New Britain herald., 1924-01-30
A Letter and a Family Conference

A Letter and Family Conference
 Lillian moved to the door swiftly as she spoke and unlocked it. Katie, her face purple with excitement, ai- most fell into the room.
 "Coom qveeck to old womans room" she gasped. T tink she awful bad.''
 ran swiftly past her, followed closely by Lillian, calling over my shoulder 70 Katie to fetch some water immediately. But at the open door of my mother -in-law's room l paused. seeing that whatever of alarming weakness had been hers 1t was pass tng. True, her figure sagged against her chair, 8. if utterly spent but there was color in her lips-the first thing which watch in her-and her eyes were gleaming with determina- ton. An open letter was clutched in her hand and s. we entered, she raised it, and shook it st me feebly.
 Call Harriet and Edwin and Rich ard up here immediately" she said. No. Mrs. Underwood" as Lillian moved toward the door. 'I want you 10 stay, too. Katie ."-she greeted my terrified little maid, whose shak- ing hand had difficulty in prof fering me the glass Of water for which I had asked - stop that trembling--I'm all right--and go down to the children. Don't let any one of them come near this room, where they can hear what's being said, until I send for them. Do you understand"
 eoh, yes. me'am, fesx," Katie's familiar slogan sounded, as she fol- lowed my hurried passage down the stairs, and she was at my heels when I entered the living room,
 Katie Watches the Children
 Mother Graham would like to see all the 'grown-ups' in her room up- stairs right away" l announced in ss caeual a voice as I could manage. Katie will stay here with you. I know she'd love to play the game Of animals with you"
 "All l could play would be leetls donkey" Katie caroled, grinning widely, and in another minute the children were gathered closely around 1
 
 three older people were following me upstairs.
 What's eating Mother?" Dicky asked in a low voice as he overlook me on the stairs.
 "T wish l knew" murmured back "I think she must have re- eeived letter which disturbed her, for she waved one at me when she told me 10 bring you all upstaigs."
 "A letter :" Dicky repeated vague ly T haven't seen any mail yet today"
 Nor you won't until your mother gets through looking it over" re- torted. Have you forgotten that she insists upon having all the let- ! ters brought 10 her first"
 And then transforms herself into l a postman. sorting and distributing them" Dicky interrupted. "I ought | 10 remember it. She's hold me up often enough in that way, But won der what's in the wind now, that l she's hauling us all up for this mys- terious conference"
 He did not have to wait long for i his answer. As we filed into the i room Mother Graham took a quicK, comprehensive look at us, and spoke imperatively
 Lock that door, and bring some chairs near me. We don't want the | children to oyerhear this"
 Lillian Heads the Letter
 We obeysd her and when we had ! formed compact circle around her, Mother Graham surprisingly held | out the letter to Lillian.
 Mrs. Underwood you are the only one who isn't ,itally concernec in this" she said 50 you wons waste any time 'oh-ing ar ah-ing' i over if. Please read 1t, slowly and i distinctly mind you 70 I She had all the air Of fourth | grade teacher directing a reading lesson, and ] saw Lillians lips twitch as she took the stiff paper my moth er-in-law handed her. But she obeyed the directions i'm plicitly, and I think even my captious naother-in- vas was satisfied at her reading of the startling epistle 10 which she listened.
 The hearing was that of an attor- hey in Pennsylvania village, the |