Litchfield enquirer., 1872-07-11

he came to condOle with me on my new loss. | did not, however, feel any the more amiable toward my father-in-law.
 s'This is the second time, Tom" said I, that my domestic peace has suffered from the same social torment. If Maria should die. continued, solemnly, sstake warn. ing by my fate, and turn your back upon any woman who is not an orphan; and, above all, never permit father-in-law on Gny pretense aUbate0er" ss ssCharley, nssaid he, nodding his head impressiyely, 'I have had my own trou- bles, as you know. No man can have had harder time than had with my wife's mother; but the poor woman is very old now, so will say no more at present" 1t IS hafdly necessary to say that, after what had happened, the idea of feeling even passing interest in another woman was abhorrent to me. summed society completely, put my two little daughters to school, and for several years devoted myself to my business with all the energy of my nature. At the end of that time Sophia's father, MT. White, finally thought proper to depart this life; and as I then came into quite nice little estate found myself disposed to travel and see the world. Accordingly made the usual tour of travellers through Europe, coming home by way of New Orleans, so asi to get a look at the Southern country after the war.
 Here it was that, in the most unexpect- ed manner, met again my first love, the idol of. my imagination and heart in those early days when neither prudence nor the worlds opinion had much influence on me- She had refused me then, for we were both poor. and her relatives as we'll as mine had prevented even the bliss of short engagement. But now things were different. She was . widow, and in her loneliness was as interesting as she had been in her younger and brighter days. Just at this time met with an accident which confined me almost entirely to the house, and, in consequence, to the hotel parlor Many an hour did my old flame and spend in talking over our strange and eventful past. She showed a great interest in my young daughters, now fast growing up, and gave me so much good advice as to their future welfare, that I came to the conclusion that she was, of all persons, the one to whom the care of their education could best be committed. Accordingly, after having carefully con- vinced myself that she had no near rela- tions living. T said the decisive words, and Ill few short weeks appeared among my friends at home in the not unfamiliar character of happy bridegroom My wife was an admirable manager As far as the proper use of time and money was | concerned, I never had cause to regret that I had installed her at the head of my household; but her first husband, the de- parted Sprinkle, must have been & man of decidedly weak character if he needed the advice and assistance that were solavishly bestowed upon me. However, it might have gone on very nicely if it had not been for Sprinkler's father, or rather, he being dead, Mrs. Slipperton's father-in- law, a-conneetion whom she seemed to cherish with the. devotion of 8 real daugh- ter. confess I felt this very trying, as ] this time had certainly bargained for no wife's relations; but Matilda was woman who would not permit interference.
 Last spring she told me, with sweet smile, that she was going to pass the sum- mer in Paris with her father-in-law. and che hoped I would be able to leave my business and come out for her, even If i could not make it convenient to take the whole journey with them. It was in vain that I coaxed and argued, and at last commanded. Matilda had not gone through all sorts of experiences with men and things for nothing. The dream of her life was to spend a summer in Paris; her father-in-law had invited her to go, and had offered to pay her expenses. was person who in this state of things must either.give way or be pushed aside, and give way l did, of course, though not | with the best grace in the world.
 'It is all the work of that detestable father-in-law ]" said I to Tom, as sat by his parlor fire the evening the steamer l sailed. "Just think of Matilda sacrificing everything to go to Paris with old Sprink- 1 Ter, and leaving me at home alone It is | too much to bearr'
 ''Well, said Tom, who is still sympa- thetic, though his mother-in-law is dead, and his own troubles are all over, ''it is very natural that Matilda should want to go to Paris, particularly as all her expens- es will be paid; but you should have gone along. I think, as she wanted you to. '' "Why, 1 have seen Paris thoroughly; and besides, will have nothing to do with my wife's relations. did not know that was to be saddled with Sprinkler's family, or should have looked before I leaped." ..
 Then it was that Maria, Toms wife, who happened to be present, spoke her mind in a few words which, coming from sen- sible woman, did not fail of their effect. Charley" said she, in a tone that aroused my attention, ''allow me to say that think you, and most men, take a most unwaEranted view of women, and their rights and duties. A woman who has no relations, or who cares nothing for them, is either an exceptional person or a very disagreeable one; she would not love 1 her husband or children, if she did not l L | RoA
 when they are kind and lovable. Don't you see she must be heartless or wicked to have no natural affection? What man could want such wife as that?"
 'sMaria," said I, dextrously changing the point of argument, ':do you mean to say that you approve of the manner in which have been treated by my several fathers-in-law ?" ..s-ss. ..-. | stNo; neither do I approve of the man. ner in which you have treated them. Mir. White was trying, I admit; but he was old, and your impotence with him exas- | perated his temper and made him all the harder to deal with. Sophia did not want tp keep you out of her property so long; but she said she could not trust her father to you, and right she wasr
 ''Wen, said rather severely. "since you are so critical, may I ask what my er- Tor was in regard to MT. Needham ?"
 seWell. Charley said Maria, smiling archly, t'I know you are angry, but for once I will speak my mind; it may do you good, after all; and my mind is, that, when man of your years goes and mar ries little butterfly like Florry Needham he simply makes a fool of himself, and must take all the rest just as it comes. No one in his senses could expect girl like that to make domestic woman and her father made no real difference one l way or the other"
 l ssNow you have only one more criticism to make, said trying to laugh as stood 1 up and buttoned my coat preparatory to
 departure; ''what have you to blame me
 for in my present dilemma y'
 ssThis is case that does not admit of criticism, " said Maria, 'fonly a little friend 1 ly advice; and my advice is" she added,
 ssto make it up with Matilda as soon as | possible. and % out after her in the au-