South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-10-06
HOW LILLIAN ACTUALLY WON
THE LIKING OF DICkN'S
RIPERIOUs MOTHER.

20 the assiduous care OF DR.. Petit
and the two trained nurses Dicky
had provided she gradually strug-
gled up from the valley Of the
shadow of death" Ira which she had
lain 20 convalescence.
AS soon as she was able TO travel
she went 20 the home OF the relative
in the country whom she had visit
ed In the summer one Of the
nurses went with her 20 see that
she was settled comfortably. and
upon returning reported that she
was getting strong fast, and I'm a
month or two more would be her
usual self again.
Neither Dicky nor I had seen her
before she left Indeed. Dicky APP
peared 10 have taken an uncon-
trollable aversion 10 the girl since
her attempt to Kill him and herself
and disliked hearing even her name
mentioned. AS for me, I had
positive dread OF ever looking into
the girls beautiful false face again.
It was lillian who made all the
necessary arrangements both for the
girls stay IN her own home and her
transfer 10 the country.
But between the time OF my
mother-in-law' inopporJune arrival
az our house in Marvin and the de-
parture Of Grace Draper from lii
lian's home lay an interval of
fortnight In which what we all con
sidered the miraculous happened.
Ny mother-in-law grew TO like Lii
Ian Underwood.
For the first three or four days
after the uitimatum which I had
given her that she should respect
our guests IL she stayed i'm our house
sire was like a sulky child She kept
20 her room. affecting fatigue, and
demanding that her meals be car
ried up 10 her by Katie.
OF course Lillian and Harry want
ed To go away at once. but Dicky and
] overruled them I was resolved to
see the thing through. I felt that
II my mother-in-Iaw did not yield
her preiudices at this time she
never would. and that I would sim
ply have TO go through the same
thing again later.
Lillian saw the force OF my rea-
soning and agreed 20 stay although
] knew that the sensitive delicaCy of
feeling which she concealed be-
meath her rough and ready mask
made her uncomfortable i'm a house
which held such a disappearing ele-
meut as my mOther-in-law
Then. one day the little god Of
chance took a hand. Harry and
Dicky had gone to the city Il was
Katie's afternoon off. and she and
Jim. who had become regular call
or al our kitchen door, had gone
away together
Mother Graham was stil sulking
in her room and Lillian was busy
in Dicky's improvtsed studio with
some drawings and jingles which
were "a rush order.
The day was a wonderful autumn
one. and I felt the need of a walk.
II think I VIII run down 20 the
village" ] said to Lillian This is
the day the candy kitchen makes mp
the fresh toasted marshmallows. ]
thiak we could use some. don't
YOU"
Lovely" aereed Lillian. enthusi-
astically
~ Slight Heart ATTACK"
4 don't think Mother Graham
will come eut OF her room while I'm
zone" went on "Just keep an
eve out FOR her If she should need
you"
shed probably bite me If I offer
ed her any assistance returned
lillian laughing. -hut TN look ont
FOR her
But when 7 came back with the
r7arshmauows after longer walk
than had intended. ] found Lillian
sitting bv my mother-in-la laws bed
side. watching heg MS she slept.
when she saw me she put her iin-
ger To- her lips and stole softly out
into the han.
She had a slight heart attack
while you were gone. and ! was for
tunate enough 20 know just what 90
do for her It was not serious az
eli she is perfectly all right now
snd"-she hesitated and smiled a
bit do not think she dislikes me
any more"
ooh. I'm so glad" exclaimed
ecsfaticaIv huEgiug her. Every
thing viii come out all rieht now
During the rest % the Under
woods stay IL scented as II nay
words had come true. The ice once
broken. my mother-in-l laws heart
thawed perceptibly toward Lillian
BY the time the day came when
Harry and LILLIAN left us 90 so oach
20 their apartment the elder Mrs
Graham had so far gotten over heI
prefudices as 20 bid Lillian reluc-
tant farewell and express sincere
wish that she might soon see heI
again
Toward Harry Underwood my
rnother-iu-Iaw's demeanor remain.
ed rigid. she treated him with for.
NAL icy politeness which irritatel
Dicly. but appeared greatly Il
amuse Mr. Underwood He took de-
light IN paying her the most elab.
crate attentions laying fresh nose.
gays OF flowers at her plate az eacI
meal. II he had been "a lover be-
Eieging "a beautiful girls heart ht
could have been more attentive