South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-07-25


"Of course he is" I asserted.
But he IS so busy that l don't ex-
pect he VIII set here much before
tonight
.Humpht' she calculated again,
and the monosyllable, which was
the only reply she vouchsafed me.
held 10 more OF doubt than did my
own heart
Aiissis Graham, you plees COON
now qVeek for dot cake. l got ovens
joost rigAt for you, and old vomans
she joost turn corner"
Eatie's voice outside my door
held an imperative note | had de-
layed going 10 the kitchen after my
mother-in- laws departure FOR her
usual morning walk with Richard,
Second, in his peraIubUlator, "A
triumphal progress through the viii
lage which she would not have miss
ca for worlds. There we're other
fond grandrothers abroad at the
sane hour, with some OF whom she
had deisned 10 scrape an acquaint-
apcc. But she dehantly announced
at almost every turn home that
there was not child in the village
/ could hold a candle 10 Richard,
I second"
The departure Of the two, how
ever. always left my room a wreck,
! for the dOting grandmother usually
I inspected half the baby's wardrobe
I before she selected the garments she
I wished put on him. II was the re-
/ placing OF the little clothes and the
setting of my room 10 rights which
/ had delayed my going to the kit
/ chen as soon as my mother-in-law
/ left the house, the original plan l
! had made with Katie.
"All right Katie, I'll be there in
| one minute" l called cheerily, and
made good my promise with a sec
ond or two 10 spare. to Katies mani
/ fest delight
See, l got everytings all ready
| for you" She pointed gleefully 70
! the mixing table, where -four, sugar.
/ butter, fiavorirg, eggs, tins, mixing
I bowl, everything 10 the last spoon
was laid out i'm readiness for my
hands.
Il know YOU won't have everything
out OF way ven grandmother gets
/ back" she said. lowering her voice
/ rs IL Mother Graham could hear
| her. And / hide dot cake for verc
| she no find heem. Den ven she gets
! cold you put dot frosting on, and
I hide neem again. Den ven you
\ want heem, she all ready
l kept my face straight with an
] effort through this weird jun bling
/ OF prOnouns. thanked Katie warmly,
/ and proceeded 10 the building OF the
cake about which l had dreamed so
much even in those never-to-be-
forgotten days before the baby was
born. Then. think, in common
with most prospective mothers
/ lived n anticipation every moment
OF his life from his first cuddling
in my arms 20 the time when he
\ should be a graybeard with grand
! children.
At last = was finished and de-
| POSTED safely in the oven. l start
/ ed to clear up the work table. but
Katie stopped me promptly.
You know how you help me
more dan dis?" she demanded, TAX
ing the -four sitter from my hand.
Il feeX dis in vun-vot you call
! heem, shake Of vun cows tail"
But I wes not destined TO know
then what she wanted me TO do, for
even as I murmured Sleeps tail,
/ Katie" IN laughing correction Of
! her idiom, the front door bell rang
an imperative peal, and Katie, slip
ping out of her gingham apron and
| into the white ore in which she al
ways answers the door bell, turned
10 me inGuiring'y.
You see anyb ty2"
Bring the card to me first"
said resignedly, despairing OF ever
succeeding in my painstaking effort
TO teach Katie the proper lore Of the
door bel. Il will slip up the back
stairs, and you can bring the card
tray up the front stairs 10 my room.
Don't forget the tray"
u nc forget" she returned earn
es-tly. But sometimes dey no have
card"
Then ask the persons name and
bring me that" 1 said patiently.
The bell ran again. this time 4
longer peal. and I felt a swift pref
udice against the impatient person
on the other side OF the front door
As I sped up the back stairs and
swiftly rearranged my dress before
the mirror in nv room I resolved
10 deny myself 10 TIE caller II il
were a possible thing 10 do So
Accordingly. when Katie hurried
y mounted the stairs and an
nounced breathlessly:
Its a man who says he no geeN
: hee's name. but he got 10 see you,
: I re'oined quickly:
: Go down and tell him that Mrs
Graham is engaged and cannot SEE
any one NncSe name IS not cent &c
aer."
Katie's face rejected her approval
II no ike hees looks" she wills
pered. He vun great. beeg stiff.
: und leave heem staLd on Doorstep
vile I COON coop stairs"
You did just right. Katie" said
Admit no one 10 the house who re-
fuses 20 give his name"
. She went downstairs again. this
time with evident zeSt in her GRAND
. while ] renewed the task OF straight
eninS my room.
To my surprise the man did not
. go away. 1 heard the parley IF
voices, although I could not dis
|. tinguish the words. Then Katie
came slowly upstairs again. her face
!. Gfame with indignation.
Dot bunch OF sour green's. IA say
YOU see heenl mighty quick ven you
sec dis she said, extending a cheap
sealed envelope 20 me.
I tore IL open, saw three words IN
a hourishinG chirography as tawdry
as the envelope:
Representing Mr.. Stockbridge. "