South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-05-26

II there ever has occurred in all
my experience since Dicky and !
were married a moment when / felt
more utterly perpIexed. more un-
happy over happening small in it
self than | did as | stood by the
window OF our house at Marvin and
beheld a taxi roll up the driveway
and deposit Dicky's mother at our
door, 1 cannot now recall it, There
had been happenings that seemed to
clutch at the very portals Of my life,
but never a small one that so af-
fected me.
Yet. was II small? At that instant
felt it a veritabl catastrophe. For
of all times 10 select to return from
a long visit away from our home.
Dicky's mother had chosen the day
when we were almost ready TO move
from our old home into the new
house we had bought. The house
was a nightmare 10 one who prides
herself upon good housekeeping. To
Dicky's mother il would be some
thing about which 10 talk for years
to come. if ever she did forget It.
The picture Of the living room in
which Dicky was sorting his col
lection" Of papers and magazines
that Uttered every corner of the
bare room-from which Katie. JON.
and I had recently taken the furni-
lure and rugs at Dicky's command
TO remove them when / protested
against the dangers they presented
10 our most cherished belongings
swan before my eyes Yet there
was nothing to done. Mother Ora
ham was at the door. and as | look
ed again, out beside her stepped a
woman whose bags and bundles in
her hands betokened a guest come
10 stay. perhaps a long time.
Mother Graham's sharp. incisive
voice fioated to my ears.
It's outrageous! / won't pay two
dollars for bringing US that short
distance from the station" Her
voic rose even higher as it warmed
to her wrath. Il don't care If you
did bring the two trunks and our
bags. You can't get more than a
dollar out of me"
The woman with her must have
made some suggestion, for Mother
Graham turned on her angrily. but
strange to say this woman didn't re-
treat an inch-she must be "A person
of determination of character. | re-
fiected-- though she showed eager
signs of deferring TO Mother Ora
ham. Then what the suggestion
was. came TO me in its complete
statement of refusal;
NO, l won't let Dicky attend TO
him, Dicky gives up like a lamb.
Anybody can walk over him in mon
ey matters. and Madge-good gra-
cious.-don't ask me TO call either Of
them" She whirled around on the
taxi driver. whose face now bore a
puzzled, appreciative look in which
smile struggled with his fast weak
ening determination TO get the
price he asked.
"Eere, young man." she held a
bill out TO him. Here's your dol
lar Take IL or leave it. Call a po-
liceman-call the entire Marvin pO-
lice fore, 7 saw him down by the
station But If you take my trunks
I'll have you arrested for trying TO
steal them"
The taxi drivers amusement con
quereG him. He laughed outright.
took the dollar, pocketed IL, swung
HE r,oa chine . dnzep feet ruShad IN O
trunks from the stand beside his seat
and swept away, leaving Mother
Graham and her guest with THAR
baggage in picturesque confusion
about them, triumphant. perhaps,
but open-mouthed and inwardly
raging at the way he had had the
last word"
/ heard a giggle behind me.
turned and there stock Katie, al