The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-12-02
CHAPTER -

OndPIC1 L.
A letter had come from Walters
mother. She was about to start east
20 visit US. My heart sank clear into
my boots, as father used to say, al
though | was ashamed of myself for
the feeling. But the letter was so cold.
seemed to take for granted that Walter
had been unwise to marry, that it
reused my resentment
THE Mater thinks everyone should
ask her advice, and take it," her son
said laughingly when / spoke of the
sentence in her letter that had hurt
me. She'll like you all right when
she gets to know you But warn you
she'll be stand-offish at first, so make
up your mind to it,"
This was not very encouraging. but
my husbands mother had a right to
visit her son. | would do all l could
to make her stay pleasant. / went to
the station with Waiter to meet her,
and when / saw him greet the tall, thin
woman with iron gray hair, and severe
aristocratic face, / made up my mind
l should need all the tact l possessed
to keep my resolve to make her stay
pleasant.
$50 this is your wife," she said in a
cold voice when Walter introduced US.
She raised her lorgnette and looked me
deliberately over, much as if / were
some curiosity, l flushed, embarrassed
as held out my hand. which she just
touched with the tips of her gloved
fingers.
Walter left US to attend to her lug
gage, after many cautions to be care
full of F'ido. She had brought dog. l
felt myself growing pale. / hated to
acknowledge it but had always been
terribly afraid of dogs. Father said
once an animal only had to be bark
and tail for me to run from it. |
was ashamed of this weakness, but it
was mine; and now / was to have a
dog in the house.
81 hope you will see that F1do has
everything to which she is accustomed
while | am with you," Mrs Page said.
She is very particular. gets ill easily"
Just then Walter appeared with the
dog basket, followed by porter loaded
down with luggage. / was relieved at
the size of the basket. 1t was a small
dog, perhaps l could hide my fear
from his mother.
We took taxi and soon arrived at
home. My mother-in-law opened the
basket in the hall, and a little Pom
leaped out. ! drew away. and Walter
said with a laugh:
"Doreen is terribly afraid of dogs,
Mother"
There is something lacking in a
woman who is afraid of animals" she
replied, taking the dog into her arms
and calling it pet names.
81 don't think / shall be afraid of so
small dog" l replied wishing Walter
had kept still.
His mother made no reply, but still
cooling to the dog in what seemed to
me disgusting fashion. she followed me
to her room.
had taken great pains to make it
home-like and comfortable, had fresh
flowers on the table. books and maya
zines for her to read.
Throw those flowers out" she said
at once. ut isn't healthy for Fido to
have flowers in the room. And please
close those windows. There's a draft
on him."
closed the windows, although 1t
was very warm day and the air was
soft. Then l took the flowers in my
hand, before said:
I'VE dine at Z. l expect you will
like to rest until then"
IF you mean lie down, never dc
that in the daytime. / shall unpack.
Can l help your Or would you
rather have the maid?" l asked.
Il always unpack myself. Then
know where things are" She opened
the bureaus drawers as she spoke, and
/ thought heard her sniff as she benz
over them.
Almost hyterically I wondered wha1