Omaha daily bee., 1920-06-30
The Way Madge Strove to Win
Dicky's Approval.

Although little Mrs, Durkee
ranks high in my list of friends,
there are times when my fingers itch
to box her ears, and the moment
when the door closed after her and
her threat to send Maj. Grantland
over to our house was distinctly one
of the times.
My mother-in-law looked darkly
al me as the door closed.
Sometimes I think that woman is
going into her dotage," she remarked
acidly. "Fiowers to match the
gowns, forsooth"
"But Mrs Durkee isn't responsible
for that idea," | said, my sense of
justice triumphing over my irrita-
ton.
"You can't tell mew Mother
Graham asserted haughtily That
Grantland never thought of that
poppycock all by himself. Either he
got it out of some book, as | said
before, or Mrs. Durkee put it into
his fool noodle. l wouldn't put it
past her to have asked him plump
out if he didn't think flowers to
match the gowns wouldn't be the
sweetest idea.
l turned my head hastily and pre-
tended to be plucking thread from
my skirt until l could control the
muscles around my mouth. When
my austere and august mother-m-
law descends to mimicry. which on
ly happens on rare occasions, she is
irresistibly ludicrous, but not in the
way she herself imagines.
well, he'll not get a piece of my
dress!" she reiterated with emphasis,
and as for you, if Richard"
Mother and Son.
present, with bells on! What's
the row."
Dicky stood in the doorway, smil-
ing audaciously.
81 knocked, but you both were
Cabling so loud you couldn't hear
me-" he explained, lounging indol-
emily toward the nearest chair.
please don't be vulgar, Richard"
his mother replied with her
haughtiest air. | knew that the
word Cabling" had jostled her dig
nifty. "And l wish you would ex-
plain what you were doing Just now
out on the veranda roof in that
very"
"Sketchy costume?" Dicky inter
polated. Nov / can finish that for
you. I am perfectly aware that the
reighbors will be scandalized, and
that | will probably catch my death
of cold. But needs must when such
a pretty and persistent little devil as
Mrs. Durkee drives, and knew that
if | didn't make a mighty quick exit
she'd have me tied to the mast with
promises mile long to stralghten
out her row with Rita Brown"
"I don't know why that should
trouble you," his mother retorted
tartly. at is my experience that
you are perfectly willing to make
promises, but that the fulfilling of
them"
as one of the best things l for
get?" queried Dicky impudently.
Sure thing. But, don't be cross,
mother, dear. Here | came in to
pronounce enconiums upon you, to
crown you with laurel wreaths /as
dead game sport, and you're rag
ging me as if l beat you UP regular
every Saturday night"
A Surprise.
He had risen from his chair and
he crossed over to hers as he spoke
and put his smiling young face
down close to her frowning, with
cred one. I saw the disapproving
lines smooth out as if by magic,
and her son. 1t seemed an augury,
of her boy. felt my heart warm
at this fresh proof of the wonderful
bond existing between mother
and her son. 1t seemed as augury,
somehow, for the happiness which
I confidently expect to find in my
own little lad when he shall have
become a strong man and | an old
woman.
I knew, however, that because
of this very love for her son, her
jealous disparagement OF everything
she fancied he disliked, she would
be especially tenacious in the mat
ter of Major Grantlands flowers.