South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-09-08
THE EXPLANATION MOTHER
GRAHAM DEMANDED FROM
KATIE AND RECEIVED
FROM LILLIAN.
We were not left long in doubt

We were not left long in doubt al
20 the Identity OF the person knock
.tur on the door OF the library Ms
3nother-in-law voice sounded omin
ousiy from the other side or IL:
Let me in at once"
Luiian's eyes swept the room. ther
shc pointed 10 a dark recess beneath
a desk crammed Mother era
hams hat into Its costly bandbox
put on the cover. and slipped the
box into the place she had indicated
Ny father had moved toward the
door watching me as he went When
] had concealed the box and was
standing erect again. he opened the
door
Ny r-in-law-majestic In
spite OF her bafhrobe and slippers
strobe into the room. her hand grip
pirg Katie's arm as she brought the
8 n into the room with her by q
series OF Jerks. Katie evidently being
determined that no movement or hei
own should assist the elder wOman's
progress Ny little maids cheeks
we're flushed. her eyes glittering. but
her lips were compressed into thin
line and I guessed that she had
given my mother-In-law no word OF
enlightenment
4 Tense Moment.
Margaret" Mother Graham be
gan. her voice choking with anger
'This thing has reached the limit
You're going TO fire this girl or I'm
going 70 leave your roof forever I've
stood everything. but when II comes
90 her coming into my room while
I'm asleep and stealing my best hat
oh you needn't look so astonished
just the same as caught her at s;
.aust now. / Weakened out OF a sound
eep. and heard somebody closing
my door At first. dazed. I didn't
realize what il meant then when
had reused myself / guess that this
ape had"
Katie's cOmposure broke suddenly
Don't you call me outside mine
own name. you"
I took step toward her, and she
stopped speaking although her eyes
flashed enormously at my angry
Snother-in-law. and with a swift 1.-THE
movement she twisted herself away
from the elder woman's grasp. back
cd to the rear o. the room and stood
there at bay.
You see. Margaret" My mother
in-law's voice was triumphant "See
what your training has accomplish
ed, But I've no time 10 consider
that now. AS I was saying, 1 guess
ed that this ape" she repeated the
words measuredly. while kept my
eyes compelIingIy upon Katie's-
had been In my room I lighted
my lamp put on my bath robe and
slippers. and looked around my
Tooru At first I missed nothing
then I opened my closet and found
:sly best bandbOx gone. I've heard
her admire II dozen times, but ]
didn't think she'd have the nerve "a
come IN and take IL.
you Mean"
II didn't wait TO look anywhere
Csc b rushed out into the hall and
found her just sinking through "a
lar side OF the house Then 1 nab
] Il her went 70 your room, found
go one there, and came down here
-lud now 1 want you TO make her tell
" hat she did with that bandbOx. She
asn't opened her mouth except for
That impudent speech you heard"
I think Lillian had waited only for
This last assurance before speaking
Al any rate. the words hardly had
left my mother-in-law's lips before
} !lian had crossed 20 her and wa
looking intently into her eyes.
Dear Mother Graham" she said
earnestly. there are reasons why
60 not wish Katie 10 remain her
while YOU receive the explanation tD
which YOU are entitled concernin-
your hat VIII you take my word
that I know what happened to the
bandbox and that Katie did not take
j, from your room Then we car
send her 10 her room.
Into Mother Graham's face Crcp'
O look OF delighted comprehension.
You mean" she said significant
Is. chat il has something 10 do with
Exactly" returned Lillian
Then YOU may 30 90 bed Sh'
formed magnifcantlv 70 Katie An.
maybe this will cure YOU Of snooD
suspected you II you weren't always
$50 meddlesome.
I suspect IL took all OF Katie.
loyalty to me TO remain silent, 5ut
With my eyes upon hers she uttered
no word but walked out Of the room
with a dignity almost as royal a,
Mother Grsham's own
Lillian signed 10 Allen Drake 70
close the door after her, then she
placed a chair for Mother Graham
Aand waited until We were all seated
Fbefore she spoke I suspected tina
she was In Dicky' parlance "stallinl
for time" until she should have per.
fscted her story.
I'VE have taken great liberty
with you. Mother Graham" LiuiaI
began deprecatingly. but. really. i
seemed as n we could do nothing
else" II became necessary to Sc
crete a certain paper IN a plac,
where no one would ever think o.
looking for e. After long delibera
ton. the covering OF your best Ia
was selected. the covering was rip
ped and the paper secreted To
night We wished 20 81 bmit the paper
90 Mr.. Spencer. and therefore
Madge went 20 your room and tool
the box out We have Il here. and
I am sure you VIII see that but FOL
a rip IN a seam which Madge car
sew mp again without any one.
noticing that q has been disturbed
g. has not been hurt IN the least
Here Il -"
she drew the box from its hidins
place and handed - TO my astonish
Cd mother-in-law, while 7 admired
the adroit manner IN which she had
overted blame from Katie without
eavinc anything that was not strict
" true