Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1877-01-18
THE MOTHERS sTRATAGEM.

IN her own concert 10 llSCeu u tuo iSu'
vice of those whom age and relation.
ship entitle to give it, causes to the
hearts of those who unselhshly seek to
guard her welfare"
Such were the reflections of Mrs.
Hampton, as she sat alone in her quiet
room one evening after her young and
pretty daughter had gone out with a
party of acquaintances. These re.
flections were caused by the marked
attentions which a certain young man
was bestowing upon the lovely daugh'
ter for whom the mother felt so much
solicitude.
Harve Wade was handsome young
man of respectable parentage, but Mrs:
Hampton's observing eye had detected
the fact that he possessed disagreeable
characteristics which would cause him
to be an unpleasant companion. and
prevent her daughter from enjoying
that greatest of all earthly blessings. a
happy and harmonious home if she
should become his wife. She did not
dare to let matters take their natural
course, because indications were In
favor Of such a result, and she knew.
also, that there was a strong flavor OF
perversity In the girls nature that
needed only the spur of opposition to
impel her to rash and hasty step.
Mrs. Hampton was not the woman
to stand idly by and see her daughters
happiness wrecked upon the shoals of
an unhappy marriage without making
an effort to prevent it, and so she eau.
tiously laid her plans for future action.
''Virginia," she said on the follow.
ing morning, ''Mr. Wade has serious
intentions of becoming a member OF
our family, has he not =
"You are very quick to guess re-.
piled the girl lit was only last night
that he mentioned it,"
"And from the favor with which
you seem to regard him l do not sup:
pose that he urged his suit in vain E
replied the mother.
Not in vain, by any MEANS" re-
piled Virginia. II am sure l can be
happy with no other, but didn't see
fit to tell him 80 last night
land why notl may l ask" in
quired Mrs. Hampton.
II did not mean that he should
think that was too easily won," said
the girl, land 80 delayed my answer"
"That was a sensible thought. re-.
piled the mother IL wonder that it
occurred to you!'
Il am not so thoughtless as seem i;
three months hence will be time
enough, but I know my heart al
ready"
IL should like to be better acquaint.
ed with him." said Mrs. Hampton. II
wish you would invite him to spend
his evenings here in the family fire.
quently. l do not want my son-in'law
to seem like stranger
''You seem to be more willing to
part with me than I supposed you
would be. l expected to hear lee.
ture about my youth and inexperience,
at least"
'.You will hear no such thing"
said Mrs. Hampton. "You are sew
enteen years old, and If you don know
your own mind, you ought to-"
II am surprised that you offer no
objections. | would have followed
him across the Rocky Mountains,
though" said Virginia, disappoint"
eddy. -,
''You won't get the chance" said
Mrs. Hampton, decidedly. ''What OBJ
lection could l possibly have to q hand.
some young man like Harvey Wade :!
II don't know, am sure, but he
rather expected it"
He is very much mistaken, and !
shall take all possible pains to convince
him of his error. Beside, you know
that this is an affair Of your own; it
he proves to be as disagreeable as q
hedgehog, + shan't have to live with
him. You have q 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" rs-
Mrs. Hampton not ouly extended a
cordial invitation to Mr.. Wade to visit
them frequently, but instructed Viz.
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 accept.
ed it at once, without consulting the
young lady herself.
ut 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 yeu know that Harvey Is
not able to begin housekeeping upon
his own account, just yet, and al
though we will do as we'll 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 dellc acy
about going, for Harvey will not be at
home this week." -o-
Il wish you had consulted me be.
fore youssent q 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. ...... --.....
II don't like Mrs. Wade," she said,
q few days afterward.
"Why not 7" asked her mother.
because she is an overbearing and
disagreeable person." answered tho
girl. - - II > -
"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 80 remark !. concerning his
mother ~
II believe she thinks that Harvey
can have me for the asking"
''Well, she Is correct enough in her
opinions, isn't she!, You need not be
offended at that" Virginia stood
looking out sofs the window in con-
temptuous silence, and her mother
aTT-5Z.. =
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