New Britain herald., 1923-06-30
Mother Graham Changes ftes Nhd
 TNaoe in Two Minutes


 threw up my hand in a NaFnlnE gesture ta Neither Graham as she se' eompanisd her eall for Katie with a query to me e0ReeTning mk hiNs maids whereabouts which contained the obnoxious spithei, Aane Of a giTl' n is an inyaFiahle practice of hers when referring 10 Katie, although ! have noticed that she Is careful never ta use the words in the girls presence, Rut | had heard katie's quick faal' steps in the hall outside and feaEfd her acute hearing would catch the offensive phrase,
 might have saved my effort, how ever, for Mother Graham, upon prlnr einle. never needs gesture or any thing savoring af eompnlslen, from any living heinz, unless the necessity Tor it has heen explained 10 her in words of three syllahles, Two or three hnmiliating experiences m the presence Of guests, when warning nudge Of the foot or hand was re- oeived with q fierce Margaret, what in the world are yan trying 10 dos" have made me exceedingly wary nf her possibilities for preeiniiatins domestic eataelysms,
 had the satisfaction. however, of seeing her register distinct emharraas- ment whom Katie's knock sounded on the door. ft was an unusually mill. tant rat.tat.tRt. at which l wineed. for feared that it signaled an out. burst from my faithful but tempcra. mental and tempery little maid.
 Do you suppose she heard me-" My mother-in-law's apprehensive voice was in ludiorous contrast 10 the autocratic infections with which she had called for Katie.
 An Unexpected Repl,
 I'm afraid she did." whispered back.
 -.'well. go on out and settle her. then" Mother Graham said crisply. She is never abashed moro than a fraction Of second by anything Katie is your maid. not mine, and If she chooses to take offcnae at name which describes her perfectly. the sooner she leaves the better"
 The only consolation had concern ing that outrageous little speech was audible 10 the girl on the other side of the door. But my heart was hot within me as I walked toward toe door.
 It was & situation only too familiar to me. this in which had to soothe Katie's justly wounded sensbilities aft CT some inconsiderate performance of my mother-in-law's, and the insouci- ance with which the older woman shifted the burden of her verbal in- discretion to my shoulders angered me.
 .'I agree with you" I said coldly, ''althought it will be trine inconven- lent to have her leave just now. But l imagine we can get Mrs. Ticer to come in"
 "Come Back Here !''
 It was Parthian shaft for while Mother Graham is always in state of armed neutrality with Katie. she Infinitely prefers her presence in the kitchen to that of Mrs, Ticer.
 Katie yields to Mother Graham deference born of her early alien peas- ant training which Mrs. Ticer, who can boast as long line of purely Am erican ancestry as Mother Graham herself, never thinks of offering.
 Mrs. Ticer is always courteous, but her manner to each of us is that of one good neighbor to another. I ac- sept it indeed, enjoy it thoroughly, but my mother-in-law resents it, all though she is shrewd enough not to show her feeling openly. But I knew that the prospect of havin independ snt Mrs Ticer installed temporary during the visit of Moth 1 on-in-law, fresh from an establish nent of perfectly trained maids, would be anathema to my mother-in- | aw's soul,
 Margaret Come back here :" There was distinct note of frantic lppeal in Mother Graham's voice as eaving her my icy little speech on which to, reflect, I walked to the door.
 I pretended not to hear her, and dipped quickly out of the door, clos ng it behind me. before Katie could peak.
 That the girl had heard the slight ng reference Of Mother Graham was ,lain. All the signals of mutiny were lying from her glinting eyes and |