New Britain herald., 1922-05-11
How Mother Graham Took II Out
 On MadgC.

On Madcc.
 The scene which confronted me in my mother.n- room was one which tuGEed with equal strength at my sense of the ludcrous and of the pathetic.
 Mother Graham's tone and man, ner were as naughty and majestic as If she were clad in q slken gown and surveying the universe through her lorgnette. Rlt it is hard to be con- vincingly dignihed in flannel night gown and red yarn slippers, with two wisps of gray hair braided down ones back, and would have found II hard to control my rislhles had il not been for the contrasting picture at Juniors crib,
 Marion. slender, exquisite in her dainty pink paiamas. with her golden. elnted hair ruiled eyes staring from her white face. was holding Junior tightly in her arms, and had effectual. ly auieted his yeils, which had been half-anEry, half-friEhtened, But the little girl was shiyerinG with fright as well as cold, and I crossed quickly 10 her, ignoring for the moment my mother -in-l laws trade, which l knew from experience had but just begun, and would gain in volume and strength as it continued
 "Mothero" The child's white lips framed the question tensely.
 Mother Is all right. She will De here in a minute. dear" said softly. Then, In louder tone repeated t'e explanation Lillian had instructed me to give concerning our supposed alarm at chicken thieves
 Lillian Inter, enes.
 "Chicken thieves Fiddlestlcks :" my mother-in law calculated scorn- fully. Margaret. you never have fooled me for an instant since you married Richard tone spoke of years of attempted deceit upon my part-"and you needn't think you are going 10 begin now You haven't any plstol''-I guiltily visioned my little revolver locked in my trunll-"and you needn't tell me that sane wonl- an like Mrs Underwood IS shooting out of the window at chicken thieves, That's like the performances of those animals across the road. When they don't know anything elsc to do. they shoot off 3 gun. You'll have to think up 3 better story than that. But that isn't what want to know from you. How dare you turn the key on me, locking me in my room as though l were some spoiled chi'd? How dare you 7'
 She almost checked upon the words. | so angry was she, and l dallied men tally with the retort that she was but spoiled child, and that If I couId | only add a spanking to the key-turn ing 1t might have a salutary effect. | Needless to say, however, I did not | utter my thought aloud. Indeed. 10 | my great relief 1 did not need 10 make her any answer, for Lillian came swiftly into the room.
 Dear Mother Graham" she said placatinsly. it was not Margaret, it was I who locked your door And when we are alone I can explain why,
 Her gaze swept the rest of Us. my self included. as though we were but pawns in a game of which Mother Graham vas at the very least a 1 bishop. And the almost impercep- | tihe wink which she gave me in pas sing nearly completed the havoc in my laughter muscles which my moth er-in-law's appearance had begun
 Marlon's Request.
 "Oh '" My mother-in-law sn1oothed her ruffled feathers down with start ling qulckness. Then she turned on me.
 Well What are you waiting for '' she den1a nded. Take that little girl away and get her calmed down"
 Co with Auntie Madge, sweet heart" Lillian said softly 10 her small daughter. and with 3 parting hug to Junior. Marion dooilely followed me to her mothers room.
 tka tic. I turned on my little maid with assumed severity, for l lose no opportunity to attempt the cure of her ridiculous hysteria but her woe begone face made 1t difficult for me to be stern.
 "Oh /! so shame myself l so shame myself :" she walled T act so foolish. make all dot noise, get old vomans all crazy, so she talk so bad by you Oh. I go shoomp in bay. l 90 shame myself
 Its all right this time, Katie" said cheerily, If you'll only remen-