Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-01-06
AGREAT, TALL FELLOW,

Eliza in desultory way ever since my
fourteenth birthday-June Is. 1877
when l was brought home from board
ing-school to be present at her marriage
TO my eldest brother; but never until
that dreadful Fourth OF July, 1877, had
I had the slightest idea of her extra
ordinary capability and endurance as a
story-teller. Nor do | suppose should
ever have known of them-our ways in
life lying far apart-had not Adeline
Eliza's annual visit TO New York hap
pened at the very time / had my first
serious quarrel with Gabriel Haviland.
That occurred the evening before the
aforementioned anniversary of the
declaration of American independence.
and was about-dear mel-the silliest
thing. Looking back, it seems almost
impossible to believe that we could have
been so extremely foolish as to quarrel
as we actually did But I'll tell you
all about 1t, and you can judge for your
self. Gabriel had been reading aloud
from some English paper or other-the
Saturday Revieto, il remember Alright
An article entitled "Mothers-in Law"
and as he laid down the paper he said !:
i" i fully agree with the writer that the
jokes-many of them very stupid ones
at the expense of mothers-in.law have
been carried quite far enough. and
also agree with her"
"Or him." suggested.
"-or him, that there are lots OF
splendid women among them, but at
the same time ! must confess that I'd
prefer a home without a mother-in-
hw."
Now had been an orphan ever since
1 was five years of age, and what pos
sessed me to feel so angry at GabrieIs
remark cannot imagine; but angry |
was, and with flushed cheeks and fash
ing eyes l raised my head from hi4
shoulder-of course we were engaged
and asked, Indignantly. " Do you mean
to say you would not have liked my
motherp
Nothing of the sort" said be. with a
smile. 81 know should have liked
her. She must have been charming, TO
have had 80 charming a daughter"
But refus ed to return his smile, and
with head very erect. went on: But
you would not have shared your home
with herP"
No, darling. frankly. I would not" +"
"Then.I would never have lived with
you If you refused to allow my mother
TO be one of the household" cried 1.
"Ah, your affection for me must be
deep indeed" said he, with provoking
coolness. But in spite of your touch
ing declaration, my dear, l still repeat,
No mother-in-law in my house. I've
seen too much ofthat arrangement in my
own family. A man may be a good fel-
low, and his wife's mother may be a
good fellow, while apart, but bring them
ogether under l.he same roof, and In
sinety-nine cases out of hundred fire
an eunpowder would be amiable com
psnions in comparison"
"Otho'' families might be better
kempereO han yours" said I, with an
attempt Il sarcasm. Mine might
BE-"
mo nother-in-law, my love-" was
Gabriers sole reply.
Then no Caroline Brower.r said I.
In perfect rage. "And what's more.
you needn't wait any longer. won,t
90 TO your sisters. So there. nowrn
Very well" (why do people sav
Very well when they mean quite the
contraTyO. And at last, really pro-
voked, my lover seized bis lat. and was
gone in fash.
Did you ever hear OF n sillier quar-
rel, taking into consideration, rs said
before, that had no mother, and, as I
didn't say before, Gabriel was also
motherlessp
The bells we're ringing merrily when
Iawoke the next morning U had shu.
out tbe moon, and cried myself TO sleep
the night before), and when drew IN
my shade the sunshine came in AZ glo-
riously bright as though Gabriel and |
bad not quarreled. But its brightness
could not make me forget that we had
l was thinking Of il all the time was
dressing. and wondering what was to
do with myself all the long. hot, noisy
day.
IL bad been arranged month before
that Gabriel and should spend the
Fourth with bis only sister, who lived
IN n charming @ untry house In . pretty
Connecticut village, and Gabriel had
called 70 escort me thlther on the morn
Ing Of the third, when. unfortunately,