Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-01-17

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shall take all possible pains to convince
him of his error. Beside, you know
that this is an affair of your own; if
he proves to be as disagreeable as a
hedgehog. / shan't have to live with
him. You have right to choose for
yourself, and it seems you have
chosen. All that remains for me to
do is to make you both as happy as
possible"
Mrs. Hampton not only extended a
cordial invitation to Mr.. Wade to visit
them frequently, but instructed Vir-
ginia's brothers to do the same, and
ere long he became almost constant
visitor. Mrs. Hampton always spoke
OF him to Virginia as her intended
husband, and when an invitation from
| his sisters came for Virginia to spend
a week with them, the mother ac-
cepted it at once, without consulting
the young lady herself.
cit will be an excellent opportunity
for you to become accustomed to the
ways of the family" she said "you
may be obliged to live with them
awhile, for you know that Harvey is
not able to begin housekeeping upon
his own account, just yet, and al
though we will do as well as we can
by you, we could not fit you out with
, an establishment OF your own at pres
, ent, and you need feel no delicacy
about going, for Harvey will not be at
home this week"
8 wish you had consulted me be-
fore you sent reply" said Virginia,
pettishly, but nevertheless she went.
"How did you enjoy your visit %
asked Mrs. Hampton, when her daugh-
ter returned.
"Well enough" answered Virginia,
evasively, and Mrs. Hampton OBJ
served that she was becoming more 81
lent and thoughtful than she had ever
been before.
81 don't like Mrs. Wade,' she said,
few days afterward.
"Why not % asked her mother.
Because she is an overbearing and
disagreeable person. answered the
girl.
"Why, Virginia. exclaimed her
mother, "that will never do; you
must not speak in such manner of
your future mother-in-law. What
would your intended husband think of
such remark concerning his mother? %
81 believe she thinks that Harvey
can have me for the asking"
Well, she is correct enough in her
opinions, isn't she? lou need not be
offended at that" Virginia stood
looking out of the window in con-
temptuous silence, and her mother
continued: "You must learn to adapt
yourself to the reculiarities of the
family, and remember that your duty
to your intended husband requires you
to overlook any little unpleasantness
in his mothers disposition
Virginia left the room in angry 81
lence. That night Harvey Wade came
in to spend the evening with Virginia
and her brothers, and she was visibly
annoyed when she saw him coming.
She did not receive him any too cor
daily, but whatever might have been
lacking in her reception, was fully
made up by the sociability of the
mother.
"Ycu treated your intended hus-
band most too coolly last evening, Vir-
ginia,' said Mrs. Hampton on the fol-
lowing morning.
You didn't" answered Virginia,
CURLY.
q hope not, answered Mrs. Hamp-
ton, smiling. 81 am sure that / don't
want my future son-in-law to have an
unfavorable impression of me-
q do wish you wouldn't be so
dreadfully sociable to him, mother"
said Virginia, petulantly. He will
think"
THAT / will make one of the best
of mothers-in-law," interrupted Mrs.
Hampton.
Virginia threw down her sewing
with gesture of Impotence, and left
the room.
a few evenings later some young
friends were spending the evening
with the Hamptons, and among them
a young gentleman whom Virginia's
oldest brother introduced as a friend
of his and she was in the midst of an
entertalng conversation with him,
when Harvey Wade came in, and took
a seat by Virginia's side with an air
Of ownership which annoyed her
greatly. She was beginning to weary
OF his monotonous conversation, for
there was vast difference between
listening to him semi-occasionally, as
she used to do, and having him con-
stantly near her until all his subjects
were worn threadbare.
Her mother did not fail to notice
the annoyed expression Of her counte-
nance, and the next morning gave her
lecture upon the wickedness OF listen
ing to the conversation of another
with more interest than she did to
that of her intended husband.