The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-11-25
SHORT
SHORT
STORY

times.
At that moment theS telephone
rang. A moment or two later, when
she hung up the receiver, it was all
planned. The Merediths had asked
her on a weekend trip in their new
car. Wally, Sr., could look after
the children, since he would be
home Saturday and Sunday. She
could cook-and clean the house be-
fore she went. 1t was kind of the
Merediths to invite her, for, after
all, she didn't know them so very
well.
The next days were full of sweep
ing, baking and planning. On Sat-
urday morning Irma departed, leav-
ing a spotless house, food enough
for a regiment and three sull1y
mortals behind her.
Mrs. Meredith launched forth on
the history of a little alteration
which she had with a friend. The
first so miles of the journey were
given over to it. The scenery, which
was growing more beautiful every
minute, was only accorded a cur
sorry glance, and a passing every
nice" when called to her attention.
I'VE are not going to stop for din
ner," explained Mrs. Meredith,
about an hour later. Henry wants
to make time, we have so far to
CO."
About twilight, Mr.. Meredith drew
up before very expensive hotel.
Irma almost cried out in dismay.
She had not expected such sump-
tuousness. Mrs. Meredith, on the
other hand, was prepared. She bus
tied into Irma's room in a very
handsome dinner gown Just before
z o'clock with a breezy "Let me
help you dress. I'm all ready my
self"
1--WE got wretched headache"
said 1rma. II can't go down. I'll
have toast and tea sent up here.
Then I'll go to bed, or l shall be
too sick to travel tomorrow"
The next day they started out
again. Mrs. Meredith was talking as
usual. Mr.. Meredith was the SUBJ
ject. He had evidently offended her
and she felt obliged to talk about
him and his failings to Irma. She
finally settled on his ability as a
driver.
"Oh, Mrs. Meredith" Irma muir
INJURED once, II think Mr.. Mere
dith is a splendid, careful driver.
l do indeed"
Mr.. Meredith flashed her a CRATE
full look and a moment later called
attention to the long line of cars
ascending and descending the hill
they were climbing.
Look like so many ants, racing
for the ant HILL" he said
At that moment, Mrs. Meredith
gave a shrek of terror. A big tour
ing car had shot out from the line
descending and was flying towards
them.
1t all happened in a minute; Mrs.
Meredith shrieking-the car ap-
proaching-Mr. Meredith firm at
the wheel, slowing gradually, turn
ing surely and gliding safely into
the gutter between the curbing and
telegraph pole just as the big tour
ing car passed them by a hair and
crashed over the embankment be-
yond the gutter in which Mr.. Mere
dith had been able to stop.
Trembling with terror, Irma
sobbed softly, but Mrs. Meredith,
now that she had stopped shrieking,
found breath to bewail Mr.. Mere
dith's careless driving again. He
had not seen the car until she cried
out! If he had, he could have saved
them such fright. Oh, she'd new
err ride with him again, neverl
Irma's nerves we're stretched to
the limit. 1t was not her real self
that suddenly cried to Mrs. Meredith
as she would have cried to little
Wally or Irma, had it been either
of the children who had tried her
to the limit of endurance.
"For goodness sake" she heard
herself saying, will you keep
quiet?"
\ Mrs. Meredith stopped in angry
surprise. Mr.. Meredith gave Irma
a look that said as plainly as words
that the walking would be good if she
dared his wife again. Irma shrank
into the corner of the car, miser-
ably. What had she said? Oh, what
had she said?
"I'm going home," announced Mr..
Meredith a moment later.
The Wallace house was dark but
the door was unlatched. Irma crept
in and switched on the lights.
Wally, Senior, was asleep, with
little Irma and Wally beside him.
She bent and kissed him softly.
"Why, Irma, is that your" he
asked sitting up and blinking. 81
didn't expect you today. You haven't
been gone long enough to rest"
"a change is as good as a rest,
they say" she whispered. Anyway,
I'm rested. I'm so glad to be
alive and back again, Wally. A
few hours ago, for the space of a
minute, l thought I never would see