The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-12-13

room of the London Wanderers, Val COM
municated the fact that he was about to be
married, and that his betrothed's mother
would take up her abode with him; to
which responded Price, shaking the ashes
from his brier-root and refiliing:
"It'll never do; you'll find all sorts of
little things at present undreamed of crop
up to disturb your happiness. Of course,
it makes difference the lady being your
wifes MOTHER and not your own; but take
my advice, and provide for the old lady in
some other way"
"But she isn't an old lady. She's a
robust, active woman, fond of taking
leading part in all that is going on, and
thoroughly devoted to us BOTH"
"That's where the mischief lies. She'll
be SO anxious for your interests that she
won't let either of you have a moments
peace. However, l don't want to supply
wet blanket for any of your plans, which
have doubtless been we'll considered. l
have given you my advice, so now suppose
we change the subject
With that the sage took up the evening
paper and turned the conversation; but
Val was silent and self-absorbed, and soon
after departed to his own lodging, feeling
not quite so we'll satisfied with the wisdom
of the little arrangement respecting Mrs.
Hopes domicile as he had been when he
set out.
Later on, however, when he reached the
abode of his betrothed, and was greeted
BY his prospective mother-in- laws beam
care and maternal pride with which she
regarded Felicia, Valentine Hardy, good
fellow as he was, had not the heart to COM
municate his fears. Perhaps, after all
Prices opinion was not worth having; and
even were it a fact that young wives were,
in the conduct of their new households, as
rule best left TO themselves, his Felicia
was different from the ordinary run of
effectually hides from us the imperfections
of the one being dearest to our heart? So
Val Hardy. despite sundry disagreeable
inward promptings, remained faithful to
the plan he had himself proposed, threw
up the society of the London Wanderers,
got married, and, on the expiry Of the
honeymoon, brought Felicia to their new
home in Minerva terrace, finding every
thing prepared for their reception, and
Mrs Hope thoroughly installed.
The position Mrs. Hope had assumed she
firmly maintained. Solely to save the
young people trouble, she had taken upon
herself the entire arrangement Of the
furniture: she had been engaged in wordy
contest with the landlord relative to sun
dry details of withdrawing, paper hang
ing, and painting, and, of course, had
carried her every point. The servants were
of her own engaging; she had decided
upon the butcher, baker, and milkman of
the neighborhood to be patronized; a
gardener had been spoken to relative to
periodical visits to the small space of
ground in the rear Of the house, and had
already planted the flowers Mrs. Hope
thought most suitable; in short, all Felicia
and Val had to do was to return to be well
coined by their happy and now all power
full mamma. Mrs. Hope kept the keys;
Mrs. Hope ordered and dispensed every
thing. In point of fact, Mrs. Hope was
mistress of all she surveyed.
Now, for time, this was pleasant
enough. The doting young husband had
ne thought of any thing or any ono but
his Felicia, and did not want to DO bother
ed with household details, while his beauti-
full spouse regarded her mammals efforts
with every token of thankfulness. But
by and by came change. The fervid sun
ny days of Summer yielded to the chllls
of Winter; the opera season was at an end;
there were no pleasant walks of an even
ing in by-paths Of kensington Gardens;
the flower shows were over, and it was
cheerful after tea to sit by the warm fire.
side and enjoy the comforts of home. At
this period was it that Felicia began to
realize she was little more than g yis,tot IN
her oyu pleasant palace, while Val sud
denly made the discovery that the real
director of the household was his mother
in-law. The young couple would not at
first acknowledge the mistake they had
committed; but, on one siIssiai qeeasiop,
after Mrs. Hope had had particularly
fatigYing day Of it, and had scurried the
servants from room to room until aymp-
tn,nS n nhpli in bo
lower regions of the house, Val ventured
to hint to his wife that he thought it would
be all the better if she took more active
part in the domestic arrangements; at
"h''" "- I'D burst into tears and admit
ted that she felt disappointed at rot beng
allowed herself to hold the reins Of govern
ment. What was to be done? Mamma
was so kind and considerate in relieving
her of all worry and harass, and then,
again, mamma managed the servants SO
well. Hqth huslana and wife readily sd-
mitted that all Mrs. Hopes services were
like those performed by the celebrated
Mrs. Gargery, s"lAly out of :" that good
ness of her heart;' still, the state of affairs
l
was not satisfactory. Weeks passed on,
and tho situation remained nnaltered:-~-
Once, indeed, Val had, at breakfast-time,
timidly limited that he thought it shame
so much responsibility should be thrown
upon Mrs. Hope; but she would not let him
| finish his sentence. A tear rose to her
soft brown eyes, and, placing her hand
upon his, she murmured, " No, dear VAL
entine, do not think ] feel any weight of
care or responsibility. 1twas by your wish
1 came into this house, and the thought of
| living with my child after she became
another's has made me inexpressibly hap
py. For years past looked forward with
dread to the day when her hand would be
sought in marriage, and when my eyes
! would cease to be gladdened by her pres
| ence bat st occasional and perhaps long
intervals. You, Valentine. dissipated my
fears; she is still my child, and Though |
have resigned her to your care, she is no
more a stranger to me than when she rest
ed upon nv bosom, All do in this house