South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-06-27

As 1 bent over my husbands
mother she smiled up at me. Her
illness had done more to bridge the
chasm between us than years of
companionship could have done. One
cannot cherish bitterness toward an
old woman helplessly i'll and de-
pendent upon one. And I think in
her own peculiar way she realized
that 7 was given her ali I had OF
strength and good viii.
What can / do for you?' i ask
ed, returning her smile.
II want something % eat. and af-
ter that ! want 10 have a talk with
Richard. Where is he?"
He is asleep" I answered me-
Chemically. tn moment my
thoughts had flown back 10 the day
my mother-in-law and 1 had met
Harry Underwood in the aquarium,
and she had discovered ne was Lii
liam Gales husband.
When she had heard the name
Lillian Gale" she had experienced
one OF her heart attacks. From her
words and manner, and the mbar-
rassment of Harry Underwood, ]
had realized that somewhere in the
past of my husband and that of Lii
liam Gale Underwood there was a
secret. From their anxiety 10 keep
me in the dark concerning IL l had
made up my mind that it was a
questionable secret.
~. 800 ~ L. l. Il
said that day i'm the aquarium rest
ROOM
Il have a duty TO YOU 20 perform. "
she had declared. A.. "A very painful
duty. which involves the reNiVing of
an old controversy with my son.
beg that YOU will not try 10 ind out
anything concerning its nature. u
is better far that YOU do not
She had wished 10 go home at
once and talk To Dicky. 7 had per
suaded her 20 go first 20 Fraunces's
tavern for luncheon. There she had
been taken in. and in the days that
interviewed betwee-l that time and
the moment I leaned over her bed
side she and we around her had been
lighting for her life There had
been no opportunity for a conhden-
tial talk between mother and son.
And [ was determined that there
should be none vet
In the first place. she was i'm no
condition to discuss any subject. let
alone one fraught with so many POS
sibilities OF excitement. I'm the sec
ond place. I was determined that no
one should discuss that old secret
with my husband before ! had
chance 10 talk TO him concerning it.
Well. YOU needn't go 70 sleep just
because Richard is.
My mother-in-law' impatient
voice brought me back 20 myself I
apologized eagerly.
II am sorry I am afraid 7 am
rot fully awake vet I slept so
soundly What would YOU like 10
eat?'
Something besides broths and
milk. She spoke with energy.
suppose ! fix up a poached egg
and some toast. Then when DR..
Petit comes again we rsn ask him
about having a little br5iled steak
tomorrow
Il don't need DR. Petit to advise
me every time ] take a drink OF
water or bite TO eat" she com
mented tartly.
depressed a smile with difficulty.
How about the egg and toast" L
asked sedately.
That Will do nicely But don't he
long"
] hurried TO the kitchen. and with
Katie's aid prepared an appetizing
looking tray i'm record breaking time.
I had learned how to make the in
vatd's tea the way she liked it. and
her tea service was borne proudly
i'm by Katie. while I took in the tray
bearing a plate with a nicely brown
ed piece Of toast and a pOached egg.
which / BATTERED myself was the last
word in culinary delicacy The tray
also held a small glass Of wine.
something which Or Petit had or
dered for her as a tonic
/ have never seen any one enjoy
food as my mother-in-law did the
simple meal L had prepared for her.