South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-05-09
DICKY BoRRows KATY.

he said, attacking his grapefruit
vigorously Couldn't you screw up
your courage 20 the point OF firing
her. or did she put up too pitiful a
I plea "
oh. Dicky. / know she never
meant 20 steal it." ! said warmly.
She said she just wanted 20 look
( at 1t. so she could get one like il"
\ I added demurely.
Gee. that's a good one" Dicky
retorted cynically What did you
tell her"
That il cost a great deal Of
money" 1 went on smiling, but
Katie assured me that it didn't, that
she could get one almost like it.
only with a big red stone, for four
dollars and fifty cents. and that she
intends to buy it for herself as an
\ Easter present"
We'll, I'll be-" Dicky threw
back his head and roared. But
honestly. Madge, you don't believe
that yarn Of hers do yOu?"
; cot course I do" I returned in
/ dignantly why, l wouldn't keep
her in the house a minute if /
! thought she were a thief"
Well. it's perhaps just as we'll
YOU didn't fire her I've got a
chance this week TO do some work
on that portrait Of her as Poland.
that I have planned for so long.
Can you let her come over 10 the
studio This morning for three or
! four hoUrs?''
oh. Dicky" I gasped, dismayed.
Il don't see how 7 can this morn
ing. You mothe, is coming tomOr-
row, you know. and I've got to get
ready for her"
What in the world have you got
TO DO that can't be done in two or
three hours? >" demanded Dicky, ir-
rita bly,
made d quick decision I knew
that Dicky was utterly unreason-
! able TO ask for Katie's services al
such time. But / know also that,
like most men, he had no idea of
! the time which homework takes,
| or the anxiety every hOusekeeper
has 10 have her domain spick and
span for the inspection Of a woman
guest. Perhaps we could compro-
mise the matter. At any rate.
would not risk a quarrel about it.
you are talking on a subject OF
which you know nothing" l said
making my voice gay and bantering
! but I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll
let you have Katie for two hours
this morning, but not a minute
more. | really can't do it. dear"
Well / suppose that viii have to
do" grumbled Dicky. but | must
say / don't think you are very ac-
commoda ting"
ANY day would have done for the
painting, but | told myself with a
sigh that DiclSy's selfishness was
something / could not hope TO Gare
I could only endure it,
Final Preparations for Dicl>y's
Mother.
Today my mother-in-lawl
That was my thought when ]
awoke on the morning OF the day
which was TO bring Dicky's mother
TO live with us.
am afraid if set down my ex-
act thoughts should have to adj
NIT that l had a distinct feeling OF
rebellion against the expected visit
of Dicky's mother.
If il were only a visit There was
just the trouble. Then / could have
welcomed my mOther-in-law. enter.
tanned her royalty, kept at top pitch
all the time she was with us. guard
ed every word and action. and KEPT
from her knowledge of the fact thai
Dicky and / often quarrelled.
But Dicky's mother, as far as
could see. was TO be a member OF
our household for the rest OF heI
life. She herself had arranged Il
in a letter, the calm phrases o,
which still irritated me as 1 re,
called them. She had taken me 81
absolutely for granted. as though
my opinion amounted 10 nothing
land only her wishes and those 81
her son counted.
had no reason to love Dicky'.
mother. I knew that she had OBJ.
jected violently 10 Oicky's marrying
me because she had other plans fol-
him. She had even refused TO come
TO our simple home wedding AND
here she and l would have to live
in the same house for the rest OF
our livesl
But suddenly my cheeks famed
with shame. After all. this woman
who was coming was my husbands
mother, an old woman, frail, almost
an invalid. ] made up my mind Il
put away from me all the disagree.
able features of her advent into ms
home, and 10 busy myself with plan.
for her comfort and happiness.
hurried the breakfast. for
wanted plenty OF time for the las
preparations before Dickys mother
should arrive. Dicky was to go 4
his studio for a while and then &c
over to the station in time 10 meet
her train. which was due at 1880.
Dicky's Parting Shot.
What time will you be here 30
asked Dickey for about the eleventh
time when he had finished hi,
breakfast ana was ready to star
for the studio
How do know?' Dicky re
joined irrita bly,. IF the train is or
time We ought 10 be here within .
half hour after IL gets in Tha
would bring Us here about /.
O'Clock. But those trains are otter