South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-03-27
Revelations of a Wife
My Heart and Ny Husband
Bv Adele Garrison


impatiently pressed the button for
the porter. ] shivered az ] saw her,
FOR / knew her well enough to be
sure that the presiding genius Of the
car was fiji for a "wigging"
dreaded inexpresslbly TO listen TO IL.
He was go long in coming that
the little woman waxed nightly in
dignant.
"Im just going out 70 see where
that jackauapes IS" she announced.
Dancing around at Rita Browns
beck and call most likely" with the
ridiculous irreievance which is one
of her charms But I'll dance him.
l Now don't move until I come back"
As the slightest movement brought
on the most deadly faintness her
injunction was highly superfiuous. I
was conscious OF only one wish as
7 she closed the door, that she would
stay on the other side OF Il. And
when it opened again a few seconds
later kept my eyes Obstinately
closed. I would give her no excuse
for talking.
! But it wasn't her voice that
I heard.
Clear out. all Of you" said my
mother-in-law's voice tartly. But
stay within call. I'll let you know
when I need you"
All the strength left in me went
\ into the rush Of thankfulness which
swept over me as 1 heard Mother
| Graham's voice and realized that
/ despite the angry scene in which
we had been opponents but a few
moments before she had come to
Y take care OF me. My mother-in-
law is like some husbands-and
wives. You can neither live with
/ her nor without her. This was dis
tinctly one OF the times felt that
could not live without her.
She closed the door upon the peo-
pie whom she had shooed away from
the door came over to the berth,
and stood looking down at me. She
had seen me in two or three similar
alta cks, knew exactly what 1 needed.
and knew that there was no neces-
sity for her to feel my forehead or
pulse, something for which I was
grateful.
Wen get one thing over with
first, Margaret" she said in as mat
ter-of-fact tones as If she had been
proffering me a drink of water. You
know 1 didn't mean a word I said
a little while ago, and know you
aren't angry any longer. SO, that's
over with and I can take care Of
you. Now you don't need to speak
or listen again. Just lie perfectly
still and I'll attend to everything"
I felt a lessening OF my nervous
tension just at the very timbre of
her voice. Weakly / reflected upon
the anomaly OF my mother-in- law
being able to help me best OF any
one in the crisis when she so often
drives me almost mad with her ex-
actions. But help me she did from
the first second OF her entrance.
My father had taken Junior with
him. had heard the babys prattle
as he was carried through the door.
so that we were alone in the draw
ing roam, another thing which gave
my overstrained nerves relief. I was
fanciful enough TO feel oppressed
even by the sound OF my little childe
voice, usually the sweetest music in
the world to me.
But my mOther-in-law's move
ments were almost soundless. knew
by a sort Of instinct that she went
through my bag with deft fingers
and took therefrom the loose gown
for which my body constrained IN
travelling suit longed intensely. A
moment later I felt her astonishingly
tender fingers remove my shoes and
stockings and loosen my garments.
There, now, just turn over this
once" she said softly after a little
land YOU can be comfortable"
drew a sigh of relief as the sof
folds OF my loose dressing gown set
tied around me. I stretched luxurl-
. ously once, then fell TO shivering VIC.
, lently as a sudden chill seized me.
! felt I never would be warm again.
Ny mother-in-law wasted no tins
lin words. She huddled the blanket
5 around me. piled my cloak and he
+ own on top OF them, then as I still
: shivered, she opened the door int
the corridor and spoke sharply:
Where is that hot water bag yol
spoke Of getting filled?"