Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1932-01-28
Grandmother's Smoke
By Victorine Kirk
and Henry to understand. But I want
my rights. I'm only asking for what is

and Henry to understand. But l want
my rights. I'm only asking for what Is
my
Tell me what you want with the
money" Henry repeated immovably.
AT this point, old Mrs. Judd. render
ed reckless by evaporation, said a
naughty word. In the Victorian era, it
was a curse. Nowadays. it is merely a
Kong expression. But Henry dis
approved of it violently. coming from
his mother.
"Mother!' said Henry, and Margaret
sharply. And Margaret added: Rem
ember the boysl"
AAw, that's nothing said Henry, Jr.,
contemporary. Papa says that. I've
heard him"
Henry" said Margaret. in bitter re-
proaeh, while old Mrs. Judd gave a
boot of laughter.
There was a moment of mild pam
demenium, while Margaret put coats
on the children and bundled them out
TO the waiting car, chiding Henry in
side whispers as she did SO.
Henry arose, and found his hat.
Il shall certainly not consider turn
ing the money over to you until / know
what you want it for he told Mrs.
Judd. Il might say until you censor
your language and adopt some of the
dignity that is a mark Of quality in q
woman of your age, I don't feel that
you are responsible enough to handle
your money, mother. / would be a poor
son If I gave it to you"
He gave Margaret a marriage diluted
kiss On the cheek, and strobe heavily
out OF the room, making for the hall
way in high hopes that now his mother
would leave him alone. But it was not
to be. Old Mrs. Judd sprang up and
followed him. Sneezing, and with her
crystals tWinkling as she ran in little
steps at his side, she made darts at
him, as If by sheer pygmy persistence
she would stem the tide of his retreat.
Henry! How horribly righteous you
are!' she walled despairingly. Il really
can't imagine how you happened
to be my son, you aren't in the least
like mel
Ill see you later" said Henry hur-
riedly, frightening his stride and gain
ing the door. Pulling it open, he slipped
through,and closed it almost on his own
coat-tail. He supposed that he had got
rid OF her, but as he went down the
her head popped out, haloed with
wild gray curls, like a miniature Foxy
Grandpa's. Her black eyes were
ping.
i should say you will see me later
she promised ominously. i've only Just
begun to talk about this, Henry!" Then
she made a clicking sound with her
tongue, the Wordless sound invented to
shame the person at whom 1t is direct
ed, and added. "Piggish!" =
She returned to the morning room to
lind that Margaret had gone, probably
talk to the cook, as the menus were
longer On the desk. Only the a d
airy birds were there, hopping and trill-
ing IN their cages. Margaret was q bird
lover. She had a parrot, and Ill tenn
pered thing with q fero1ioNs he..a a1.as
! habit Of nipping at the angles of UNI
people. Mrs. Judd never failed
q look under the chairs for it before
she sat down.
She looked now, then subsidized with a
sigh in a wicker chair beside the win
low Drawing back the gold gauze
curtain, she began to watch the street.
lt was time for Thad, her youngest son,
% drive past. He had a room on a
modest street, further out of town.
When he came to work, every day. he
1evlated a bit from his route to drive
past Henry's apartment and wave to |
I'D Mrs. Judd, who must always be at
he window to wave back. If she was
lot there to ave to him, he would
up, even in the midst of his hurry
o work, to see whether she had been
stricken in the night. So she made 1t
! point always to be at the window.
lutterlng her hand and grinning at
Inn like a bright little gargoyle It did
Ter good to see him. His face lighted
o sunnily at sight of her, before he
'attled around the corner in his rusty
little car. Tflad, her darling, her baby.
low she did wish that she could live
Nth Thad! But he made barely enough
money to keep himself.
As Tor her daughter, Flora, was a
.lvorcee, whose alimony could only Gov
T the expenses Of a tiny flat, and keeDI
'lora out Of debt at bridge.
There was Ihad! She leaned out per-
waving. He jerked his cap off
lis dark head. and shouted. above the
acket OF his little car: Coming over
afternoon
"Great!" Grandma Judd shrieked
'ack at him happily.
He waved again, b~ackhanded, and was
one.
Grandma judd settled back in her
From a drawer of the desk she
urreptitiously slid a box OF chocolates
nd putting them beside her in the
hair, she took out two, arranged her
egligee to more or less cover the box.
largaret would be scornful is she found
1rs- Judd eating chocolates in the
forming.
Grandmother Judd froWned, chewing
nougat. 1t was SO dull, living with
and Margaret.
She began to think again about her
10 thousand dollars, and the money
believed she could make with it
only Henry could be badgered into
lrnlng 1t over to her. How foolish she
ad been to let Henry make himself
manager. But for him, she might
spent that money in a dozen pleas
ways by now; or better, of course.