South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-01-02
WHY MOTHER GRAHAM TURNED
TO MADGE FOR SYMPATHY
AND SWEPT MUCH BIT
TERNFSS AWAY


IF I had cherished any lingering
resentment at my mother-in-law' s
/ high-handed procedure in inviting
her daughters family for Thanks
giving without consulting me il van
ished completely at the sight of the
elder woman's stricken face when
Y she read the special delivery letter
saying the expected guests were not
/ coming?
Not coming" I echoed, bewil-
dered, for it was o'clock OF the day
I before Dicky's birthday and Dicky
was 20 meet his sister and her family
and bring them out on the o'clock
I train. Why. what is the matter /?
Is some one ill?"
Ny mother laws proud old face
was working pitifully She held the
letter out to me.
No, no one is ILL.," she said, tone
lessly You may read it if you like.
To has "A message for you"
She put the letter in my hand and
went swiftly. if unsteadily, out Of the
door and up the stairs TO her room.
opened the letter and read the
brief message:
Dear Mother" II began. Il am
sorry 10 disappOint rou, for we can
not possibly come today. but Of
course you are coming 10 us Christ
mas as usual, and then you must
stay longer so that we can have the
visit we have been cheated out of
now. You see my dearest friend and
next door neighbor. Mrs Suckman.
has been taken suddenly i'll She
was 10 entertain our woman's club
the day after Richards birthday.
and I have offered 10 have them
come 10 my home instead. So il will
be impossible for us 10 come 10 you.
Please present my excuses to
Richard and Margaret, and tell them
we shall hope 10 see them at the
family reunion at Christmas time.
I trust Margaret will not be incon-
venienced. She probably can invite
some friends Of her own if she has
made preparations for Us. and will
probably have a much better time
than If we came. You know as
usual thing wives are rot very keen
on entertaining their husbands peo-
pie.
with much love, mother dear.
your affectionate daughter.
ELIZABETH HARRISON"
\ Heavy Heart.
I put the letter down with a feel
ing Of amazement at its careless cal
lousness. The covert sheer at my
hospitality I did not resent, artly
because was used to similar slur-
ring remarks from the lips OF
Dicky's mother, partly because /
knew in my heart that the writer
was correct in her inference. I had
not been anxious TO entertain
Dicky's sister and her family. but [
had done my very best 10 make ade-
quate preparation for the guests.
But that a woman could disap-
point an old and frail mother in .
birthday visit because she wished
10 avoid demonstrating the mem
beers Of n woman's club seemed to
me the acme OF heartlessness. My
heart ached for the lonely old wom-
an who. 7 was sure. was weeping
bitter tears OF disappointment in her
room upstairs I longed TO go 10 her
and comfort her. but I was afraid
that she would repel me. afraid, too.
that i'm some way she would attri-
butte her daughters failure to make
the visit 10 some fancied lack Of cor
diality on my part.
Then my mind turned 20 the prac-
teal side OF my problem. My pan
try was prOvisioned for the feeding
Of six extra guests It seemed
shame and a mockery OF the day for
just three Of rs to sit down 10 the
feast for which we had made such
preparation. But where was I to
find guests az this late hour, espe-
ciaHy those who would meet my
mother-in-law's approval
one thing I must do at once. get
Dfcky at his studio if he had not al
ready gone to meet his sister, and
tell him that he had no guests TO
meet ] went at once TO the teie
phone and gave the studio number
20 the operator
MQher Graham's Oner.
"WhaA that? They're not COM
ing?" Dicky's voice was sharp with
angry amazement as I told him the
news. ''Whatever's the matter with
Elizabeth? Does she think we're
running a short order restaurant out
here that she can break an en-
gagement as coolly as that2 But
don't YOU care. I'll ring up the Tn
derwoods We always used 70 dine
ut some hotel together. ard I know
I can get them TO come out And
perhaps the Durkes are going TO
dine quietly at home. They dc FREE
quentlv. I know. I'll bet they'll come
over. Wen have a better time than
il Elizabeth's gang did come"
But Dicky." / protested. Il don't
think we ought 10 do that. Your
mother is terribly disappointed about