South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-12-07
WHY MOTHER GRAHAM FLED
FROM THE HOTEL AND WAIT
ED DICKY'S RETURN IN
ANGNTn

I FROM THE HOTEL AND WAIT
ED DICKY'S RETURN IN
ANGER.
We had not long 70 wait before
We found out the reason for the
latest tantrum OF Dicky's mother. AS
We were finishing the something hot
which Katie's forethought had pro
ylded for us, and for which we were
D oct grateful. as we had taken only
coffee and rolls in our anxiety 10
get an early train 10 Marvin. she
swept into the dining room, stately
and impressive in her voluminOus
sray negligee.
Good morning, mother" Dicky
and 1 chorused, rising from our
seats to greet her. But she waved
Dicky's prohered kiss aside. and
chilled me with q look.
AS you have not bothered 10 wait
I for me, do not let me disturb your
breakfast, she said with an air that
made our breakfast without her APP
pear a deadly insult. Katie. you
may bring me my breakfast now.
Please see that my toast is Drowned
fright. The stun you gave me yes
lterday morning was not fit for
dog 10 eat"
Now mother, that is bit
thick" protested DicNy, as he saw
Katie's lowering face.
Keep quiet. Richard" His
mother snapped the command at
him as if he had been a puppy, and
lpicky promptly subsidized. She evil
Identity was in one of her worst
moods, and We both had learned
from experience that it was the
safest plan to leave her entirely
alone at such times.
So we made a pretense of linger-
ling over our breakfast. for we
knew that our departure from the
table before her would fan her an
Isel into an explosion.
She did not speak again. except
TO Katie. until she had finished eat
ling, and Dicky and ] We're so sub
Idued that we sat ridiculously
Icowed, as two naushty children
might have done.
] AS she rose from the table her
manner was more than ever that Of
la principal summoning refractory
Pupils TO her Office for punishment.
Il wish 20 speak 10 YOU both"
she said. please come into the liv-
ling room"
| We followed her into the big liv-
ling room, where Jim had built
/ GLORIOUS fire OF logs. But Z thought
lwhimsicaliy that even so big a blaze
as the one leaping before Us could
not take the chill from the atmos-
lphere surrounding my mother-in-
Ilaw.
"Sit dOwnl" she commanded, as
we entered the room. and Dicky
drew up chairs for all of US
Il never have been so insulted
and annoyed in my life" she be-
gan abruptly and il is all your
fault, Richard If you had never
drought the unspeakable person
over he would not have had the
chance 70 annoy me. And as for
lyou. Margaret, cannot begin TO tell
you what I think OF your conduct in
Heading your husband 10 believe YOU
had never seen the man before"
For heavens sake. motheri"
lDicky exploded, his slender pa
thence evidently worn TO its last
Thread by his mothers incoherence.
what on earth are you talking
'about?"
Don't you pretend ignorance,
she snapped. You introduced the
man 10 me yourself the night before
you went on your trip. You cannot
have forgotten his name 70 soon"
YES, Robert GOrdOn!"
/ Robert Gordoni" Dicky ex-
lclaimed in amazement, and I felt as
if cold hand had clutched my
heart. What bizarre thing had the
lclderly man who had taken such an
lunaccOuntable interest in me been
doing TO arouse such resentment in
my mother-in-law2
YES, Robert Gordon!" his mother
returned grimly. And let me
tell you Richard Graham that II
lyou do not settle that man ne will
make you the laughing stock and
1.-THE scandal of everybody The way
ihe talks OF Margaret is disgusting. q"
Dicky's face became suddenly
stern and set
Look here, mother" he said
Islowly. You are letting your tenn
lper and your imagination run away
with you. This is my affair. not
yours no matter what has hap
| pened Now please begin at the
beginning and tell me everything in
Mr.. Gordon's conduct that has an
moved YOU. Then I can judge
whether we have any cause for an
noyance or not"
Mother Graham Explains.
! I think if the elder Mrs. Graham
/ had not been so anxious 20 tell her
story she would have closed her lips
land swept from the room, 50 an
gered was she by her sons temer-
lily. But she contented herself with