South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-05-16
HOW MADGE AND ID
MOTHER MET.

my arm
Has anything happened ?" ne de-
manded excitedly. You are rush
ing along like mad. your eyes are
4 fun of tears. and you are down here
instead of at home. Why. If I had
not happened 10 spy YOU we would
have gone on home That would
have been a fine welcome for my
mother. wouldn't it? Nobody there
I 20 greet her but Ka ie."
1 reflected grimly that if ever
/ there was a time in my life for tell
] ing only part of the truth that time
\ had come
Nothing is the matter" I said
shortly. Il went out 10 get some
/ cream for Katie's pudding and some
/ flowers ! stopped here in the drug
store 10 get some of my headache
tablets. and left the flowers and
cream. l did not find il out until
/ L reached the apartment. so / dash
ed back after them. Some dust blew
I in my eyes. / suppose that's what
makes YOU think 1 have been cry
ing"
That's you. all over" Dicky
grumbled. Risk not being az home
! 10 greet mother in order TO have a
| few flowers stuck around. Here.
come on and meet mother, and I'll
20 in and get your flowers" He
+ took my arm and made a step to-
ward the taxicab.
mo, no." / said hastily Il know
exactly where l left them I won't
/ be minute" I broke away and
/ hurried into the drug store. 1 was
almost in a panic. If Dicky had
gone in 10 inquire about the flowers
/ he would have been almost certain
TO have found out that l had tele-
/ phoned. not bought headache tab
lets.
Luckily the flowers and cream
were where l had left them. / de-
test the idea of arranging any part
of ones toilet in public, but I did
not want the critical eyes of Dicky's
mother 70 see my REDEEMED eyes,
and roughened hair, which had
/ been slightly loOsened in my hurry.
There was "A mirror near the tele-
phone booth at the back of the
store. took Oft my fur cap,
smoothed back my hair and put on
the cap again From my purse 1
took a tiny powder puff and remov-
cd the traces of tears. Then / fair
! ly snatched my parcels and hurried
/ TO the door. Dicky was just enter
I ing the store as 1 reached it. His
\ face was black ] saw that he was
/ in one of his RACES.
"NIadge My Mother"
Look here. Madge," ne said. and
he made no pretense of lowering his
voice, do YOU think my mother en-
/ joys sitting there in that taXicab
waiting for you2 She was so ia
ugued by her journey that she
didn't even want 10 have her bag
gage looked after. something un-
usual for her That is the reason
we got here so early. And now she
is positively faint for a cup of tea,
and you are fddling around here
over lot of flowers"
If he had made no reference 10
his mothers faintness, 1 should have
answered him spiritedly. But 1 re-
membered my own little mother.
and her longing when fatisued for
a cup of hot tea.
Il am awfully sorry. Dicky,"
said meekly. you see you arrived
before 1 thought you would. I'll
get the tea for her the moment we
reach the house"
But DiCky was not Modified. He
stalked modify ahead of me until
he reached the open door of the
taxicab. Then his manner under
went sudden change. one
would have thought him the most
devoted of husbands to sec him
draw me forward.
Mother" he said and my heart
I glowed even in its resentment at the
note of pride in his voice. this is
my wife. Madse. my mother"
Mrs Graham was leaning back
against the cushions of the taxicaD.
If she had not looked 50 white and
lin l should have resented the look
of displeasure that rested upon her
features.
How DO you do?" she said coldly.
| You must pardon me, I am afraid,
for not saying the usual things.
nave Dttl Yer III ANAA GESN~s
The studied insOlence of the apol-
ogy was infinitely worse than the
Il GOODNESS of her manner. I waited
for a moment 10 control myself be-
\ fore answering her.
Il am afraid that you are really
n ILL.," I said as cordially as / could.
\ Il am so sorry to have kept YOU
waiting. but / did not expect you
quite so soon. and 1 had some err
rands"
1T doesn't matter" she said in
differently Her manner put me
aside from her consideration as If
had been child or a servant. She
turned TO Dicky
Are we almost there. dear?"
The warmth OF her tones 10 him,
the love displayed in every infiec-
ton set out in more bitter contrast
the coldness with which she was
treating me.
Right here now" as the taxi
drew up to the door OF the apart
ment house. There was a peculiar
infection in Dicky's voice. I stole
a glance at him. He was gazing al
his mother with a puzzled look
fancied I saw also a trace OF dis
,1eae,,ra Rut il vanished in an