The daily gazette., 1882-01-30
Mrs. Psgs'sDlughlsr- -'n-Iav
BY w. L. 8.

"Are we almost there, Charles ?"
"Do you see that old moss grown
roof, with the huge brick chimney,
peeping up among the apple-blossomsP
That 10 the house."
Laura's heart gave an involuntary
throb. Would they welcome her as .
new daughter 2 Would they love herr
Charles Page smiled as he read the
thoughts passing through her mind,
sDo not fear, Laura; ! do not know
who could help loving you."
Laura smiled q little, doubtfully;
she could hardly expect the whole
world to look At her with her young
husbands eyes.
Old Mrs. Page stood at The farm-
house door In her best black silk, with
her 'company cap" and white ribbons,
as the stage. coach rolled up--a hard-
featured old lady, with silver-streaked
hair brushed away from her wrinkled
forehead, and hands ON which tina net
work OF veins stood up like knotted
cord. Her welcoming kiss was like
the peck Of 3 bird OF prey--so cold
and hard did 1t seem against Laura's
cheek.
"MOther y whispered Laura, soft
ly,
~ am very glad to see you, Mrs.
Charles,h said the old lady.
80 you are Charles new wife,
hey ?" said Farmer Page from tho sit
ting room; ''and q tall, well growngirl,
too. Come in, come in Teas most
ready, and ! dare say you'll he glad of
q cup"
There was something that passed
like the chilled breath OF an iceberg
across Laura's heart as she entered,
leaning on her husbands arm. II
was not the welcome she had expected,
and hoped for; and involuntarily she
felt that her mother-in~iaws cold,
oriticising eye Was upon her, and with
NO favorable glance.
II s'pose you have been brought W
to workpn said Mrs. Page, senior.
No; Laura could not say that she
had,
'tCan you wash and iron your hus'
bands shirtsf"
aNe.n
"Can you mako breadp"
81 have never tried"
fCannot you cook at allPn
~ am afraid not, ma'am."
"Humph ~
AT this stage, Charles who had beer
watching the deepening color on Laura
cheeek with scme annoyance, broke IN
But she can speak two or three diff
erent languages, mo, her, and paint beau
tifully, and wish you could read SOM
of the poet y she has written"
9Humphp again enunclated th
mother-in-law.. Languages, painting
and poetry stuff won't make the kettl
boil, you'll find young lady"
"She has been taught In q seminary
mother" the young husband interposed
"where she has had no opportunity t
learn the useful things you speak o.
all In good time, Rome wasn't bull
In q day.
But Mrs. Page. with her thin lips sc
close together, was busylng herself abon
the tea table, She need not have take
the troable-Laura's appetite was prett
effeclually destroyed, "Come, e,Idarling,
said Charles, 81 want to show you th
path to the spring In the woods"
Old Mrs. Page looked contemptuousl
after them.
"That's all she's WORTH" she mut.ere
to lock al pretty things and listen /
honeyed speecees. l wonder wher
Hiram Page would be now If had bee
cut out after that patternp ?"
In short, 1t was an infinite relief q
round when the short visit came to a
) end, and Charles took his young vii
back to his home, Laura was depresse
and melancholy, and Charles, thoug
he would not have confessed 1t even |
himself, was little predIudced by Il
strong opinions expressed by both fatht
aud mother on the subj ct of his ma
rimonial choice.
Scarcely six months had passed ovi
! the horizon of their married life, hoy
ever, when clouds came to darken 1t.
Charles Page was only clerk In
bank, but his humble salary had prove
= sufficient for himself and Laura. Co
/ sequently, one night returning la
from business, he slipped and broke b
!, right ankle so badly that a severe Il
. ness followed; 1t brought the gri
phantom poverty nearer to them thf
o was at all pleasant.
j ave won't let the old folks at hon
know 1t, Laura said the yoLr
clerk, trying 10 speak cheerfnliy. I'
Q afraid they're in trouble themselv
\ about thai note my father endorsed I
d oil 4 Mi nan, and dare say we sh
9 get along nicely WI title economy,
y Laura was sitting BY her husband
4 bedside one dreary November twiligt
o. when there was an unwoDted hustle
ot the door below-a throwing down
~ ~ trunks and shrill articulation Of voics
- She hastened to the head of the stairs
Oi 1t was Farmer Page and his Wlfei
m "We'vs no home of our own now
y =, said Mrs. Page, senior, speaking bitter
II and load, aand we've come to stay vi
n. you and your wife, son Charles"
P aNo home Of your own, motheI?n
= "No-thanks to your father, VI
d. would indorse that note for old Millmi
10 and he's lost every cent-iust what
. might have expected, | think-and we
= as good as beggars In our old age ] Bl
"a. dear me, what's the matter, Charlss7'
ID Then followed explanations and ]
&c, cItals, much to the relief OF Farm
nt Pare yvho had iuetInetivrIy elunk II