Great Falls tribune., 1922-04-17
MY MARRIAGE
III PROBLEMS
Adele Garrison'S
New Phase off,.
REVELATIONS
OF A WIFE
THE WAY MADGE MANAGED TO
SOOTHE MOTHER GRAHAM

/ did not wait for further argument
from my irascible mother-in-law, but
sped to the kitchen, bent on soothing
Katie.
/ guessed that the meekness the girl
had displayed under Mother Graham 8
stinging and undeserved rebuke had
been artificial and maintained because
Of her sympathy for the older woman's
broken arm and her very lively re-
membrance of the experience she had
undergone during her absence from US.
That nay guess, founded upon long ex-
perience of my little maids tempestu-
Gus moods, was true one I saw when
l entered the kitchen For Katie stood
with her arms flung over the refrig-
orator, sobbing stormily, while the
scent Of scorching toast came to my
nostrils.
I dashed to the stove, pulled the
toaster away from the flame, hoping
devoutly that Mother Graham's unusu-
ally keen olfactory nerves would be off
duty for few seconds. Then, without
appearing to notice Katie, | hastily cut
another slice Of bread. toasted it in
the fashion Mother Graham likes best,
and spread it daintily with butter. |
was starting for the dining room with
it when Katie flung herself upon me.
Madge Contrives Well
"Oh.," she walled, Il no want you to
do my work. L"
Don't make me spill this toast. l
said practically. "Bathe your face
while | take this in. and then sit down
and get calm. / want you to do some
thing for me"
did not wait for her obedience-it
- I
Katie time for second thought-but
hurried on to the dining room and put
the toast before my mother in law, who
shifted as she looked at the covered
dish containing it.
You needn't trouble yourself to
bring me any toast that has been scrap
ed off after burning" she said tartly.
making no attempt to lift the cover Off
the dish.
Il haven't" I returned laconically.
This toast isn't burned"
How dare you stand there and tell
me anything like that she snapped.
Il distinctly smelled it burning
NV sympathy with Katie had been
steadily rising since ] entered the room,
and if my mother-in-law had been well
/ am afraid / should have answered
her in distinctly irritated and disre-
spectful fashion. But the lines of pain
etched in her face disarmed me, even
as they had Katie, and | only laughed
lightly in reply as I lifted the cover
Of the dish and waved my hand gayly
over it.
dot Very Nice"
"If YOU can see speck of char on
that piece of toast I'll give you dol
lar.s I said. There was piece Of
toast burning. but it was one Katie had
put on. / threw that away and toasted
this
She put up her lorgnette and in
spected the toast as though it were
some new species of animal discovered
by scientist l knew that the action
was. in Dicky's parlance, "a stall,
meant to give her time to change front
on the toast question.
Il might have known better than to
ask that ape Of girl to make a piece
of toast" she said at last, keeping her
voice discreetly lowered, however.
This looks all right-might be trifle
browner-it will do, though. But l
knew / wasn't mistaken about smelling
that toast burning. l may be losing
control of my mental faculties, but
there's nothing the matter with my nose
as yet"
repressed with difficulty the re-
tort that her tongue also appeared to
be in splendid condition. Instead,
made q placating suggestion.
Wouldn't you like another cup OF
coffee? p / asked overwhelmingly.
''Wry, l believe l would she an
swered, and / FASTENED to bring it.
Then / slipped away again unobtrusive-
ly, fairly sure that she would summon
me no more, and that ] was free to
turn my attention to Katie.
She was sitting in a chair near the
sink, dabbing her eyes with wet towel,
evidently determined to follow my in
structions to the letter. / took the
towel from her gently, then turned her
face toward me.
"You mustn't mind Mother Graham,
Katie" l said firmly. You know she
doesn't mean word she says, and she
likes you very much indeed"
Katie looked at me shrewdly, her
eyes beginning to twinkle.
dot very NICE" she said, "but /
wonder me vot she do to me eef she
hate me vonce. l no like to be Katie
ven dot day cooms."
/ laughed, for my little maid is ir-
resistibly funny at times. But l sob
cred instantly. however, wondering how
best to broach to Katie my belief as to
her folly in keeping the oath the
strange foreigner had forced her to
take.
Surprising Agreement Katie
Forced on Madge.