Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-10-31
HOW 1 GOT RID OF MY MOTHER.
lN.LAW.

was young. very young, and walk
ing the hospital as a medical student.
wncn l. first became acquitted with Mrs.
]imply. She was q widow with five
daughters, all of them charming, but
the third. Rosa Matilda by name,
quickly destroyed all my power of ap-
preciating the attractions OF her sisters.
! was introduced to the family by a
mutual friend, and from that time be-
came a constant, too constant, visitor
at their house. Once a fortnight
merged into once a week, and once a
week insensibly increased to twice, or
even oftener. 1t was q pleasant house
to visit, and we had remarkably Jolly
evenings. L was rather a favorite with
the whole family, but the kindness of
Mrs. Dimply was simply overwhelming.
If L CHANGED to be q little late she would
shake her ringlets at me-, and remark
in her deep voice (she had a rich, mel
low voice, which always reminded me
somehow of fruity port,) slate again,
doctor; you naughty, naughty a l
suppose they couldn't spare YOU at the
hospital. What a thing it is to be so
clever" OF course 1 wasn't a doctor,
and the hospital could have done per-
fectly well without me, but the whole
If l sang a song, Mrs. d. (who did so
music) would sit enraptured, frowning
ticrcely and holding up a warning
finger if any one vcntured to in
terrupt.' And when l had finished
'Dear me, DR.. Smithers, what a sweet
song, and you sing it SO charmingly!
You must really give it us owe again.
It's your own fault for singing it so
nicely." And if the subject gave her
the ghost of a chance she would make
a little gulp in her throat, as if swal-
lowing down a spasm Of uncomfortable
emotion. and wipe her eyes with the
corner Of her lace pocket handkerchief.
After supper. too, the way that she
mixed my toddy was quite touching
She never put IN less than four Jumps
Of sugar q like it sweet,) and always
took a sip herself with the spoon to
make sure it was all right. On one or
two occasions, when the water hadn't
quite boiled, her self-reproach was
really painful. But these were ~halcyon
days. l must proceed to the nor
prosaic portion of my narrative.
Time went on. L succeeded in pass
ing my final examin alton, and became
entitled to write myself M. II. c. S. OF
course l rushed off at once to the
Dimplys with the joyful intelligence.
Mrs. u. shed tears and blessed me, and
melted me to kiss the girls all round in
honor Of the occasion. l need hardly
say | awaited myself Of the suggestion,
Rosa Matilda getting ut l may be al
lowed the expression) a B%enjamin's
portion. I think that evening brought
matters to a crisis; at any rate, found
myself, about o week later, asking a
private interview with Mrs. d., and
pleading for the hand of Rosa Matilda.
She was so very fond of the dear girl
that | was terribly afraid q was very
young, you will remember,) that |
shouldn't be able to influence her to
part with her, but, TO my surprise and
relief, she gave her consent without the
slightest pressing, and, taking me into
the drawing. room, introduced me to
the girls with much emotion) as their
future brother. OF course | kissed them
all round once more; Mrs. d. kissed
me, remarking that L reminded her so
lAcA OF dear Dimply. The departed
d. ~(unless his portrait was a libcl) had
been a podgy little a with a snub
lo>e and much marked with the small
poN; but 1 felt tbat the observation was
intended as a compliment, and accept
Ell 1t accordingly.
fortunately for myself, l was not en-,
trely dependent ON my profession, and
ai'er 4 brief engagement we were mar
red. | pass over the wedding, which
Was pretty much like any other we'd
uIns. think perhaps l got rather
more than the average quantity Of rice
Now my back, and we drove away
"'lh two white satin slippers (odd ones
Unfortunately on the roof of the car
ia G. Mrs. d. was much affected at
par ing, %entrcating me to love and
cherish her dear, dear girl, and was
svarcely pacitied even by my .erSent
assurance that l had every intention OF
We spent three delicious weeks in the
lS'e OF Wight and then took possession
:, our new home. q pretty little villa in
~ "ohn'a Wood. Ne had been i'll
s ,''ed about rca days when an alice
male letter arrived from mam:na-!n-
g." "' announcing her intention Of COZ"