Omaha daily bee., 1922-05-12
The Way Mother Graham Made Her
Appearance.

.Il's a crime 10 disturb you" Lii
Ian said softly. as she smiled down
a. me. Marion, sound asleep. was
euddied against my shoulder, aud,
indeed. | Was not lar from slumber
myself, despite the ifish, and excite
nenf | had just undergone,
NTH Infinite care VIC moved tie
curly head from my shoulder 10 the
pillow. Then, with Lillian's hand
aiding me. slipped from the bed
withou, disturbing MaFion's slum.
hrF. waited until We were out oi
the room before answering her re-
gFetful llltt speech.
Its a crime for me TO be so near
Sleep" ! answered. when you arc
so troubled. bu, III defy anybody
to Groom The House That Jack
Built very long without dorine,"
so that's the way you put her 10
Sleep" Lillian commented. Its al
ways sure fire, ism, Il, Ri,y we
can't work II on your mo,her-in-
law
We were az the stairs by this time.
well out OF earshot. but Lillian spoke
IN as subdued a whisper as though
Dieky's formidable parent were at
her elbow. And even after We
reached the kitchen, 10 which, lit
tie 10 my surprise. Lillian led the
way. she kept her voice to a muir.
mur.
what will you take TO make po,
OF your unparalleled eoffeeI' she
asked. peering with prac,iecd house.
wiiciy air into the kitchen stove,
after she had softly closed the door
leading TO the dining-room. u see
Katie pruden,ly has her wood fire all
laid for breakfast, but /. won't hurt
her TO build il again, and ] simply
shall lie down in the corner and pass
out to slow music il ! don't have a
cup OF coffee soon"
You never knew me 10 refuse
one, did youi" ! asked. taking down
the percolator as she applied a match
TO the shavings in the stove. But !
warn you that closed door won't
keep the aroma OF this from Mother
Graham's nostrils. II every key
hole and crack in the house were
stopped up. she'd smell coffee brew
ing. and want cup. III put in
enough for her"
Madge is Apprehensive.
"Of course. Make a pot while
you're about it, for we shall have 4
guest with us in few minutes.
There. that fire is all right. Now I'll
interview the refrigerator and the
pantry, and see what sort Of snack
| can rout out for hungry man."
/ turned from the coffee-grinder
and stared at her in amazement.
Tom Chester will be here in a
few minutes" she said That is, he
will be if my hunch as to Smiths
probable homeward course holds
true. And he'll be hungry, Of course.
| never knew youth his age
who wasn't. And practically every
returned soldiers coffee fend, so
get busy"
I turned to the coffee grinder again,
finished that task, prepared the cof-
fee and set it over the blaze before
l spoke. There was still fresh in my
mind the memory Of Tom Chester's
last visit to the house. and Mother
Graham's cautic and insulting COM
ment thereon. What might not my
mother-in-law take it into her head
to say or do?
She had confined her remarks to
my ears upon the first occasion. but
l had no assurance that she would
not express her disapproval Of his
presence in the house before Lillian,
or even before Tom Chester himself.
At the bare thought of the last con-
tingency ] shivered involuntarily
and glanced up to see Lillian look
ing at me with whimsical sympathy.
Mother Graham's Orders.
Don't worry" she said. still in
nurmuring monotone. II have
your doughty mother-in-law lashed
to the mast with the idea firmly fix.
ed in her head that any untoward