South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-02-28
HOW NIADGE WELCOMES
DICkY-HER Plan

/ aWoke unusually early upon the
morning after Dicky's au-night
reSel 10 an Overwhelming sense Of
trouble somewhere. For a moment
or two / could not understand what
had happened. Then 1 realized that
picky had not yet come home. and
that until / had gone asleep about
s o'clock in the morning ] had had
a most anxious and exciting time.
1 arose. dressed hastily. although
the t%hrobbings in my temples warn
ed me hat / probably would have
TO undress again after a while. /
recognized the first symptoms OF
another Of my nervous headaches.
Then / went 10 Dicky's room. turn
ed down the cover of his bed, and
laid his pajamas across the foot Of
the bed. As / took the night latch
from the lock Of the living room
door / thought Of the preparations
for coffee which Katie had made in
the kitchen. Very softly. SO as not
TO awaken her, I made the coffee.
took a cup myself 70 steady my
tingling nerves. put the pot back
upon the small warming burner,
came back to the living room. light
ed the a CRATE and sat down be-
fore it, again to wait, as I had done
so many times i'm the last u hours.
! did not sit there long. however.
for in a few minutes the door open
ed and Dicky came in.
I went over TO him and shook him
gently. 'Dicky, are you illi" My
voice was sharp with anxiety de-
spite Katie's assurance of the even
ing before hat they come home so
"seeck."
He opened his eyes and looked at
me vacantly.
That YOU, Madge ." ne said. and
closed his eyes again.
's)icky." I repeated more sharp
~. Listen 70 me-. Are you in2 1
have some hot coffee ready for
you"
He opened his eyes again. This
time there was anger i'm them. NO,
I'm not ill.," he snarled. He SEEM
ed to have great difficulty in get
ting his words out.
Let me alone. I'm going to
sleep"
'Dicky," 1 commanded sternly,
using the same tone as ] would 20
"A naughty child. drink this at once
ard then go to bed n sleep
there"
The ruse succeeded. although 7
was afraid il would not. He opened
his eyes. seized the cup and drank
ffe nnnFnpfe A. Z took tho nunnfvr
cup from his hand 10 set it on the
table he put mis- arm around me.
You're a good little scout to a
beast like me- he said feebly. I'll
tell you all about il when I get up.
I've got to 20 to sleep now"
He arose, still leaning on me and
walked %unsteadily to his room. He
made a futile effort TO remove his
overcoat. Helplessly he turned to
me, and l slipped il off for him. He
sat down upon the side of the bed.
and after much fumbling and with
my assistance in untying his cravat,
managed to get his collar off. Then
he stopped and 20 my dismay threw
himself back upon the bed and
closed his eyes. To all my %entreatics
to finish undressing and go to bed
properly he murmured sleepily:
Let me alone" or aid nothing at
all. 1 saw that there was no rous-
ing him. so with some difficulty L
unfastened his shoes and took them
off, got off his coat by dint Of roll
ing him from one side 10 the other.
covered him up warmly, opened the
window, pulled. down the shade and
left him TO his sodden slUmber.|
1 vent back TO the living room TO
think things out. and the plan my
course Of action toward Dicky when
he should awaken 10 himself.
I never have been a tolerant
woman. / acknowledge It with
shame, but the fact remains. And
the thing toward which 7 have held
the most Intolerant attitude is that
which ] was facing.
Besides my unreasoning horror
Of a drunken man. a feeling which
I never have been able 10 conquer.
7 always have had the utmost con
tempt for any one so weak as not
to be able to control their indul-
gence in liquors.
All at once I realized that this
must be the way a mother felt to-
ward a child which had grieved her.