The Van Buren press., 1875-05-04
The Mother in Law.

L know shall not like it, Charles, and
there's no use proposing it to me-
Charles Delaford looked down ws'h a
perturbed and troubled countenancc into
the radiant blue eyes OF the beautiful girl
whom he had vowed, before Gods altar
scarcely a month ago, to love, honor,
and cherish until death did them part.
1t was fair, child like face, with pro
fusion Of sunshiny brown curls, hanging
around it, lips like scarlet pomegranate
blossom, and large, blue eyes, yet there
came sort of frown upon Charles Della
ford's brow as he looked at it.
Mary said he, slowly, was not
prepared for this.
'Well,you might have been, petulanty
retorted the bride, Everybody knows
that mother in law is the worst possible
element to introduce into newly organ
lied ONE
And, he went on, speaking in the
same low, repressed tone Of voice, al
ways supposed that when | married, my
wife would be willing to extend all the
privileges Of home to my widowed
mother
Mrs Delarord burst into tears, the first
bright drops that had yet obscured the
horizon Of their married life. Her hus-
band looked at her with solicitous eyes.
Mary My pet! My darllng!'
Il can't help it., she sobbed. ITS all
that horrid vision Of mother-in law.
And | never, never will consent! They
are all medding, mischief making old
harridans that count the candles and lee
ture one on domestic economy, and
Mary, you forget that you are speak
ing Of my mother!
But she shook her pretty, defiant
head.
"A mothcr-in.law! 0, Charley, ]
would rather not have home il it is to
be darkened by such proverbial incubus
am your wife my influence should be
first and greatest
so it shall be, darling, always! he
coaxed 'Only---'
mo onles, if you please she retort-
ed, playfully, yet with an undercurrent OF
the deepest meaning in her tone. must
be the first, last and only power in the
/
sent to mount the throne. What say ou,
my hcge lord ?
Il don't know what to say, Mary, he
answered gravcly, except that am deep
ly, cruelty disappointed in a hope that lay
very near my heartH
lie turned away with a sigh, and went
to his own apartment, leaving Mary sit
ting on the hotel veranda, watching the
glitter Of the sunset on the waves. She
looked wstfuliy after him
He will get over it, she said to her.
self 1T is an ordeal through which all
wives are compelled to pass, sooner or
later. And, after all, he didn't make near
such n fuss about it as ! expected he
would One thing is quite certain; | will
never tolerate the tyranny and dominion
Of mother in law
And thus. while the pretty young wife
thus medtated, her husband was sitting
at his writing desk, biting the handle OF
his pen, and wondering how he should
ever &c, any farther with his letter than !:
My dear mother
For it was not pleasant task, this
telling his only surviving parent that he,
her only son, could not make home for
her
However, it was written, after some
fashion, and sent Off.
And in two or three days, the answer
came back:
MY DEAR Boy: You were quite right In
your decision. or course regret deeply that
Mary feels so, but agree with her that the
wife should be first in all things Give her
my love- and believe me. ever.
Your ailectionate mother,
ELEANOR BRADFORD.
Without word, Charles Deaford
showed the brief, kind letter to his wife.
A self condemning flush came to Mary S
cheek as she read it.
She is certainly very sensible said
the bride, and cant help thinking she
must be nice But still, Charley, she is a
mother.in law!
And she danced away to get ready for
dinner.
She will be wisar, some day. said
Charles Dclaford,to himself, as the sound
of her fairy footsteps died away on the
soit carpetod lloor.
But, Charley, why are you taking me
across the mountains ! asked Mrs Della
| ford, two or three days afterwards. |
didn't know we were coming among the
mountains
Because it is nearer way to our
summer home. darling; and because
thought you would enjoy this grand and
sublime scenery Il
Home!' echoed Mary, clasping her
tiny gloyed hands together. 20, Char
ley, begin SO to long to cross its thresh.
old. Tell me. shall we reach it soon ?
Very soon, hope
Tell me, what it is like
We'll, it's Gothic cottage, full of pi
azzas and gable ends, and SO ovcrgrown