New Britain herald., 1917-10-26

REVELATIONS OF A WIFE
How Mother Graham Fared Where
Madgc Failed.
By ADELE GARRISON

MadgC rallied.
1t was just after breakfast that I
turned, away from the telephone, re-
alizing what the old saying, heart In
ones boots," meant. Mine was GER
tainly clear at the tips Of my toes. My
dismay must have been reflected IN my
face, for I saw the faces OF my fam
lily express concern, and D1cky ex-
claimed:
THE movers cant come. I'll bet a
cooky that's it.
you win the cooky," I returned
with a feeble attempt at merriment
although I felt more like weeping
than joking. I had been too stunned
nv the eruff announcement of the man
at the other end of the wire to make
anv comment, and he had hung up
tho telephone before I had recovered
nv breath. He was evidently afraid
Of the protests to which he might
have to listen.
rs this Mrs. Graham?" he had
asked, and in answer to my yes had
blurted out:
'.Terrible sorry, Mrs. Graham. but
the roads are so bad we can't possibly
get up there to your place with the
truck. and we can't get hold of any
horses for love or money. We've
tried everywhere, so we'll just have to
throw up the job. It you cant find
ANYBODY else and can wait until the
roads get better we'll be glad to do
the lob. but just now it's impossible.
margaret" My mother-in-law's
voice was as grim as her face, which
looked as If 1t were carved out of
granite. do you mean to tell me
that you let that man tell you he
couldn't come and never opened your
head to tell him he had to come, no
matter what the excuse?"
Mother Graham Is Irrftated.
II didn't have any chance, mother"
I returned. He talked very hurried
ly and hung up the receiver before
had any opportunity to answer.
IT suppose he gave the roads as an
excuse" Dicky said and his airily
nonchalant air irritated me more than
his mothers militant disapproval OF
my easygoing ways. He had such a
deta ched air, as If the moving were
some other family's problem than his
own. "Well, they are awful, but that
probably isn't the real reason. He's no
doubt got an easier job somewhere
and has thrown us over"
"Oh, don't think so, Dicky," pro-
tested. Don't you remember seeing
those moving trucks stalled in the
mud last week? And it's been thaw-
ing and freezing alternately ever
since. 1t must be worse than ever
now"
Margaret, could shake you," my
mother -in-law exclaimed irritably.
Here you expect the movers tomor-
row morning, they disappoint you and
T. II
Ing excuses for them. And you're
about as bad, Richard" she went on.
turning to her son. why aren't you
at the telephone making the fellow
understand that If he has taken tho
contract to move you he's got to do 1t.
If he carries, your stuff out on his
shoulders
because 1t wouldn't be the slight
est use.'' Dicky replied lazily. You
don't know these particular natives.
mother. They're the most indepen-
dent cusses on earth. They have an
idea that if they consent to do any
on your knees in gratitude for then
condescension. And they do it in
their own good time and way, Or not
at all, just as it suits them"
Dtcky Shifts the Burden.
II always knew you were fool,
Richard" his mother returned tartly;
"but this exhibition Of idiocy is posi-
lively sickening. What's that mans
telephone number? He may not do as
he has agreed, but he's certainly going
to hear a piece of my mind
And he certainly did, as we, who sat
breathlessly amused during the spirit
ed telephone conversation that fol-
lowed could testify Mother Graham
has an extensive and vigorous vocabu-
larry, and when she is angry she
doesn't 1nince her words But knew
so we'll the absolutely maddening In
difference which she must be meeting
from the man at the other end of the
wire, the phlegmatic assent to her
diatribe. the unalterab1e decision
which no words could affect, that
was not surprised to see her slam the
telephone down on the receiver, evil
IDENTIFY in the middle of sentence
from her opponent.
There's no use trying to talk to a
man who ought to be in the asylum
for the feeble minded she snapped.
IT told you So" Dicky drawled, and
his mother was so exhausted that she
didn't reprove him. "And now may
ask what in Sam Hill we're going to
do?"
He looked at me and I saw that In
a breath he had shifted the entire re-
sponsibility upon my shoulders. I had
engaged the movers, because he said
he was too busy to do it, and he evil
IDENTIFY meant to leave the heart
breaking problem entirely in my
hands.