South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-07-20


Sunday No l cmfw shrdl at shrd m
My mother in law fulfilled her
promise 10 make il -ighl with me"
in royal and unexpected fashion
upon The very mex DAY following
the knitting incident, when Cousin
Agatha had tried in vain TO fan into
quarrel the differing opinions OF
the elder Mrs. Graham and myself
upon the English and the continen-
tai methods Of knitting Because
of Cousin Agatlia's interference
had painfully unlearned the CONT
mental method which Lillian had
taught me, and painstakingly APP
piled myself 10 the method my
mother in Law automatically de-
clared 10 lie the only right way
the way she had been taught.
If had been asked to declare my
opinion l could not have found a
needle points difference between the
two methods. But l was very much
confused through learning frs one
way aud lhen the other, and by the
time my mother in law Condescend-
nsly informed me that my TOrts
would do" l was almost ready TO
throw knitting needles and woods
into the ire place in cary dis.
gust.
Almost ready. but not quite, for it
is never my way TO give mp any
thing / have once set out 10 10,
and besides my mother in laws
pleasure in teaching me was so
obvious that l purposely prolonged
my lesson. asking her over and over
things l already knew.
Il declare, Margaret" she said at
last This is making me enthusi-
astic, too I've thought vaguely Of
knitting for the soldiers, but really
have been too indolent 10 get about
1t. 1 think I'll go TO the city to-
morrow morning and get me some
needles and wool. l have another
errand also. to which I must at
tend"
The air with which she uttered
the words and the smile which &C
.companied them were plainly meant
to be mysterious and important. ]
knew she meant me TO connect
Nitln Win Ilti piOliAlCc " AAidht
it right" with me, and there was
a little glad feeling at my heart that
I had sacrificed my own inclination
in the matter of the knitting.
II Returned That Tapestry"
But there was a little feeling OF
resentment mingled with my virtu-
Gus sense Of duty done. a feeling
that had its roots in the discussion
of draperies for our new home
which my mother-ia-law and 1 had
had on our trip TO town a couple of
days before, a trip that had ended
for me in a series of most surpris-
ing adventures. Because l did not
wish my mother-in-law TO suspect
that my real reason for going to the
city was TO trace the source of the
anonymous clippings which had
come 10 me. l had abruptly wound
up our discussion of draperies by
turning over the whole question to
her. But the remembrance Of the
autocratic manner in which she
had disposed of my suggestion con-
corning the old mid Victorian wal
nut chairs that had bought
ranked childishly within me.
The woman who sold US the house
had stored away in her attic a
wonderful old set Of horsehair wal
nut furniture, an immense couch,
hospitable big rocker and six
straight chairs. Their coverings
were in strips, their springs broken,
but the beautifully carved walnut
was still in very good shape, and
the moment l saw them I coveted
them. Their owner sold them 10 me
for a ridiculously small sum, and
had given myself a great deal Of
quiet pleasure since in yisualizing
the appearance Of the old pieces
when they should be repaired and
covered with bright-colored English
chintz.
There was q sitting room in the
house we had bought which 20 my
eyes appeared TO be clamoring for
the old furniture. thus rejuvenated,
to be put into il This room mad a