South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-03-29

" aA'AA j a " tLlhf-4AtA IL WIS ~ AAAt
consciousness Of Dicky's face close
10 mine, his arms still claspiug me.
Some onc-his mother most prob
ably-h9d piled pillows behind him
10 relieve the strain of his position.
and his eyes We're closed.
guessed that when he had final
~ seen me sound asleep he had
dozed off himself. and / debated for
o moment upon the aGyisablity Of
waking him. The thought of the
strained arm muscles which must be
his from the long vigil quickly de
cided me, and / stirred in his arms.
spoke softly:
''Dicky!"
His eyes flew open instantly. and
he started convulsively. Then ne
looked anMously az me-
What is it, sweetheart? Tn pain ?''
From the couch where she had
been sleeping my mother-in-law sat
up quickly.
Whats the matter? Is she feel
ing worse 2" she demanded
For an instant ] revered I'm the
LUXURY of being the object of SD
much soucitude. then answered
cheeuly and truthfully.
81 am feeling ever so much bet
ter. But am hungry
Dicky consulted his watch
Its after IL. I'm sure the diner
must be on by this time. What do
you want2"
at isn't a question Of what she
wants" my mOther-in-law struck i'm
firmly. It's what she can have.
You order "a pot Of weak tea and
two slices of dry toast without but
ter. and tell them 10 put a salt
cellar on the tray If she stands
that ali right Wen see about some
thing else after q while"
knew better than TO question her
dictum. even if had cared for more
substantial fare than that which she
had outlined When Mother Graham
is i'm charge of a sick room she is a
martinez whose slightest word must
be obeyed. DiclSy saws she is more
rigid than "auy trained nurse who
ever stepped"
"That sounds very. tempting
said cheerily, but Dicky enorted as
with infinite care ne raised himself
from his Cramped position and put
me tenderly back upon my pillows.
eyes. about as tempting as old
what o-yOu-call-him' feed of grass
the one they tell about IN the
Bible" ne said ironically
"Nebuchadnezzar2" 1 ventured de-
mureiy.
That's the guy" my husband said
Gee. bur you've got the long tongue
and memory Nadge. TO be able TO
spiel that collection Of sneezes off
like that"
Richard his mother interposed
sternIy. don't be irreverent."
Who's irreverent2' her son de-
manded what did that I'D ever
do 10 be treated with lowered breath
and respectful accents2"
He's I'm the Bible his mother
replied, but 7 saw the corners of her
mouth twitch. and I knew that her
protest was only the perfunctory one
she felt called upon to make when
ever Dicky alluded I'm any manner %
the Scriptures. ii was a sort of au-
tomato brake which from long ex-
perienCe Of her sons careless speech,
she applied Involuntary
SOS the devil" Dicky began arCu-
mentativeIy. but his mother cut him
short
, "Wiu YOU so and order that tea
and toast or must 70" she demand
ed acidiy.
ct ry," He dashed % the door
dramatically. turned and grinned i'm
pudontIy at US both.
"Sure 7 can't make it Et,.e
steak" he said ins.nuatingIv
7 shook my head weakly at him
bu, his mother snorted, and Dicky
scutued out of the door.
Mother Graham bathed my face
ana hands rearranEed the covers OF
my berth lifting from IRE the Won
derful cloak belonging 20 MAJ
Grantland. which with my returning