The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1922-07-22

eat colliSl IKE tHdI. lou must speak
tonight when you take the dishes back"
Very well, mother; but-well, you
know we don't pay very much"
Then pay more. I'm sure l
shouldn't think you'd grudge me
enough to eat, Helen"
Mother. How can you say thing
like that.' Helen's voice shook.
1t was at the supper table that
Helen's mother brought out the letter.
You don't ask, nor seem to care"
she began with curious air Of injured
triumph, but I've got letter from
Herbert"
The younger woman flushed.
"Why, of course, care" she retorted
cheerily. what does he say?"
He wrote it several days ago. It
got missent. But it's such q nice let
teri
They always are"
1T asks particularly how I am, and
says he's sorry l have to suffer. He
cares"
Only the swift red in Helen's cheeks
showed that the daughter understood
the emphasis.
"Of course he cares" she answered
smoothly.
"And he sent me q present, too
money!" Mrs. Raymonds usually fret
full whine carried ring of emulation.
Helen lifted her head eagerly.
Money!"
"Yes. A new crisp dollar bill. He
told me to get something pretty-some
little trinket that I'd like"
But dollar-Only dollar" muir
INJURED Helen. Now you're needing a
wrapper, but that
"A wrapper, indeed!" Interrupted
Mrs. Raymond in fine scorn. "a
wrapper isn't a 'trinket' for me-! I'd
have wrappers anyway, Of course. But
then. l might have known. You never
and-and Goldfish! I'm glad I've got
one child that-that appreciates !"
And Mrs. Raymond lifted her handker-
chief to her eyes.
Across the table Helen caught her
lower lip between her teeth. For Il
moment she did not speak; then very
gently she said:
Mother, you didn't quite mean that,
I'm sure. You know very well that L
I'd dress you in silks and velvets. and
feed you on strawberries and cream,
If could. It's only that-that- But
never mind. Use the dollar as you
please, dear. Isn't there something
some little thing you would like?"
Mrs. Raymond lowered her handker-
chief Her grieved eyes looked re-
proachfully across at her daughter.
I'D thought ola tie; lace tie
with pretty ends nice tie. You know
how l like nice things"
"Of course, you do; and you shall
have it, too" cried Helen. "Fll bring
some home tomorrow night for you to
select from. Now, that will be fine,
won't it,"
The other drew a resigned sigh.
Fine! That's just like you, Helen.
You never appreciate, never realize.
Perhaps you think it's fine to stay
mewed up at home here and have ties
brought to you instead Of going out
yourself to the store and buying them,
like other women"
Helen did not answer. AS well she
knew, she did not need to. Her mother,
once started on this subject, asked
only for listener. YEARLY the girl
rose to her feet and began to clear
the table.
"And it isn't as If he didn't have his
hands full. just running over full with
his business and ALL" continued Mrs.
Raymond. you know how successful
he is, Helen. Now, there's that club
what was 1t, president or treasurer that
they made him? Anyhow. 1t was some
thing; and that shows how popular he
is. And you know every letter tells
us something new. I'm sure 1t isn't any
wonder I'm proud of him and relieved,
tool did hope some one of my chill
dren would amount to something; and
I'm sure Herbert has"
There was a pause. Herbert'S sister
was washing the dishes now, hurriedly.
nervously. Herbert's mother watched
her with dissatisfied eyes.
"Now, there's you, Helen, and your
music" she began again, after long
sigh. "You know how disappointed l
was about that"
"Oh, but piano practice doesn't help
to sell goods across the counter OBJ
served Helen duly. "At least. l never
heard that it did"
"Sell goods" moaned the other.
always something about selling
goods! Helen, can't you get your
mind for one moment off that dreadful
store and think Of something higher?'
But it's the store that brings us In
our bread and butter-and Goldfish,
added Helen, half under her breath.
1t was q foolish allusiOn. born OF a
much-tired spirit; and Helen regretted
the words the moment they had left
her lips.
"Yes, that's exactly what it brings
Goldfish" gloomed Mrs. Raymond. I'm
glad you at least realize that"
There was no reply. Helen was
working faster now. Her cheeks were
pink, and her hands trembled. As soon
as possible, she piled Mrs. MasOn's
dinner dishes neatly on the tray and
hurried out with them.
Its only me, Mrs. Mason, with the
Dishes" she said moment later, as
her neighbor peered out into the hall