Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-14

Dicky sprang out OF the taxicab, which
had drawn up In front of the drug store, and
seized my arm
Has anything happened7" he demanded
exctedly. You are rushing along like
mad, your eyes are full of tears, and you
are down here instead of at home. Why
II had not happened to spy you we would
have gone on home. That would have
been a fine welcome for my mother, wouldn't
II? Nobody there to greet her but Katie"
reflected grimly that II ever there was
time In my life for telling only part of the
truth that time had come
Nothing Is the matter" I said shortly
II went out to get some cream for Katie's
pudding and some flowers l stopped here
in the drug store TO get some Of my head
ache tablets and left the flowers and cream.
l did not find It out until | reached the
apartment. so ! dashed back after them
Some dust blew in my eyes. 1 suppose
that's what makes you think l have been
crying"
That's you all over" Dlcky Rrumbled.
Risk not being at home to greet mother
in order to have few flowers stuck around.
Hore come on and meet mother and III 80
in and get your flowers" He took my arm
and made a step toward the taxicab.
mo. no." said hastily. 81 know ex-
actly where left them l won't be n min
ute" I broke away and hurried into the
drug store. I was almost in panic. TX
DiclSy had gone in TO inquire about the flow
ers he would have been almost certain to
have found out that had telephoned not
bought headache tablets.
Luckily the flowers and cream were where
had left them. l detested the idea OF ar
! ranging any part of ones toilet In public.
but l did not want the critical eyes of
Dcty's mother to see my reddened eyes
and roughened hair, which had been slightly
loosened in my hurry.
There was n mirror near the telephone
booth at the back OF the store. I took off
| my fur cap, smoothed back my hair and put
| on the cap again. From my purse took n
| tiny powder puff and removed the traces OF
tears. Then | fairly snatched my parcels
and hurried to the door. Dicky was just
entering the store as | reached it. His face
was black. / saw that he was in one OF his
RACES.
"MADGE, MY MOTHER"
Look hore Madge," he said, and he made
no pretense OF lowering his voice. do you
| think my mother enjoys sitting there in that
taXcab waiting for you? She was 80 ia
| tigued by her journey that she didn't even
want to have her baggage looked after.
| something unusual for her That is the
| reason we got here so early. And now she
| is positively faint for cup OF tea and you
are fdding around here over n lot of flow
| ers."
II he had made no reference to his
| him spiritedly. But | remembered my own
| little mother and her longing when fatigued
| for cup of hot tea.
II am awfully sorry, Dicky." I said
| meekly. You see you arrived before l
thought you would. I'll get the tea for her
the moment we reach the house" Z
But Dicky was not mollhed He stalked
| moodily ahead of me until he reached the
| open door Of the taxicab. Then his manner
underwent a sudden change. One would
| have thought him the most devoted of hus-
bands to see him draw me forward.
| Mother" he said and my heart glowed
| even in its resentment at the note of pride
in his voice, this is my wife. Madge, my
| mother"
Mrs. Graham was leaning back against
| the cushions of the taxicab. If she had
not looked SO white and i'll should have re.
sented the look Of displeasure that rested
| upon her features.
| How do you dor" she said coltly. "You
| must pardon me, am afraid, for not saying
| the usual things. I have been very much
| upset"
The studied insolence Of the apology was
| Infinitely worse than the coldness of hel
manner. I waited for a moment to contro
| myself before answering her.
| Il am afraid that you are really ILL.,"
| said as cordially as / could 81 am so sorr,
| to have kept you waiting, but did not ex
pect you quite so soon, and had some er
| rands."
at doesn't matter" she said indifrerently
Her manner put me aside from her consid
| Grafton as il l had been child or {
| servant. She turned to Dicky.
Are we almost there, dear?"
| The warmth of her tones to him, tn,
love displayed in every infection set ou
In more bitter contrast the coldness will
which she was treating me.
| Right here now" as the taxi drew VI
to the door of the apartment house. Their
was peculiar infection to Dicky's voice
| / stole glance at him. He was gazin
at his mother with puzzled look fancie
l saw also a trace of displeasure. But
| vanished in another minute as he spran
to the ground, paid the driver and helpe
his mother and me out
She leaned heavily on his arm as h
went up the stairs to the third floor, upo
which our apartment was
You have no elevator in these apart
ments?" Her voice was complaining.
mo. 1t is one of the older building.
but We like it because the rooms are air.
and 1t is near my studio. But now tina
you are here we shall take larger on
with an elevator"
Yes. that would be better"
Toiling up behind them with my despise
flowers and the bottle of cream, fe
like n stranger, an interloper If m
mother-ln-law had said in so many word
"Henceforth IL is my will that is law hei
please keep your proper place." she coul
not have revealed her sentiments towar
me more strongly.
At the door, Katie, who evidently ha
heard the taxicab. stood smiling broadly.
This is Katie, mother Dicky sal
kindly "She will help take care of you
How do you do, Katle?" The wore
TIE NIIE cprIu ar1r,nt,n |