The Meeker herald., 1923-01-06
GRANDMA
sy iov,sE N. AooglsoM

q. Isss.t'by Mcclure NsvsSapsr sysdissss
"whsrs's grandmaT' asked Edith
Lsaford, coming home from work one
evening.
''Gsos to a-te a."
ITO daaee Of some kind" finished
Edith. "You nesdnt look 20 apoiogetlc,
mother. 1t isn't your fault, and I've
grown aceustomsd now to . dancing
grandma. who borrows my pumps lin.
seris and dresses. and occasionally
uses roose."
"But, dear" protested Mrs. Lsaford.
shes your grandma, snd-"
"Oh. yes, but-but-mother dear.
could you persuade her not to wear
my gray silk crepe tomorrow nlghtl
! think that looks hest On me, and
Francis Keating 10 coming"
TIL see that you have II. dear. And
Jon must forgive. grandma for wearing
your things. She's always had what
she wanted"
"Ns wonder. She takes them" Edith
laughed In spite Of herself. "Shs won't
be back before early In the morning,
I suppose. Well. I won't begrudge ner
. good time ~ long ~ she leaves me
the gray silk In which to receive Fran.
cis."
Al 10 the following morning Grand.
ma Britlsy. in dainty morning gown
and slippers, read her paper and
slipped her coffee at leisure.
Mother" said Mrs. Leaford, mind.
fui Of her promise to Edith. "are you
going out tsdayr'
There are some new pictures on ex.
hibltion at Brusino's, and I have .
ticket. whyr'
Because - because - wesl. Edith
wants to wear her gray drees tonight,
% II yoa Wish to borrow any Of her
things will you remember not to take
that. paeassr'
Mrs.. Britley loohsa disdsinfully st
her daughter. ''wAy all tAe wosIy.
Ltlllan1 I don't w.as snythins, Of
Edith's II she begrudga them"
"You know she doesn't, mother. But
she's going to have company tooisht-
. Mr.. Keating-"
"Ridiculousl" snspped srasdna.
"She 10 only q child"
Edith 10 TWENTY said Mn. LsA-
ford.
Twenty Impossible! And evea At
twenty q gin 10 too young to receive
gentlemen caller1.rr
Anyhow. yop won't take the gray
crepe, Will you, motherr
Mrs. Britlsy contemptuously waved
the matter aside. Nevertheless, after
finishing her coffee she went to
Edith's room and examined the clothes
closet. A few hours later she LEFT
the house 70 quietly that Mrs. Lea.
ford did not hear her.
That evsning Edith went ts her
room, humming . gay little song.
That gfay droas. A moneot's IN.
spsctioo eonsineea has that N WAS
missing. She called bar mother. who
rushed In. crimson and out u breath.
Mother. did you tell grandma about
the dress!''
"Of course J. did. Isn't II thereS"
They rummaged the closet in vais.
II wouldn't have thought II Of her."
said Mrs. Leaford, seating herself
Imply on the bed.
Francis Kestins left early. Edith,
silent and angry, waited up for grand.
ma. who arrived about mldsisht,
flushed and bright.syed - gin.
1--WE had such q nice tine." she said.
II met James Safton. RsneDber him,
Lillian1 PLEASE sahook ne. Edith. His
wife died last year. He has q beau
tlful home and lots q money.
II hope you marry him." said Edith,
unfastsning the gray dress With trem.
bling angsrs. TT will b. good for you
to get q husband. grandma. Maybe
you'll settle dova. 1t will also be good
for me. Particularly good for me.
Judge. When you have . home sf your
own I'll be able to wear my clothes
when need them"
Mr.. Keating did not call again. II
was bitterly humilistins. Edith hated
to confess, even to herself, how much
she missed him. Grandma, however,
was In the best Of spirits; and she
continusd to wear Ddith's clothes In
spite Of her grandfather cool stare.
At the end Of three months she an
nounced herself s0saSsd 10 old James
Safton.
Mother and I are certainly to bs
congratulated. dearest grandma" said
Edith, when she heard the news.
Grandma favored her With q long,
nseditstive look, and left the room.
That evening Francis Reating called.
A Edith. with beating heart. went
to greet him. he took her hand In his
and held II firmly.
"who do you suppose <isited me In
the ONCE todayr' he asked.
Edith colored, and the young man
went On. stamnerinsly. watching her
face meanwhile.
"She told me that she ansered you
the last evening I called. ZOO were ~
cool that night that IL was afraid
there wss no hope for NJ, and I ran
avav-l1ke 4 coward, But todoY-to-