Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1874-09-19
Whose Fault Was It?

quiet farn-nCuSe now VIII EtSHs Va "'
and fresh air"
1.-The very thingw cried Mr.. Meredith Pei
ham, iubilan,!y. my mother is here visiting
us nOw-My mother. who lives in superb
old stone farmhouse, up in Dutchess county,
right among the woods and hay-felds Nella
shall go there !"
"Or, if she won't 60" said DR.. Daventry,
i" why l must prescribe little old Bourbon
whiskey, night and morning
"Old Bourbon whiskey!" echoed Mr.. Pei
ham, rather obviously. Isn't that little
Just little, you know"
"No, a, all. my good sir not at all. said
DR.. Daventry. at is quite universe! now a
days. You'll find that it will work like q
charm"
And away hurried Dr. Daventfy to prescribe
for the next fair aristocrat who was i'll Of
crushed rose-leaf.
Mrs. Meredith Pelham lay on her sofa, look
very charming in blue silk wrapper trimmed
with swansdown, and the tiniest Of blue satin
slippers, while her luxuriant hair, tied with
blue ribbon, shone like spun gold. She was
bell and beauty, and a spoiled chld-and
in all these capacities she demanded the nndi-
vided homage Of her social sphere.
While Mrs. Job Pelham. her mother-in-law,
one Of those comfortable old ladies who cover
the path of old age with sunshine, sat by,
knitting.
You'll GO, Nella ?" she coaxed. when she
heard the doctors fat concerning country cir
and quiet You don't know how delightful
i. is there, with trout-brook just back Of the
house, aud great elm trees all around.
"I hate the country "pouted Mrs. Meredith.
" And should be separated from Meredith.
" I could come up every Saturday night. and
stay till Monday morning" suggested Mr.. Pei
ham.
THAT'S all you care for my society" whim-
pered Mrs Nela Il might os well die, and
he do-o-ne with itl'
"Eella, my dove, my precious pet. coaxed
Mr. Pelham-and under the Influence OF his
carcsses she frightened up again.
No. dear, didn't mean it, said she. Il
know you love me, and SO does mamma-only
the country is such bore. II it was Long
Branch, now, or the White Mountains, or even
Saratoga"
"My dear. DR.. Daventry won't hear Of ii.
Don't yon think you could manage to content
yourself in the country for few weeks if"
al should die" Nella declared-and then
Mr.. Pelham broached the second suggestion OF
the fashionable physician.
At this the elder Mrs Pelham looked grave.
Wine and whiskey," said she. IL may be
the fashion nowadays. but it don't sound
right"
And she demonstrated seriously with her
son Meredith, when pretty Nella had gone up
to dress for drive.
Mother, you are taking the affair too, Sc
rously, said the young man. laughing. DR..
Daventry assures me that Il is quite a COM
mon thing"
Yes" said Mrs relbam, "and 50 is drunk
enness common thing"
Mother
"I can't help it, said the old lady. " Plain
talk is best suited for plain facts, and If you
and your wife prefer to cultivate this fatal
habit IN preference 10 country air, because the
latter chances to be little dull, you must
take the consequences"
And for the frs. time in his life, Meredith
Pelham was seriously angry with his mother,
and that old lady returned TO the elm-shaded
Dutchess country farming house. so TO speak, 10
disgrace with her son aud his pretty doll Of
wife.
"I can't help it," persisted Mrs job Pei
ham. "Its what think and thoughts can't
be chained up, do what one will"
Three months afterward, as the red and
russo, autumn leave were beginning 10 jewel
the grass around the farmhouse steps, Mere
dth Pelham came upto Dutchess county.
Mother" said he, may bring Nella here
for a while?"
"And welcome 70 said the oll lady, beam
ingly. How is she %
"She is better 10 some respects" Meredith
answered, reluctantly " but-mother, you
were night. She Is growing too fond Of The
fatal medicine want to get her away from
the sound Of champagne parties. balls and
soirees. want 10 divert the current Of her
habits You'll help me mother, won't you?"
Mrs. Pelham was wise old dame. She
never said. " told you So" She only answer
ed
Yes, Meredith, yes, III DO my best to help
you. But God! what a terrible risk TO
ruo :"
And involuntarily. she clasPedher bands over
her eyes.
Ne.la came the next week, apparently The
same as ever, excep, that there was deeper
flush upon her check, an uuwonted sparkle in
her sea-blue eyes.
"so ridiculous Of Meredith she laughed.
to think need country air. Hori But !
came, mother dear to please him"
While Meredith Pelham whispered in bis
mothers ear, with tha. troubled, careworn
look which had lately become habitual to bis
face