The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-03-12
Et,eni,7gSto
Mas Manners.
By MARTHA Nice. WILLIAM

MD 3 MduuctS.
By MARTHA McC. WILLIAMS.
"She's as good as gold, when you
come to know her. but her manners
I don't see how ever we will stand
them!' Truitte's wife said to her next
fiat neighbor in a deep blue cross-voice
betwixt rebellion and resignation.
''Bossy or quarrelsome?" asked the
neighbor. Johns mother is that sort
Il just won't put UP with her."
mo. no." Mrs. Truitte interrupted.
"a baa-lamb has got nothing on ma
for peaceableness. But-she's SO aw-
fully friendly-she'll try to Ineighbor
with everybody-from the janitor to
those studio-grandees up at the top.
L don't believe she sees any difference
in folks 80 long as they have eyes. ears
and a soul. And she's like molasses
-seeping in thru the least little crack.
ready to be seeped in on herself. And
helpful-don't mind setting her hand
to anything whatever. Once she took
home a clothes basket of laundry be-
cause 1t was too big and heavy for the
boy who was trying to carry it, The
Glennon's laundry at that-they are
the big-rich folks of our home town.
THE footman laughed in her face
she never would tell what she said to
him-but afterward the Glennons
looked out for the washerwoman-so
there knew mar-here she'll be lost
and strange as a cat in a new garnet.
don't want people to look down on
her-and we can't afford to have them
look down on us, because of her, with
Henry junior partner, and not yet
quite used to It, and US beginning to
know the incest sort of people,"
ST see!" The neighbours tone was
acid-her mouth shut with a snap.
Evidently here was case for waitful
watching-those uppish Truittes were
due to get their come-uppance-and
likely to get it good, and hard. Serve
them right, too. But the envious wrin-
kles had been smoothed from her
tongue as she said over her shoulder:
I'll come in real soon to see her
maybe can be some help to you"
A futile promise, kept as to the COM
ing in, but no more. Mas friendliness
was proof against advice, insinuation,
even mild railery. She made extremes
meet by yanking a cent from the
throat of the janitor's baby. and cap
turing and returning parrot escaped
from the biggest studio, which after
siding thru an open door. made up its
mind to waddle down two flights of
stairs, then give its imitation of a
squalling baby right at the Truitte
door.
Young Mrs. Truittte was out, else
the bird would have gone back by
way of the elevator boy with the cap
tors compliments-Mrs. Bessie was
simply aching to make touch with its
owners. That was impossbl now
that ma had obeyed the birds order to
sit down! down! and behave" in
the very midst of afternoon tea. She
had further refused tea, but said mild
ly, I'D not bat my eye over a taste of
that enticin' rum"
Ma yearned over every baby in the
apartment house, but dared not take
them out, in fear equally of autos and
kidnapers. But she made herself no
free in eager kindnesses Bessie cau1d
not writhe under the Indifference or
the scarcely yelled amusement of their
receivers. She felt as tho her walls
were of glass with those about her
peeping derisively thru them. Yet
she could Lot complain-Henry
loved his mother devotedly, as became
an only child, and chuckled over some
of the happenings that brought his
wife to angry tears!
To Bessie's amazement, ma, the
helpful, did not NEEDLE the least in the
household affairs. Unasked she did
not go hear the kitchen. tho always
ready to lend a hand at need to the
smart and rather pert maid of all
work.
With wages what they were Bessie
had refrained from getting a second
girl, thinking after mas advent Lena
would have time for black frocks,
white aprons, and serving tea to call
ers. Naturally she was disappointed
she would have been nearly angry
had she known that Henry had said
as he fetched home his mother: RE
member-you're to be a queen, not a
servant in my house, Many darling
And-wait to be asked before you put
in your oar
Henry loved his wife dearly-but he
had, you see, a judicial mind. He
must make his mother happy-she
would not be SO unless she were abso-
iutely free. Hence he stood guard
over her freedom, rejoicing to find her
beaming. Even when Bessie COM
planned at last that she didn't know
what in the world to make of it-Ma
mad been away whole afternoon
from luncheon until ever so late with
out saying word as to why and
where-and that now for a month she
had made other mysterious disappear
ances three or four times a week. No
she had not been with any of the
neighbors, nor running errands, nor
cooking for the sick families in care
of the church. Indeed there was such
wonder all about as to where she could
be, and what she could be doing,
ter. Henry nodded, saying he would
take it under -advisement-but truth
to say lost no sleep over it.
He was happily mystified to be re-
tanned next morning, Individually at a
fee that took his breath, by Harley
Griswold. clubman, sportsman multi
millionaire, in what promised to be a
celebrated case. Further, he was
asked deferentially if he could come
to Griswold's office, and lunch with
him later. He went-after pinching
himself to be sure he was awake, but
in a daze as to how it had all come
about.
Griswo1d, slim, tall, grazing, fresh
faced but hawk-featured, had the
name of being impassive-but he met
young Truitte halfway the room.
shook hands with him warmly and
said before they were seated: I'm
glad my boy Henry seems up to
specifications
Henry gasped. "You can't know
my mother" Griswold leaned to pat
his knee. saying: But L do. Mani
also love her. So does my girl. She
she saved us from shipwreck," touch