The Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1927-1930, 1928-05-03
MEETING
HER TINS
MOTHER
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% by D. ]. Walsh.)

She almost wished that she had
" had her thick locks shorn when
Dencey had fallen for the convenient
bob. With leisure at minimum and
the mercury at its highest braids were
nuisance. Besides, as Dencey de-
clared they stamped her as old-fash-
toned, than which nowadays nothing
was more ineXcusable.
Yet Tim Haldane had asked her to
marry him. AS she walked out of the
Office building and waited at the cor
ner for her car she watched knot
of her compatriots, chic and vivacious,
and compared herself with them. In
credible that Tim had choesn her
There must have been a number of
other girls he might have had for he
was so fine and winning that no girl
could resist him. Even Dencey said
so, and for Dencey to say thing of
that kind meant much, for Dencey,
eighteen and modernIy sophisticated
had discriminating taste in heroes
No, judith decided. as the car bore
her through the burning streets, she
would never be able to understand
Tins selection of her, but whatever
lis reason his mother would be sure
not to agree with him; she might ac
cept her sons choice of wife but
she would never approve it.
judith: dreaded to meet Tins moth
er. In fact, dread had all day been ac
cumula.ing into something like panic
clio TO har
ordeal. OF course, 1t had to come some
time, but why should it come this
evening? There had been extra work
at the Office and She was tired. More
over, her mother was not we'll and she
and Dencey had been doing the house,
work for a few days.
Tins mother! Judith could visu
alize her easily from her knowledge OF
Tim. Slender, tall and fair, of course.
modish, perhaps even with fondness
for French toiletfes. Tim had not
told her. '1'll let you form your own
picture of her and see how near you
come to getting it right" he had said
iaughingly. Then his mother came on
from the West to live with him at the
Ardmore until his marriage with
Judith, when he planned to have
home, small house somewhere on a
quiet street Meanwhile, Judith and
his mother must get acquainted, and
so he had arranged dinner for them
at the Ardmore as the easiest way of
accomplishing what he desired.
Upon opening the door of the small
apartment Judith beheld guest seat
ed beside her mother on the sofa
Aunt Ida Stanley, her fathers sister,
had dropped in for visit! Thin and
nervous, she was talking as fast as
she could.
why? Here's our Judy You look
warm, Judy. Look out for blood pres
sure. Now, with me l am below nor
mal-simply have to have heat. This
is the first time I've felt really com
Portable this summer"
Judith smiled family. In the kitchen
Dencey was struggling with a can
opener. 1t slipped and Dencey gave
cry of pain.
Let ME take it," Judith said. She
looked obviously at the can. what
else for lunch, dear?'
Nothing much. She took US I'M
awares. It's your afternoon off, isn't
it? And you're going out to dinner
tonight. Lucky your
81 am not so sure about that. Tins
mother may not like me-"
ut would be horrid if she didn't
since you'll have to live together
There are plenty of eggs, Judith"
"I'il make an omelet.'
After all luncheon was something
more than presentable and Aunt Ida
arose refreshed and fortified
Nov, I'm going out to get me
new hat and Dress" she announced
'"rhere isn't decent hat in Packville,
AS for the dresses Andrew Miller
brings n-well, may be thin enough
to be fashionable, but l simply won't
expose my arms and legs
Judy Call cab. And get ready to
go with me. I'll need some plotting
sit is very hot, auntie," Judith pro
tested family.
"Shucks! There's electric fans.
Come, call that cab"
Shopping with woman whose tenn
perature was below normal and who
insisted on getting what she wanted
at price she was willing to pay gave
Judith one of the most trying after
moons she had ever experienced. At
last she sank down upon divan and
while Aunt Ida tried on dresses held
her handbag.
"Im coming up again to see you
married and | want something decent
to wear" she commented.
Sitting thus, Judith became aware
that woman had sat down beside
her; the woman was elderly, plain and
bit old-fashioned. She clutched her
purse tightly and looked about her
with little air of helpless bewilder-
ment. Her upper lip was white in
that way which indicates heart weak
ness.
st is very hot, isn't it," she said
to Judith. 81 feel the heat terribly. I
don't think | should have ventured
out. Trying on dresses, too" She