The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-04-15
"YouR MOTHER, NOW"

There was peculiar infection in
Z Dicky's voice. l stole a glance at
him. He was gazing at his mother
with a puzzled look l fancied l saw
also trace of displeasure. But it
vanished in another minute as he
/ sprang to the ground. paid the driver
and helped his mother and me out.
She leaned heavily on his arm as
| he went up the stairs to the third floor
upon which our apartment was.
"You have no elevator In these
apartments?" Her voice was complain
ing. mo; 1t is one of the older build
4 ings, but we like it because the rooms
! are airy, and it is near my studio But
now that you are here, we shall take a
larger one with an elevator"
Eyes, that would be better
Toiling up behind them with my
despised flowers and the bottle OF
cream, I felt like a stranger. an inter
loper. II my mother-in-law had said in
SO many words: "Henceforth it is my
will that is law here-please keep your
proper place." she could not have re-
veaIed her sentiments toward me more
strongly.
At the door, Katie, who evidently
had heard the taxicab. stood smiling
broadly.
"This is Katie, mother Dickie said
4 kindly "She will help take care OF
you"
How do you do. katie?' The words
were the same. but the tones were
much kinder than her greeting to me.
Dicky assisted her into the living
room. She sank into the armchair.
and Dicky took off her hat and loosen
loonad hnr hna6
against the back of the chair, and her
face looked so drawn and white that
! felt alarmed.
katie. prepare a cup of strong tea
immediately" / directed, and Katie
vanished as there nothing l can do
for YOU. Mrs. Graham" l approached
her chair.
Z Nothing, thank you. You may save
\ the maid the trouble of preparing that
tea II YOU will | could not possibly
drink it. always carry my own tea
with me. and prepare It. II it is not
too much trouble, Dicky, will you get
me a not of hot water and some cream,
I have everything else here"
2 really felt sorry for Dicky. He
causht the tension in the atmosphere,
and looked from his mother to me
with a helpless caught-between-two-
fres-expression. With masculine OBJ
E tuseness he put his foot in it in his
endeavor to remedy matters.
"Why do you call my mother Mrs.
Graham, Madge?" he said querulously'
"She is your mother now as well as
mine, you know
~ am nothing Of the kind His
mother spoke sharply "Of all the ldiot-
ic assumptions that is the worst, that
marriage makes close relatives and
friends of total strangers. Your wife
and may learn to love each other,
Then there will be plenty OF time for
Ger to call me mother AS 1t is. am
very glad she evidently feels as ! DO
about it. Now, Dicky. If you VIII
kindly get me that hot water
81 will attend to it" ] said decidedly
"Dicky. take your mother to her room
and assist her with her things. / will
have the hot water and cream for her
almost at once.
Il In the shelter of the dining room,
where Dicky nor his mother nor Katie
could see or hear me, | clenched my
hands and spoke aloud.
Call HER mother! Give that i'll
tcmbered, tyrannical. old woman the
sacred name that means so much to
mo. NEVER as long as | live!"
How Dcky's Mother Refused the