Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-12-21
MiseeIlaneous. q
Sues Mother-in law.
BY ROSE TERRY COOKE.

BY ROSE TERRY COOKE.
oh, NANNY. il he was an orphan, |
would say yes tomorrow; but / hate-I
hate the idea ofa mother. .in-law.'
You might poison her, my dear, dryly
remarked Mrs. DE Groot. stately Old
lady. with snow white hair, and any
amount OF Mechlin lace about her throat
aud wrists and over her soft black silk
dress.
But really, you dreadful old dear, you
know il will be awful sighed Sue, pass
ing her little hands wearily through the
dark frInges above her forehead.
MY DEAR said Mrs. De Groot. you are
speaking in a very ill-bred way; but let
that rest. have no idea you will ever be
troubled with Mr.. Gray's mother. You
will not marry him, y girl who is daunt-
ed BY a mother-in-law does not love the
son enough 10 marry him.
Sues pretty face flushed. Poor little
soul, she never had yet known what love
was but she liked Mr.. Gray well enough.
He was a rich, kindly, pleasant man whom
she had always known; and when he ask
ed her 10 marry him. she should refuse.
She hated TO hurt bis feelings; and sud-
denly she remembered his mother, dis
agreeable old lady. who ruled and reigned
over all her family and only did not tyran-
nize over John because he lived the life OF
bachelor in the city and boarded at ho-
tel.
But here was a reason for Sue, and her
mothers word sank deep into her con-
sciousness. She gathered courage to say
no. and year after found herself absorb
ed. heart and soul, 10 real love affair,
and accepted Harry Tempest, young
but rising lawyer. with q kind geBerous,
frank nature, and a dark handsome face,
without remembering that he had not on
ly q mother, but widowed mother, who
lived with him, and could not possibly be
ignored or set aside, since Harry was an
only child. Ii is true, Sue had never seen
her, for during her six mouths acquain-
tance with Harry Mrs, Tempest had been
at the West nursing sister who was al
death sdoor withcomsumption land II Harry
had not said much about her to Sue. II
was that other and more absorbing themes
naturally occupied them.
Mrs. DE Groot smiled when Susan laid
her fair head in her lap and recited TO her
the tale of her engagement for she had seen
the end from the beginning, and had shed
her own tears privately. She had other
children beside Sue; but this was her dar-
ling, her baby, her pet always; and sue
a pang as mothers know went throug h
her heart when she saw the inevitable sep
aration approaching, but she had the
courage and the goodness to smile and
sympathize when the girl poured Out
this genuine passion, and threw herself,
with bushes and tears, into the arms
that could never fail her while they were
instinct with life.
After the confidence was done with.
and Sue had quilted both tears and JOY
Mrs. De GroOt bethought; herself of the
tat, of air
or the likeness OF il on the carpet, and
said, with the quaintest smile and
| accent. at once gentle and mischievous,
Has Mr.. Tempest a mother. SueT
oh yes. She isn't here now. never
saw her. She is in Chicago with her sis
| ter
What are you going to do about her I?
asked her mother.
| Oh. NANNY. | never thought about her
and she lives with him. How sorry | am
Blu, guess she will be NICE
She NAV be very nice to Harry, my dear
So was Mr.. Grsy's mother to him..
'Tm sure she can't be so disagreeable al
old Mrs. Gray pouted Sue, who was
little spoiled. to tell the trurh.
Susan said Mrs. De Groot. with con
siderable gravity. i want you to look this
thing In the face. You are young gir
| gong 10 " new wan fSot''
whom as yet you know nothing about. Nov
take a little bit OF advice. Look At your
self. not at Mrs. Tempest, when you come
to live together You know you have hae
am easy life with nobody to thwart you
plans and purposes. Now begin to SCI
if you are really lady, or only pre-
tense
You think I ought to bear every thing
do you, nanny, and never peep or not
terT
No; but | want you to treat you
motber-in-law as one lady should trea
another. Don't recriminate If she talks .
you, for that Is vulgar-ill-bred In the ex
treme. Don't give up your just position
either with your husband or In the family
Respect yourself, Sue, and you force re
spect from others
oh dear! 1 wish there weren't an.
mothers-iu.law In the world: pesvishl
calculated the girl.
Then l should be exterminated with tn
! rest smiled her mother.
But you are so different. nanny"
i had an awful lesson, Sue, when wa
young. You know your uncle TOT
| married Posy Schuyler when be was