South Bend news-times., 1918-10-04
WHAT HAPPENED WHEN
DICkY'S MOTHER SUDDEN
LY CAME BACK HOME.

ACA '-NACAi ANftol VI Jam NoN4h AAC
have looked more guilty than did
Dicky and l and our guests Harry
and Lillian Underwood, at the un-
expected return of Dicky's mother.
Each Of us held distinctly in mind
former encounters with her
The last time Dicky and l had
seen her she had driven aw8y in the
Marvin taxicab. her head held nigh,
her attitude rigid, uncompromising
without saying 50 in so many
words, we had understood that the
dust of our freside was shaken
from her shoes permanently. She
had become extremely angry at us
when. because Of Dicky's opposition,
had refused an offer 10 take up
the very lucrative school position
I had neld before my marriage She
had wished me TO accept it that she
might have full sway over Dicky's
house
When / had definitely refused she
had promptly departed for her
daughters home, and save for the
briefest Of postcard MESA ges, tell
ing of her safe arrival. we had
heard nothing of her since.
Dicky and recovered from our
astonishment at the same time. our
voices sounded almost together as
we rose from our chairs and hur-
ried toward her.
why, mother. come right in. we
are so glad YOU are back"
Yes / can see your joy overcOm-
ling YOU" she retorted tartly. Then
as her glance rested on Harry I'm
derwood. wlo was doing his best to
pretend unConsciousness of her ar
trivial, she snapped out: What is
that man doing here?"
had "a swift mental photograph
/ of the last encounter my mother-in-
/ law had had with Harry Underwood
/ She and / had gone sightseeing TO
/ the aquarium at the foot of Man
/ haitian island. There we had met
/ Harry Underwood, who, more than
half intoxicated, was paying a wag-
er to some convivial companions by
taking them to Staten island. Both
/ his manner toward her and his IA
miliar attitude TO me had angered
\ my mother-in- law intensely.
When she had found that he was
the husband of Lillian Gale. the
STORY of whose romantic association
with Dicky she had kpown and mis-
\ understood she had issued an inn
perious ultimatum. practically ban
/ ishing the husband and wife from
our home.
Harry Underwood's impudence
! however. was equal TO the occasion
I He sprang 10 his feet. advanced to-
ward the irate old woman, bent low
/ before her in most impressive
bow and seizing her hand imprinted
a fervent kiss upon the fingertip.
My motner-in-1aw snatched heI
hand away. her eyes blazing. but
Mr. Underwood chose to be imper-
turbable.
What Harry Said.
Providence certainly watche:
over me" he said reverently. "I've
tbeen wondering how 1 should ever
get a chance to meet you again after
that pleasant. spicy little visit we
had together at the aquarium"
He threw Lillian a mischievou:
Iglance as he went on. utterly ignor-
ling the warning she was trying tC
flash him. Dicky's dismayed glance
land the elder Mrs. Graham's black
looks
"Tve been simply desoIated all the
times we've been out here at olC
| Dicky's because his mother hasn'
been with us" he said, but nov
everything is complete. Let me re
Ilieve you Of your wraps"
Katie" he said sharply, set 9
place for Mr.. Graham's mother and
bring her some dinner"
I knew my. mother-in-law wei
enough TO quail at the temerity ot
the big man who stood smiling dowr
so confidently at the elderly woman
before him.
Dicky's mother gave him on'
long stare then, stepping past him
with the air Of having pushed aside
some obnoxious insect she moved
over to the table and fixed her eye
on Lillian.
NJ cheeks flushed suddenly in Z
sort of apology for Lillian's appear
iance. Her dinner gown was Gu
Win the Qttl ll1 WHICH oAAt any, -
and her face held the atrocioui
makeup that so annOys me.
Are YOU Lillian Gale ?"
The elder wOman's tone was like
the swapping of a whip lash.
Madge Speaks Out.
Il am" Lillian replied quietly.
Then how dare you come 10 thi
house p" my mother-in-law demand
ed i'm a terrible tone. If my sol
lhas not seen lit 10 enlighten his wife
as 10 his past and if he is So far los
TO an natural decency as 10 brini
YOU here I should think any rem
nant of womaniiness you may hav'
left
stop"
I did not recognize my own voice
SO hOarse il was from rage and hu
initiation. that Lillian, who had don'
So much for both Dicky and mt
should be subjected TO such treat
iment at the hands of a narrow
minded old woman
To do both Dicky and Harry Tn