The Osceola times., 1877-02-03
SUES MOTHER-IN-LAW.

40 nanny, il he only was an orphan
would say yes tomorrow but hate
hate the idea Of mother-in-law."
"You might poison her, my dear, u
dryly remarked Mrs. De Groot, a stately
old lady, with snow-white hair, and any
amount of Mechlin lace about her throat
and wrists over her soft black silk dress.
"But really, you dreadful old dear,
you know it will be awful" sighed Sue,
passing her little hands wearily through
the dark fringes above her forehead.
"My dear" said Mrs. DE GrOot, "you
are speaking in very i'll bred way; but
let that rest. have no idea that you
will ever be troubled with Mr.. Grey's
mother. You will not marry him. A
girl who is daunted by mothcri in-law
does not love the son enough to marry
him."
Sues pretty face flushed. Poor little
soul, she had never yet known what love
was; but she liked Mr.. Grey well enough.
He was rich, kindly, pleasant man
whom she had always known; and when
he had asked her to marry him she did
not know why she should refuse She
hated to hurt his feelings; and suddenly
she remembered his mother, disagree
able old lady, who ruled and reigned
over all her family, and only did not
tyrannixe over John because he lived the
life Of a bachelor in the city and boarded
at n hotel.
But here Was reason for Sue, aud
her mothers words sank deeply into her
consciousness. She. gathered courage TO
say no, and year after found herself
absorbed, heart and soul, in real love
affair, and accepted Harry Tempest, a
young and rising lawyer, with kind,
generous, frank nature, and dark,
handsome face, without remembering
that he had not only mother, but a
widowed mother, who lived with him,
and could not possibly be ignored or set
aside, since Harry was an only child. IL
is true Sue had never seen her, for, du-
ring her six months acquaintance with
Harry, Mrs. Tempest had been at the
door with consumption and il Harry
had not said much about her 10 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 besides Sue; but
this was her darling her baby, her pet
always; and such pang M mothers
know went through her heart when she
saw the inevitable separation approach
ing, but she had the courage and the
goodness to smile and sympathize when
the girl poured out this genuine passion,
and threw heself, 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 quietcd both tears and joy,
Mrs. dc Groot bethought herself OF the
last time there had been such an affair,
or the likeness Of ii, on the carpet, and
said with the faintest smile, and accent
at once gentle and mischievous: "Ilas
Mr.. Tempest mother, Sue?"
80 yes! She isn't here now. never
saw her. She is in Chicago with her
sister"
What are you going to do about herr"
asked her mother
nee< and she lives with him. How sorry
lam! But ! guess she will be nice"
'She may be very nice TO Harry, my
dear. SO was Mr.. Grey's mother to him.
I'm sure she can't be 80 disagrceablc as
old Mrs. Grey" pouted Sue, vino was a
little spoiled, 10 tell the truth.
"Susan," said Mrs. DE Groot, with
considerable gravity, l want you to
look this thing in the face. You are a
young girl going 10 new home, with
nov people whom as yet you know moth
ing about. Now take little bit of ad-
vice. Look at yourself, now at Mrs.
Tempest, when you come 10 live together
You know you have had an easy life,
with nobody to thwart your plans and
purposes. Now begin TO see il you are
really lady, or only pretcnsc."
"YOu think ought to bear every
thing, do you, NANNY, and never peep
or muttery"
"No; but | want you to treat your
mother-i r-in-law as one lady should treat
another. Don't recriminate if she talks
at you, for that is vulgar-ill-bred in the
extreme. Don't give up your just posi-
ton, either with your husband or in the
family. Respect yourself, Sue, and you
forcs respect from others"
40 dear! l wish there weren't any
mothersin-law in the world = peevishly
calculated the girl.
"Then l should be exterminated with
the rest" smiled her mother.
.Rut you are 30 different, nanny"
~ had an awful lesson, Sue, when
v.s Young. You know your uncle Tom
,.rt;sd Pcsy Schuyler when he was a
vsrv Young man, and she aSonly seven.
ssswEiust my own age. You" .,1s1r
Sss ricsass 10 the iibrss d,easured Ell
a6 u that l2y0 q the WING
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