The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-01-09
How Mother Graham Came to the
Rescue of Madge.

Rescue of Madse.
/ was afraid to look at Dieky when
his mother answered my long and
opening the door for her by her point
ed remark concerning the surprise
Richard had exhibited upon seeing her
and her cousin.
had Just said that I had told
Dicxy had seen them alighting from
the taxicab. had saved him from one
horn CT the dilemma. only TO impale
both or us on The other.
But Dicky was equal to the occa-
sion. He had already kissed his mother
once. btu he grabbed her in a bear hug
and turned up her face to his
Don't be so suspicious, mother
dear" he said. "0f course / vas sur
prised to see you both Is there any
thing very strange about that. consid-
ering we supposed you TO be safe down
in Florida and that 1 haven't seen or
heard from Cousin Agatha in years?
Which is certainly not Cousin Aga
tha's fault" that lady put in with Just
exactly the sepulchral sniff / should
have expected from her. / was afraid
should dislike this new relative in
law intensely If she kept up the
premise or. rather. the threat-of
her first appearance IN our home. y
was good enough to be remembered
and visited and written to when you
We're a small boy with an Unsuitable ap-
petite for quarters and sweets. But.
of course, since you became prosperous
and famous, things are different
1 had classified cousin Agatha" and
d-iadexed her before she had fin
ished her speech. She was the perpet-
ual-martyr type of female, which is
bad enough when it IS lachrymose and
inefficient, but which is deadly when
coldly critical spirit and real ability
for work accompany it.
To my amazement and secret joy.
however. it was Cousin Aeatha's little
speech that solved our dilemma for as
Mother Graham is one of the kind of
mothers who will criticise her chill
oren and children-in-law herself mer-
ci1essly, but who fiercely resents any
disparaging remarks by anyone else.
I'm sure Richard has always been
wonderfully thoughtful OF Me" she re-
marked coldly. "and really one cannot
expect a busy professional man to
take time for corresponding with all
his relatives. If he writes to his
mother regularly-as Richard has al
ways done--I think he has done more
than many sons do
mo doubt Richard is a para gon.'
replied Cousin Agatha tartly. "but is
that any reason why I shouldn't be In
treduced to Richards wife"
81 do beg your pardon, Cousin
Agatha Dicky replied contritely.
This is Nadge." drawing me forward. ,
"And il you viii excuse me long
enough to get into some decent togs
I'm going to turn you and mother over
10 Madge. She'll take care Of you. /
Luckily. I believe dinner is almost
ready. isn't it dear?" He turned to me
with seraphic smile and no hint |
of the almost hair-pulling terms I'M
der which we had been existing be-
fore the taxi drew up.
Almost ready I smiled back. but /
with an inward tremor at the thought 1
OF the pickup dinner I had planned /
for this Sunday. the last before we
went into or new house But come
irto the library and take off your
things, or will you go directly to your
room
''You mean our rooms" corrected /
my notner-in- law. You Of course |
must remember that I never can stand
having any enc in my room. And Cou-
sin Agatha also wishes a room to her
self"
"of course" I said. trying to make
my voice sound cordially acquiescent, /
but 1 am afraid 1 must ask you both /
to go TO your old room. mother. for !
two or three hours until can get an
other room ready. You see. we're a 1T
tie upset just now. as we are moving, !
and then I had no idea you were COM
ing"
Moving" Ny mother-in- Jaws
voice was filled with amazed disap- !
prevail. May / ask why was not in
forTne dof this? Not that any place 1