Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-11-24
By MIRIAM BRANDON

~ 49,
BY MIRIAM 4. BRANDON
IF YOU saw Mrs. Alton on th
street you'd pause hit- AIT
continue on your way with a httl'
chuckie. She was slim IN
huviened by that torso hunchi
ness which envelopes women o
late middle age You'd catch Z
glimpse of White hair, SmartlN
coifIed, beneath the foolish LITTLE
hat.
Undoubtedly YOU would notice
the dark eyes rather lovely anc
very brilliant II YOU were 2
woman YOU would see her com.
pleXion had that hawleSS clarity
which indicates either extreme
youth or extremely good care N
a beauty salon
She stepped along brlSkly
elancing al the shop windows with
q skepiical gaze The brisk step
and the Carcfree appearance helied
her feelings.
For within ragged torrent of
bitter hatred against Joan. her
daughter-in-law-a corroding, def
inite fury which grew daily
When she and her son were FIRST
engaged Mrs AAlan=had been al.
most fond of the girl IN an absent
sort of way But during the first
two years OF their marriage, Mrs.
Altons lukewarm enthusiasm had
dwindled into something no more
dangerous than a calm lndiffer-
ence.
The past year il had Sparkled
into a rage which had no reason
for being. and which was hateful,
SPONTANEOUS GROWTH
No quarrel. no rudeneSs. no i'm
pertinence nn-the girls part had
called il forth. There was no init
macy which could breed contempt.
and Mrs. Alton could not, IN all
honesty. say that Joan was not a
good wife.
Now. on her way 10 the bridge
club, she struggled TO thrust aside
the murderous thoughts which
drugged her brain. Grace Harper
would undoubtedly be there with
that impossible young man. Mrs.
Alton shrugged her shoulders in
sudden diStaste.
Women of my age either get
gigolos, yogi-ism or operations,
she thought bitterly.
That contract bridge substituted
for those pastlmes in her life she
was well aware, and while she
might be a trifie ruefuf, she was
also deeply grateful that such a
program resulted in her losing
only money.
She had enough Of that, thank
Heaven. She might be like other
women. without it&fereed= to live
with her son. She gave little
gasp as that idea hit her and
quickened her steps trif1e.
The tables were set up and a
couple of games were in progress.
Grace Harper was al the bar,
taking TO a woman Mrs, Alton
had never seen. They were deer
in conversation. so that Mrs
Alton had 10 put light hand on
Grace's arm before that lady
noticed her arrival.
She drew back. and seemed
embarrassed. Mrs. Alton said, x
"Have you been waiting for
me long: I'm sorry to be late"
LAUGH TOO sHRILL
The other laughed trifle too
shrilly.
Not at ALL she protested.
"Do YOU know Mrs. Cooke"
she inquired. gesturing to the
woman by her side. Mrs.
Alton"
Mrs. Atoms eyebrows climbed
"Certainly you are not Henry
Cookies ="
"Tm the mother all right"
the woman murmured, "and
you must be Ralph Atoms
mother .. :"
Grace Harper giggled.
what Is this" she Shrilled,
Mothers day."
Mrs. Alton explained.
Henry Cooke IL Ralph's
partner" then, turning TO the
stranger, she invited, you're
Joining our game, Of course"
The other shook her head.
81 don't play" she murmured.
81 just dropped in 10 see Grace.
IL felt had TO talk to some
body"
Her voice was so woe-begon,
that Mrs. Alton looked at he
more closely. She was not a par
ticularly well-groomed woman
Mrs. Alton saw at a glance.
A facial and permanent woulC
do lot Of good. Her eyes looked
as though she'd been weeping re
Gently. and with shock. Mrs
Alton saw that she looked boil
unhappy and almost i'll.
On an impulse. she stretched
out her hand
II really haven't time for
game" she he'd. why not let
me drop YOU Oft some place?
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