The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-06-22

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the truth. "Mother devoted her life
to her family, and if it had not been for
the economy you despise, might not
have had so much money for wasting
now."
But poor Nellie, much too fond of her
husband to find quarreling anything but
misery, was fairly vanquished by this
time, and retired in tears, leaving the
inglorious victor to draw checks for the
bills, and to soothe his disturbed con-
science by resolving to buy his wife q
new pair of bracelets that very day.
So the thing had been going on, some
times better, sometimes worse-Nellie
fairly disheartcned at the malign infu-
ence that her mother in law, though so
far distant. seemed to exercise over her
life; Frank utterly perplexed by the
storm that followed every allusion to his
mothers ways, every quotation of her
maxims.
He never dreamed of the pain he was
inhicting, or of the injustice of his con-
slant comparisons; and so, never imag-
| ining that he could be to blame, he at.
triIsuted all the dissensions that were
fast imbittering their lives to Nellie's
| temper.
"Strange, she always seemed so ami
able and gentle at home, that she should
prove so capricious and irritable now,"
| he said to himself on more than one oc-
casion; and he was fast settling into the
| belief that he was a model husband,
with most perversely tempered wife,
when fortunate accident showed him
the truth so forcibly that he was fain to
accept the lesson.
The first anniversary of their mar
riage was close at hand, and Nellie had
planned q pleasant surprise for her hus-
band in the share of dinner party
composed of six of his most particular
friends.
Everything was succeeding finely.
| The invitations were all accepted and the
guests pledged to secrecy, the menu was
Of the daintiest, and her new dinner
dress, reserved for this occasion, un-
usually becoming, when, on the very
morning OF the eventful day, Frank
pulled letter out of his overcoat pocket
as he was leaving the house, saying at
the same time:
"There, Nellie, l forgot to tell you
last night, but mother wrote yesterday
to say that you may expect her this af
ternoon. The fact is, I invited her to
spend our wedding anniversary with us;
but I wouldn't tell you before, thinking
to give you q pleasant surprise. Now
you can have a room in readiness, MS she
will arrive about four o'clock, and will
meet her at the boat and bring her up
here. Goodbye, little woman;" and
Frank departed, serenely unconscious
of the vexation and dismay he left be-
hind.
Poor Nellie thrust the unwelcome let
ter into her pocket without reading it,
and then hunying to her bedroom,
locked tho door and sat down to have a
good cry.
Nellie had never seen Mrs. Chester
until her wedding day, and even then
she had found little to please her in the
tall, angular, prim hammered woman who
offered such decided contrast to Der
handsome, lively son, with his genial
temper and ready wit.
Frank had done his best on that occa-
sion tc be cordial for both, but, though
he was much too happy to see it. the
two ladies had been as frigid as their re-
lationship allowed them to be, aud the
year that had passed had not brought
them nearer together.
All this and more passed through
poor Nellie's mind before she wiped
away her.tears and begun to think of all
that yet remained to be done, aud of the
impossibility of appearing at her dinner
table with red eyes.
"At least" she said to herself, "I
will not let this day be marred by any
i'll temper. will try, for Franks sake,
to welcome his mother, and no matter
how she may criticise, l will be ami
able"
But another and far graver sorrow
awaited the poor little woman, for just
as she rose from the table telegram
was placed in her hand, and, with a sud
den presage of i'll, she tore open the
envelope. Her fears were confirmed 4;
the dispatch was from her father, to an
nounce the sudden and perhaps fatal i'll
ness of her mother. and urging her to
lose no time if she would see her once
more. With shaking hands and sinking
heart, Nellie made her preparations for
immediate departure. Her husband,
who had received similar message, was
speedily at home, and made every
arrangement for her comfort, soothing
her as far as possible with hopeful words,
and so loving and sympathetic withal
that Nellie felt it doubly hard to leave
him.
eff 1 could possibly leave my bust
ness on such short notice, you should
not go alone, little WHEY but you may
depend on seeing me in day or two,
and meanwhile you must write and tele-
graph constantly" he said.
"And if Gas L hardly dare to hope)
mother should be better, you need not
come until next week but be sure to
write to me every day, for 1 shall find so
much comfort in your letters, said Mel
lie, eagerly.
The promise was given, and then she
suddenly remembered the dinner party,
which could no longer be kept secret, SO
her intended surprise was unfolded to
her husband.
81 did not mean to let you know about
it until you came home tonight" she
said, smiling family at his thanks for
this proof of her loving thoughtfulness.
"And what a sad ending to your pleas
ant little schemel" he added, "and
what am l to do without you, darling ?
Do you think / could let them know in
time not to come"
Nellie shook her head. Impossible,
Frank; it is nearly five now, and they
were invited for six o'clock. Besides,
you will have barely time to meet your
mother now; you will have to drive fast,
after leaving me at the cars, if you want
to meet the boat"
That's true" said Frank, Choking