New Britain herald., 1922-02-27
The Way Madge stole March
 On Dicky.


 On Dicky.
 If had struck Dcky a vicious blow In the face l don't believe l could have more effectively hansshed the dancing laughter from his face and eyes than l did by my icy re- joinder to his banter concerning my projected journey 10 bring Kaie back,
 The better part of my nature urged me to cry out an apology for my nasty words, but the memory of the unjust criticism of me Dicky had uttered at the time of his mothers accident chilled any generous impulse toward him, and made me instead wickedly rejoice in the anger l saw leap to his face.
 'If had such case of ingrowing ego as affects you" he snarled, I'll be blistered if I wouldn't go and Jump into the bay 10 get rid Of 1t. l don't believe there's anything in the world could happen awful enough to make you forget your own feelings. You're always running around with tape measure and measuring spoon try ing to see whether you get your just need Of praise and consideration, Mother gets 8 fall that might have put her out of business for all time, and because in my excitement l let drop word or two that isn't suffi- ciently laudatory, you immediately de- part for the polar regions, and throw up an ice barrage. I should think you'd"
 Dicky is Angry
 ,,,to faI wit o frigidity that justified the statement he had just made, but have good deal to do before I can start after Katie, so I wish you would give me some idea of how long you mean this lecture to last. l am, of course. de- Kirous of listening as long as l can, but"
 "Oh. go to the devil,' Dicky snarled and flung himself out of the room angrily, while with the perversity which only a woman knows. l first laughed with malicious glee at the snccess of my batting, then felt my eyes fill with tears of regret at my mean little folly.
 That l had succeeded in thorough ly angering him l realized as the eve ming wore away-or rather galloped away--while l made my preparations for the earliest possible start the next day. Dicky devoted himself to his mother, although there was little to do but watch her, for exhausted by her ordeal she slept, though fitfully, through the entire night But he spoke no word to me beyond the bar est necessity of speech, nor did I try to placate him. There was no use, felt, in making any effort to do so, for when Dicky is angered it usually takes him hours to get over it. and. to tell the truth, I was so busy and 30 worried that I had neither the time nor the inclination to attempt to change his attitude. All my thoughts were centered upon my coming ex- cursion with it's chances of success so overwhelmingly against me.
 "Stop the Car !"
 One by one the items on the list of things that must be adjusted before leaving were crossed off. Mrs. Ticer, hurriedly summoned, announced her perfect willingness to transfer Jerry, the redoubtable Sam and herself to our menage until I returned. Marion was in the seventh heaven of delight at being entrusted with the care of Junior, and ] knew that never young monarch would have so devoted a slave, knew, also, that Lillians low ing supervision would be always over the child. That Mother Graham was safe in the care of those same cap able hands, while Dicky's more or less cratic attempts to help would also be made of use by Lillian I also knew. So at last. the final detail completed, and with small bag packed for my journey, I law down 10 a few hours sleep before time to go to the train.
 intended to drive my own car to the train, taking Jerry Ticer with me to drive it back, But when l rose from the substantial breakfast which Mrs. Ticer had prepared and went out on the veranda, l found Dicky's car, with Dicky himself at the wheel, standing by the steps. He was frown- ing, and the tonneau door was open, indicating that he did not intend me to ride on the seat with him. SO that I knew he was still angry. But my
 
 Dicky would not permit me to go to the station without him.
 With coniugal clairvoyance I also knew that he was as anxious as I to make up, but that his pride had com promised with his tenderness in the leaving of the tonneau door open. With the eyes of the Ticers and Lil- Han upon me, however-for they were all upon the veranda to bid me good by could do nothing but put my bag into the tonneau, and prepare to get in myself
 Hurry !' Dicky commanded curt ly. "You've just time to make the train"
 I obeyed him. and the machine had leaped forward before I had closed the door, 1 knew that he had mis- taken the time, and 1 guessed that he had done so intentionally that he might have an excuse for not alight-