Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1876-03-29

rfor.
"Charlotte, Charlotte! what does this
mean ?" he exclaims. "Who has brought
about this terrible revolution?"
The wife approached with loving
smile, striving to hide her embarrass-
ment.
"Dear Charles, my mamma thinks
the room looks so much better this
way"
"Better!" exclaimed Simson. "Why.
we will freeze on the sofa in winter,
over there, and be broiled by the sun in
summer. And-my dear-I do not
comprehend-I was under the impress
sion this was our own, not your moth
er's room. hope 1 am at liberty TO
use my own taste and judgment in its
arrangement, and l trust she has not
constituted herself my guardian"
He is going excitedly to work to re-
arrange things. Charlotte clutches his
arm t-emblingly.
80 dear, dear Charley! You will
offend mamma! Please, for my sake,
leave them just for today
She put her little hands on his cheeks
and her rosy lips to his mouth. The
tempter has conquered-he clasps her
in his arms.
"Well, for your sake, my angel, Twill
leave them; but | do hope your mamma
will please to mind her own affairs, you
know, darling"
1t is meal time. The mother-in-law
sails i'm and seats herself at the table
with silent grandeur. She nips her
food. Simson is delighted when the
meal is over, trusting the highborn lady
will betake herself to her own room,
for he is vexed i'm spite of himself at
her remarkable industry during his
absence to-day.
Even his wife acts somewhat subdued
in her presence.
Good gracious. is it possible? The
lady takes a seat on the sofa, draws her
knitting out of her pocket, puts on her
spectacles, and assumes position, COM
Portable and resigned, as if she had
taken up her quarters on the cozy sofa
for the next year and a half.
Simson stares at the knitting in
speechless agony. No doubt Of ii, the
old lady is going to grant them the
pleasure of her company the whole
evening.
Charlotte takes a chair near her
mamma.
Simson measures the room with rapid
pace, to aid him i'm Disgusting his-ex-
cessive joy. He lights cigar; scarcely
has he taken a Whit when the lady be-
gan to sniff and scent the air, while
from under her glasses she flashes
glance at him and then at her daughter.
"Dear Charley" pleaded his confused
little wife, "Mamma cannot endure
smoke"
"You assured me, Charlotte, that you
liked me to SMOKE" he replied.
81 debut mamma?" she says look
ing at him so tenderly, supplicatingly.
He is not quite decided whether to
sacrifice his cigar or his mother-in-law.
He slips to the window, opens it with a
bang, but he only throws out the cigar.
With increased rapidity he resumed
his march, his blood boiling; an egg
could have been poached i'm it. Truly,
this is a promising beginning, not be
allowed to smoke in his own house,
The captains lady glances sharply at
him again, then at Charlotte, who does
not appear to comprehend until it is
renewed with decided impressiveness.
"Dear Charley, mamma cannot toler-
ate that incessant walking back and
FORTH" the wife implores with flush
of distress on her pretty face.
'.Please come and sit down here by
me will you?"
Simson bites his lips and grits his
teeth savagely, then exclaims: ''Oh,
of coursei certainly why not" He
bounces into chair with such violence
that it groans at every joint. Charlotte
knows why he is so vexed, and tries t6
divert him by every conceivable device
of her gentle heart until his brow il
clear once more under her tender influ'
ence, and he no longer observes hi;
mother-in-law's drawndown mouth mol
her searching glance, nor the hateful
click of her knitting-needles. By ant
by Charlotte asked him jestinglv, wha
he would like for dinner on the morrow
The DANES head is suddenly erected
"Child, you forget that we have already
decided on to-morrow's dinner" sh'
said, coldly.
"But, mamma. maybe Charles hal
some favorite dish," the wife replied
shyly.
ssMy child, i'm well regulated families
special wishes cannot be observed, bu
must be subservient to rules" was th'
lady's answer.
Simson beat tattoo on the back o
his chair. He had disposition TO asl
her if he was her guest, OF vice versa
but he restrained, saying, as he caugh
Charlotte's imploring glance, 81 shal
not be home to dinner; a particula
friend has also invited me to breakfas
in the morning. At all events, L shal
not be at home"
The clock strikes ten. The knitting
is rolled together and Madam Beye
takes her departure with stately bow
Simson gives sigh of infinite relief
Charlotte throws her arms around hin
a moment, then runs and lights ciga
for him, saying, ''dear, dear Charley
don't be cross, dom be prOvoked!' W Cal
cloud of anger rest on his brow afte
that? But his last thoughts on goin'
to sleep were of the various stories b
had heard about awful mothers-in-law
The following day he was enlightene
about the character Of his mOther-in
law. She was proud, dOmineering
sensitive and presuming. She is mas
ter, and evidently had an idea tina
Simson was eternally indebted to he
for giving him her daughter. War
declared the very next day between tn
two. He is anxious to spare his wife
but the mothers presumption is into
erable; but for CharlOtte's sake tn
battle is conducted in silence. Whe
he found that 10 O'Clock was her hou
for retiring, he set the clock an hou
ahead. She soon discovers this and re
mains until IL o'clock. SimsOn acte
as if he did not notice 1t, but smoked
vigorously that he nearly blinded him
self.
The old dame accustomed herself to
nobly. He replaces the furniture
his liking, and every time he come
home, the chairs stand ranged again'
the wall again, like line of grenadier
on duty. At the expiration of tw
} weeks the old lady is boss Of the estaf
|, lishment. The servant Obeys only bel
Charlotte is treated like a child in he
"teens." The old lady commands an
the old lady knows everything bette
than anybody else. The young eoupII
can have no enjoyment without her.
Charlotte desires to visit the theatre
the mamma stands unmasked and uL