New Britain herald., 1918-02-21
How Mother Graham Answered
 Herself

You-you-wish to send Cousin Agatha. away?"
 l stammered the question in an agony of grieved embarrassment. My brain was whirling with the problem which my mother Jaw had just un- willingly thrust upon me.
 She looked at mo keenly, and I felt my face flaming.
 Didn't you hear me say so?" she asked, with a touch of her usual acerbity, and then there came into her voice again the wistfulness I had heard and wondered at befcre
 'I know it's asking a great deal of you, Margaret, to give up as much of your time as the care of me would require. But, someWay. I have a fancy I should like you near me- We haven't understood each other very well sometimes, but I think you know that I've grown fond of you, and I 1atter myself you love me a little. don't your"
 Was this my august motherin-law talking? I could hardly believe my ears. But I hastened to answer her.
 Not just a. little, mother dear, but a great deal'
 She smiled faintly, and put out her hand again to mine. My heart mis- gave me and I touched it, it's white ness was so blue-veined Was there danger of this mother of Dicl<y's slipping away from us? Was there such an apprehension in her own mind? Was this the secret reason for her changed demeanor?
 At Wits End.
 She put my thought into words a moment later.
 ''I sometimes think I shall not trouble anybody veHy long, she said slowly, and I cried out in protest:
 Don't. don't say that, mother, please!'
 She looked at me searchingly.
 Tt isn't pleasant thing to say nor yet to hear, I know she admitted. And don't get the idea that I'm going to give up, lie down and die, without trying to live. But it has come to me most forcibly in the last two or three days that the possi- bility of my death is one that I must face. And, while Agatha takes won- derful care of me- I-I-doh't want to die holding HER hand"
 It was characteristic of my m mother- in-1aw that she didn't use any of the usual disguising phrases in speaking of her possible death. But I was in finitely relieved at her statement that she would try to live. Knowing her temperament, l was sure that if she, herself, made up her mind that her time had definitely come nothing on earth could save her.
 I was at my wits ends, however, as to the best nlethid of handling the al- most impossible situation in which her request had placed me. Of course she expected, had a right to expect-I admitted that freely-that I would at once offer to take over her care until she was we'll To her mind there was no possible reason why I should not. Katie is thoroughly com- potent to manage the household, and also to relieve me of the care of Mother Graham upon the one after noon a week when I am compelled to be present at the session of the his tory class of the Lotus Study Club, of which I am the instructor.
 "Oh, Mother Mother!"
 But I saw clearly that I must not assume such a task. I had enlisted for secret service work under Lillian. It was a work which I could not re- linuuish I had planned to make everything else subordinate to it. The study club would have but six more sessions before closing for the sum- mer I meant to offer my resigna- ton, to take effect at that time, so nothing would interfere with my chance for patriotic service.
 To think that this wistful, pathetic request of my moth er-i in-law should have come just at the time when I couldn't grant it! And how in the world could I explain to her the re- fusa1 I foresa,w that I must make?
 You haven't answered me, Mar i garrett
 My mother in laws voice, soft, con- | trolled, yet with an undertone of i tensity that I felt might flame into reproach in an instant, came to me as i if it were afar off. I turned my eyes to her face miserably, shamefacedlv while my lips struggled with words i which should cause her least Offense l But the words simply would not 1 come, and I saw her white face first grow gray with disappointment, then , harden.
 ''I beg your pardon for taking up your time with so absurd a request" 1 she said with icy courtesy. "I should have known better. Will you kindly stairs?"
 "Oh, mother mother" I burst out misera bly, 'Won't you believe that