New Britain herald., 1922-05-13
The Reason Madgc Began to Doubt
 Her Own Eyes.

it'I N'Ni i+A'FNt
 Lillian and I looked at each other heroically concoaling our mirth. q. Mother Graham with the air of hay, ing accomplished something al least comparable 10 the discovery Of Am erica, turned from the stove after hay, ing prepared the coffee 10 her own notion.
 There ,' she said "Tha- 1ill be something like coffee III just wait here until it's ready and take my cup up with mo. There's a certain mos ment when coffee Is just at it's per fection, and I want mine at that in- stant. Then you can do what you please with it."
 She sat down In Kitchen chair, folded her arms and watched with critical majesty our hurried prepara- tions for the smack" of which Iil- Han had spoken. X leg of lamb left from dinner. from which l carved thin slices, home made bread and butter, a dish of currant jelly, another of ap- pie sauce, some sliced tomatoes, last Of the garden plenty, and q half of 
 these We placed upon the dining table under Mother Graham's inspec- ton. and to a running accompaniment of comment,
 "Plcase Rcmembcr-''
 Isn't there any parsley in the house 2" she demanded, as l took Up the small platter of sliced meat and
 
 That ape of Katie generally has sense enough to gather some fresh every day. She likes the looks Of It herself. reckon. or she'd never re- member it."
 "Yes. there are some sprays in the refrigerator I said quietly.
 Then will you kindly tell me why you haven't put any around that meat? That plate looks like a lunch SC: out for the laundress on the tubs. ,"
 T forgot if, I fancy" ] said apollo eetically. willing to eat any amount of humble pie to keep her pacated 'I'll fix it right away"
 See that you do," she retorted, and I went to the pantry to get the pars- ley with an ironical little smile ouirk- ing my lips. l. too like a touch of green around the plate Of cold meat, but I had not dared thus 10 embellisll the one in my hand for fear my mother-in-law would accuse me of trying to make the table attractive for Tom Chester.
 purposely fingered over my task as long as I dared, and was rewarded lA,r -,A >t Mother Graham drinking the cup Of coffee for which she had waited, She drained the cup, poured herself a second cup, disdsnng our proffer of it. and rose with the cup in her hand
 "I1l just take this upstairs with me-" she said. Now. Mrs. Under wood, please remember what I told you"
 ''That Proves Nothing
 She marched out of the room there is no other word 10 describe her gait-with the cup of coffee held out like band leaders baton. We waited tensely until the closing of her room door told us that she was safe for the night and then we laughed noseless- ly, but consumingly until we were al- most helpless.
 You can guess, suppose Lillian said at last, wiping her eyes. what I'm to remember
 I shook my head, although a | shrewd notion of her meaning had come to me. But ] could not ac- knowledge it to Lillian.
 I'm to see that you conduct your self with the propriety and genera demeanor of an eighteenth century young matron," she said. If you were 8 Convent-hred young thing about to meet the world for the first time she couldn't be more solicitous, 1 So do promise me you'll behave. Look here. if you dare to take that or your mother -in-lav seriously, I'll --- I'll spank you, if it's the last thing I ever do.' Her sudden change of manner saved | me from the humiliation of angry | tears. And then, with sure dlNina- ton of the best way to divert my | mind, she spoke authoritatvely:
 "Tel me now, before Tom Chester gets here, what did you mean up there in katie's room when you said | it wasn't Smith who looked into the room but a hoy?'
 Why, it was a boy I said, and l