Omaha daily bee., 1922-02-02

The Task Lillian Asked Madge to
Perform.
Katie went slowly our OF the
room. a bowed. dropping figure, 81
pitiiully different from the volatile
tempesluons little maid who had
served us so long and 50 faithfully,
that ! could not Keep the tears from
my eyes as | watched her
For ! knew, as Lillian aud Mother
Graham did not, the bitter disap-
poiniment which was in store ioI
her when she should read her letter
from Jim. and learn that the hns.
band who had adored her 10 his
clumsy. stolid fashion, had gone
away iof an indefinite period, hrm
in the belief that she no longer
loved him. that. instead, she cared Tor
the man she had been meeting IN SO
mysterious fashion.
The door had no sooner securely
elesed upon her than Mother Ora
ham whifled upon me.
"You can't fool meT she said
"fhere's something going on that
don't know anything about. What
did Jim tell you tonight when he
asked Ia see you in the kitehens Has
he left katiel II he has. he ought
10 have his neck wrung. ! wish ]
had known what he was up 10 when
he came meeehing around asking 70
talk to YOU. I'D have put flea IN
his ear, | can tell you"
She paused for sheer lack oi
breath. while | reflected upon the
canny intuition with which she had
jumped at the truth, and the pc
culiariiy OF her temperament which
made her rush TO katie's defense a,
any attack upon her. when she her
self was constantly critieising the
girls actions. II proved, thought,
an old idea OF mine that secretly she
is very fond of Katie, and would
miss her even more than would
were she 10 leave Us.
Not Exactly.
"Not that she doesn't deserve 10
have him leave her." my mother-in.
law resumed, with one OF the light.
ning-like changes OF front with
which she often bewilders us. "Al-
most any husband would raise Cain
at the way she's been acting lately.
But, for all that--look here. Mar
garet, haven't you tongue in your
head? Did Jim tell you he was go
ing to leave Katie for good"
mot exactly" l returned, thank
ful, indeed, that my promise to Jim
concerning his plans extended only
to Katie. could confirm Mother
Graham's guess with conscience
all the clearer for the opportunity it
gave me to- warn her against saying
anything TO Katie about Jim's de-
parture. l wanted to deal with my
little maid on that question by my
self.
"'Not exactly" she mimicked,
what sort of an answer is that?
Now, don't you come any OF your
high-and-mighty airs with me, Mar
garet, for | won't have it. ] have a
right to know what is going on in
this house, and if you cant tell me
I'll go straight to Katie and get it
out of her."
She started to the door, her head
held high. That she would make
good her threat l we'll knew, and !
returned Lillian's wink of under
standing commiseration with wry
grin, as I followed her and put a
restraining hand upon her arm.
81 haven't the slightest intention
of keeping anything from you,
mother. Come into the library and
I'll tell you what Jim said"
! made the mental reservation, as
I followed Dickey's mellified moth
er from the kitchen, that | had not
promised to tell her all Jim had saidS
and carefully censored my report
Of the conversation as | repeated i
to Mother Graham. But it satisfied
her curiosity, and provided her with
a new grievance-always good
thing to give her when she is es-
pecially rampageous-in the propos-
ed substitution of Jerry Ticer for
Jim in the doing of the farm chores.
Madge Is Kept Busy.
Gerry Ticer" she calculated.
Jerry Ticer! Well, l might as we'll
put in the order for my coffin now,
for l know that boy will worry
me into my grave. Why, that
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