The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-01-23
Why Madge Feels Dcky Comes Hon
estiy" BY His Obstinacy.

eStiy ny tbs OpSItnaCy,
Well"
The monOsyllaDle on my mother-!n-
laws lips was a trumpet of cxasper-
ated defiance. Dicky, at my instiga-
ton, had just told her that he had
ktickets for a play she had wanted TO
see, in order TO get her ont of the way
for the morrow's moving into our neyy
home Evidently knowing her better
than I he mad adoitly conveyed the
impression in his bit of news that he
/ didn't think she would so because OF
/ leaving me alone on moving day
If Margaret is such baby that she
cannot manage her own moving it's
time she learned, as the rest of us did"
his mother continued. 1t won't take
Agatha and me long to put some
things into a suitcase, and Wen get
our trunks all ready for you 10 move
before we go. l suppose Wen have to
stay all night at some hotel, that last
train back is such a tiresome thing"
Ihugged myself in my sheltered cor
ner at the ease with which the very
situation I had desired was unfolding
itself. Then Cousin Agatha joined the
conversation.
q don't suppose your wife would
welcome my aid" she said, with her
crushed to-the -ground-air. But il I
can be of any assistance TO her
shall be glad to give up the thcatcr and
stay with her"
l could think of nothing but Uriah
Heep, as 1 heard her. All she needed
was the word tumble" and the long
black, Uniting gloves to be perfect. I
held my breath for fear that in some
way her offer would be accepted.
But 1 need not have feared. AIy
mother-in law was in the drivers seat
and had no intention of relinquishing
the reins.
Dicky's Status Established.
Don't be a fool just because you
know how, Agatha" she snapped
You'd be about as helpful TO Mar
garet in moving as a refrigerator
would be to an Arctic explorer. You
hurry upstairs with me and get the
things you want TO take with you. I'll
lend you my jet set if you want it"
saw Cousin Agatha's crafty old
eyes light up like a child's at the
mention of the jet set, and again
wave Of pity swept me for the poor
old woman who had 10 be dependent
for all her little feminine fripperies
and pleasures upon the caprice Of my
irritable, if kindly. mother-in-Ia
There's one thing more against
this" Dicky said, deprecatings and
knew by his voice that he was i'm
mensely enjoying this situation of his
own creating. 1T means that l shall
have to stay in with you, too. I could
never think of allowing you to go
alone, but it seems pretty low down
to leave AIadge al alone"
Richard" his mother replied tartly,
sometimes I'm ashamed of having
raised you, you display so little COM
mon sense, and so much c0nceit. If
there's one solitary thing about this
moving that wouldn't he the better
without having you around I'd like to-
see it. a mans no use on moving
day, unless he's hired by the day and
expects to be bossed Otherwise it's
better for himself and every one else,
especially every one else, if he's 10
miles away"
"a Saw You"
Il ought to suit then" retorted
Dicky for it's 22.5 miles from Marvin
~ INC C-lS
But his mother did not hear him.
She was already mounting the stairs
with Cousin Agatha in her wake They
were as happy as two children over
their coming outing and there came
to me a realization of the pathetic,
eagerness of old age to seize and to-
hold fast such pleasures as could be
graspcd I wondered if it were not,
the sense Of the swiftly coming time
when pleasure or pain, joy or sorrow
would mean nothing to them. that
made them so reVel in the prospect of
an evenings amusement.
Richard turned as they left the
room and came swiftly over to thel
window seat, from which vantage
point. behind the long window cur
tains, ! had witnessed his carefully
staged little comedy.
Il saw you!" he accused, laughing
over his own triumph. Aren't you
ashamed to sit there spying on me
when ! was trying so hard to work
out your little scheme?"
Il wasn't spying," I returned indig- |
nantly. y was in there mending some
things which had to be done before
they We're put away, lest they tear
more, when You all came into the room. |
want to congratulate you. too. You
worked your scheme very adoitly."
"Oh, you've got to slip it to me-" he !
returned. I'm clever, you know; I,
you've got to admit it." Then he !