The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-02-04
Revelations of a
Wife
A LETTER,FROM DlcKY'S MOTHER
AND THE PROBLEM IT CAUSED


While still at the breakfast table
continued reading Dickys motheTs
letter.
If it is perfectly convenient for you
! should like TO start next Monday
arriving the next day. Tuesday. Will
you write me at once whether or not
that will be all right for you?
You cannot know, my darling boy,
how anxious am to see you again,
You are my only son, you know.
have thought sometimes the last year
that ! might never live to see your
face once more, but now IL looks as
If ! might spend my last Gays with
You
please do not neglect 10 write me
at once, telling me What road and train
will be best TOR me.
give my stsregards to your wife.
and remember, dear boy, your mother
loves you just the same now as she
did when you were little lad at her
knee.
Lovingly, your mother,
HARRIET GRAHAM"
I, too. read the letter twice before
making any comment upon it. | won.
dered II Dicky's second had been for
the same purpose as mine--to gain
time to think.
was stunned by the letter. I had
never contemplated the possibility of
Dcky's mother living with us. For
years she had made her home with
her childless daughter and namesake,
Harriet. whose husband was one Of
the most brilliant surgeons Of the mid
die west.
knew that Dicky's mother and sis
tiers had spoiled him terribly when
they all had a home together before
Dicky's father died. The first thought
that came to me was that Dicky's
whims alone were hard enough to
humor, but when had both him and
his mother to consider our home life
would hardly be worth the living. |
knew and resented the fact also that
Dicky's mother and sisters disapprov.
ed of his marriage TO me. In one Of
Dicky's careless condolences l had
cleaned that his mothers choice for
him had been made long ago. and that
ne had disappointed her by not marry
ing friend Of his sister.
! felt as II were in a trap. To have
TO live and treat with daughterly def
erence a woman whom ! knew 50 dis
liked me that she refused to attend
her sons wedding was unthinkable.
or course could not say so to Dicky.
but secretly thought her letter in bad
taste. She might have considered my
feelings enough to ask ii she would
be welcome instead of so calmly TAX
ing II for granted that my home would
be hers for the rest OF her life. l said
this to myself, then flushed with
shame to think had been so ungcn-
erous even in thought to my husbands
mother.
But the cutting little remark, Il
have always said that there was not
not room in The same house for
daughter-iu.law and mother-in-law,"
lankled even after | bad composed my
self to speak calmly to Dicky concern
ing the letter had no doubt which
of us would be forced out OF the house
II there ever came clash between
us. never could come between
Dicky and his mother. ! would not do
1T even if l could.
Mechanically ! ended the letter, try
ing to frame phrases which would
mask my real feelings. For the first
time in my life I was confronted with
the necessity of uttering a deliberate
falsehood.
did not want Dickys mother to
live with US.
Put my sense of justice and of de-
cency told me that ] must make my
husband believe that | did.
The Problem That the Coming Of
picky's Mother Caused
Well"
Dickys voice held note of doubt
as he held out his hand for his moth
.r's letter 7 knew that he was anx-
iously awaiting my decision as to the
proposition it contained, and l hasten
ed to reassure him.
"Of course there is but one thing
to be done" I said. trying hard to
make my tone cordial
And that is" Dicl<y looked at me
curiously. Was il possible that he
did not understand my meaning?
why, you must wire her at once to
come TO us. Be sure you tell her that
-l,n l,A