New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1922-05-31
The Way MadGe "Oycrplayed" With
Mother Graham

Mother Graham
Not even Iillian's "alibi" served m
with Mother Graham when tina
august lady learned within an hour o
dinner time that Allen Drake and m,
father would be with MS for the meal
and that the brilliant agent OF IN,
secret diplomatic service would 20 GU
guest for an indefinite period.
You needn't try 10 tell me. Mar
garet, that you didn't know until lls
now that they We're coming" she said
her face reddening with resentment
y suppose you think il was n smart
trick TO play me TO keep me in ignor.
ance that your father is coming home
and is bringing Mr.. Drake. Thorgt
the land knows don't like him much
yef Allen Drake has been in cvsr,
capital in Europe and this continent
too. and has seen everything AID
everybody and Is as fastdious as a
cat-1'll wager Katie has cotton sheets
on that guest room bed -
NO, she hasn't. for the bed isn't
made. 1t simply has cover spread
over the mattress" / said Il told
to keep that bed made up"
It's wonder you had that much
sense she retorted grudgingly. Nov
you get out those linen sheets and pill
low-sips and the best pair of blankets
and that silk coverlet, and send Mar
ion to me. She's splendid help max
ing a bed, that little thing. and then
dc you get some flowers picked and up
there, and a pitcher of fresh water
and a glass, and a book and some
magazines, and matches, and-all the
rest she finished vaguely.
III attend to everything" l said
meekly, glad to get off SO cheaply,
and making for the staircase on my
way to the linen closet. by the way.
what do you think Id better wear for
dinner"
"Of All Things -
She snorted violently, and | knew
that l had overdone the patient Girls
elda post. With a vivid memory of
the time she had accused me of
dressing for Tom Chesters approval,
had thought to disarm her by my
request, but instead l found that
only had provided her with whip
for my flagelation.
"Of all things !" she began. We'll,
I'm going to sit right down now and
wait for the world to come to an end
YOU asking ME- what you'll wear for
dinner when there's a good looking
man as guest. 1t would be a pile of
use my telling you wouldn't it? Judg-
ing by that performance the night
that young whipper- snapper of Tom
Chester was here. you'll dress up in
your best bib and tucker. Don't ask |
ne, for I haven't any advice to give
you. If you don't know what's proper
and fitting, at your age, nothing I
could say would teach you anything"
With an effort that brought every
nerve into play, l grimly put down the
impulse to answer her outrageous
TRADE. Instead, l walked calmly to |
the linen closet, took out the articles |
for which she had asked, carried |
them into the guest room and laid |
them upon the bed. Then still silent |
I left the room, and sought the flower !
garden, where 1 gathered big clus- !
ter of scarlet and orange nasturtiums
relieved their vivid color with a few /
blosso rs of white cosmos, and a spray |
or two of feathery vine and arranged |
them in a bowl of brown pottery. |
Then l stepped back and admired my |
own handiwork with the lessening of !
tense nerves which flowers and their |
arrangement always bring to me.
DR.. Pettit's Report.
That's perfectly breath taking
Madge - Lillian's admiring voice
behind me. Where are you
going to put it?"
dering a second later why I had an
swered as I had. l certainly had in
tended the flowers for the guest room
assigned to Allen Drake, but at Lii
lian's question there had suddenly
flashed over me an inexplicable re-
vulsion against my putting them
there.
"Have you time to do something for
me?" l asked. .....
Loads" she answered promptly.
Then l wish you'd fix something
Lordship. Mr.. Drake" l said. Mother
Jranam s on tn6 WIT PAIN up lueTt, II
putting the best linen and everything
else on display, and she's depending Il
on me to do the fancy things. But
If I look up the other articles she
wants, ! shan't have time for the
flowers, or to dress"
"Of course, I'll do anything you
like" she said, but I'm no such dad
ster at flowers as you are. my dear
However, I imagine he'll not linger
long over poses when he knows
what's up. I didn't tell you about
Herbies report"
No. l returned, laconically. In 5
truth ] had been slightly piqued that
after DIR. Pettit's return from attend
ing the man Smith at the Briggs
home, she had said no word to me of Il
the result of the physicians call.
st wasn't much" she said Tex
,ept that the gifted Mr.. Smith will
have to spend nearly week with his
49, ,,,,or oh which inst sJ1jts NV |