mother Graham" I said earnestly and something about her embroidered me to slip caressing afm about her. "I cannot, tell you how sorry am for this disappointment. wish I could make it easier for you"
 With a swift. impulsive movement. totally unlike her, she turned and put her face against my shoulder. held her closely, happy in the thought that she had come to me for sympathy. I felt that though my mother-in-law and I would in all probability have many clashes in the future, there could never again be the bitterness between us that there sometimes had been in the past. n aa IT.