The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1869-03-12

BY MAUD MEREDITH.

BY MAUD MEREDITH.
"Are we almost there, Charles?
..Do you see that old moss-brown
roof, with the huge brick chimney,
peeping up among the apple-blos.
SONS? That is the house. #
Laura's heart gave an involunta-
ry throb.. Would they welcome hel
as new daughter? Would they love
her? Charles Page smiled as he
read the thoughts passing through
her mind. --.n- ~ mi
"Do not fear, Laura; l do not
know who could help loving you
Laura smiled little doubtful y;
she could hardly expect the whole
world to look at her with her young
husbands eyes. @l..a ,..
Old Mrs. Page stood at the farm
house door in her best black silk,
with her company cap" and white
ribbons, as the stage coach rolled uE
"a hard featured old lady with
silver streaked hair brushed away
from her wrinkled forehead, and
hands on which the network Of veins
stood up like kuottcd cord. He,
welcoming kiss was like the peck Of
q bird of prey-so cold and hard did
it seem against Laura's cheek.
"Mothcr!" whispered Laura, soft
ly. ......... -. - 80.
II am very glad to sec you, Mrs.
Charles" said the old lady.
/ $50 you are Charles new wife
hey?" said Farmer Page, from the
sitting-room; and tall, well-grown
girl, too. Come in, come in! Tea $
most ready, and l dare say you'll
be glad of a cup
There was something that passed
like the chilled breath of an iceberg
across Laura's heart as she entered,
leaning on her husbands arm. 1t
was not the welcome she had ex-
pected and hoped for; and involun-
tarily she felt that her mether-in-
laws cold, criticising eye was upon
her, and with no favorable glance.
Il suppose you've been brought
up to work? said Mrs. Page, senior.
No; Laura could not say that she
had. ~ 49, s.4. srsna.u
Can you wash and iron your
husbands shirt's?" ., r.
"No."
"Can you make bread?' ...~ +,
Il have never tried. :" aas
"Cannot you cook at all?" s~~r
II am afraid not, ma IN. y ID 3
''Hump!" ..... r. os4 q
At this stage. Charles. who had
been watching the deepening color
on Laura's cheek with some annoy
ance. broke in:
"But she can quote two Or three
different languages, mother, and
paint beautifully; and I wish you
could read some Of the poetry she
has written. saa s....- sasi.f.
"Humph!" again calculated the
mother-in-law: Languages, paint
ing and poetry stuff won't make the
kettle boil, you'll find, young lady. "
4 "She has taught in seminary,
mother" the young husband inter
posed, "where she had no opportu.
nifty to learn the useful things you
speak Of. All in good time. Rome
wasn't built in day. 5o e
But Mrs. Page, with her thin lips
set close togsther. was busying her.
self about the tea-tablo.I She need
not have taken the trouble. Laura 4
appetite yss pretty efectually de.
stroyed. sRA9 nst58s
Como, darling, ''osaid Charles,
Fl want to show you the path to
the spring in the woods I'D
Old Mrs. Page looked contemptu.
ously after them. . hEa 80 ~ %
That's sll she's worth, she NUT,
tered, Ito look at pretty things and
listen to honeyed speeches. | won
der whore Hiram Page would be nov
If had been cut out after that
pattern?" gtss h
In short. it was an indefinite re,
lief all round when the short visit
came to IN end. and Charles tool
bis young wife back to his home
Laura was depressed and melanohol,
and Charles, though he would moi
have confessed it, even to himself
Was little prejudiced BY the strong
opiaions expressed BY both father
! and mother on the subject Of hil
m atrimonisl choice. = asfG4
Scarcely six months had passed