New Britain herald., 1924-05-29
Why Madge Couldn't Resist Calling
 ,Iunior Before nicky

There was a cockiy mirthful as surance in Dicky's manner as he made his wager, on Juniors running to him first, that piqued me.
 If our mental atmosphere had not been already electric, I would have thrown all my good resolutions into the discard and taken his bet with as much arrogance as he displayed, for I knew that it needed only absolute quiet and non-interfercnce on my part to bring my baby boy to my arms first of all
 But weary and dispiritcd as l was, I wished to avoid any further cause of friction, so I forced myself 10 a de- mure meekness I was very far from feeling and murmured smilingy:
 ''I never bet against sure thing
 Dicky laughed.
 Wise lady" he said patronizingly and with the words l drew the car up to the ,cranda steps. Dicky springing down, helped me out and we went up the steps together
 The door opened before we reached 1t and Katie answered our greetings smilihgy. but with a reserve be- traying the iron repression which my mother-in-law always puts upon my little maid in my absence.
 "Is .u,iivr all right?" I asked breathlessly, wondering why neither he nor Lillian's young daughter, Marion, was racing down the hall to meet us.
 Katie's lips pursed disapproNingly
 Yah, he all right" she said. He in living room by hec's grandmud- der. She say you coon dare"
 Mother Graham's Plot
 Wondering a little, walked down the hall toward the living room, Dicky tagging behind to hang up his topcoat. As I entered the room saw the reason for Juniors tardi- ness in running to greet us. His grandmother, seated in an srm- chair. held him lightly, but closely beside her. and when he joyously eS- claimed Mama" as he caught sight of me and struggled 10 get down, l saw her tighten her clasp upon him and heard her whisper:
 Wait !'
 So that was it I did not need the unconscious dsapproral written upon Marions lovely young face to tell me that my mother-in-lap, with one of her occasional spells of mean josl- ousy. had trained the small boy to greet his father first. When Dicky appeared at the door, l watching closely, saw her release the little lsd with a tiny push and a whispered;
 Now"
 Everything that was jealous and | malicious in my own nature bubbled ' to the top In, the mental caldron l that was In my mind at that mos mcnt. As if had noticed nothing, I opened my arms 10 the advancing lit- tie figure and called softly.
 "Oh, Junior darling."
 He ran directly into my arms, ' with glad little cry, and for a scc- ond or two forgot everything else in the sheer delight of cuddling him 1 close 10 me. When he had kissed me he wriggled uneasiy. and announced in conscience stricken tone:
 oh I fordot."
 "you Win"
 I stole a glance at my mother-in- laws crimson face and asked an unctuous question.
 Forgot what, sweetheart a''
 My piece rot Danzie taught me" He released himself from my arms and turned toward his father. "Dan- zie said vas to come first to you, not to Mama" he announced. as might one reciting lesson, "and vas 10 say-vot vas if, Danzie? I fordot." "1f you've forgotten, that's all there is 10 it," his grandmother mapped, but Junior was persistent. ii