Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-10-31

~. NSNA VI W
tnat she must always be tied to her
her doing?'
ooh dear no." I said. .Mrs. Dimply
invited herself, and between YOU and
me | think poor Rosa is as tired of her
company as l am, but of course she
doesn't like to be undutiful."
"Un-fiddlestick!" said my mother.
"lhat's how the land lies, is it? And
now long has she been with you??"
-Four weeks" l SAID.
My poor, dear boy! whv, she must
nave taken possession the very first week
after You got home"
Not quite that" 1 said, .'but very
soon after"
"Hum!" said my mother, sand she
n l are to occupy the same room, are
we? Very good. If 1 don't make
things lively for her my names not
Betsy Smithers! You leave it to me.n
"But what do you intend to do?" L
said.
Never you mind; you just leave it
to me-" And not another word could
l get out of her.
on reaching home my mother kissed
Rosa with great affection, and the two
mothers-in-law saluted each other with
c%eremonious politeness. hardly know
why, but they reminded me somehow
ofpugilists at a sparr:ng match, shak-
ing hands before they begin to punch
one anothef's heads.
cit is a curious coincidence, Mrs.
Dlmpl.y," said my mother, beaming
amlsbly through her spectacles, '.that
you aud l should have hit on the very
people,"
This was gentle facer, but Mrs.
Dlmply came up smiling. ..Oh, 1 have
been here-some days." she replied.
"Mamma came on the 2Cth of last
month";" INTERCEPTED Rosa, who wasn't
going to have any mistake upon that
subject.
"Dear me, so long as that!" SAID my
mother, lifting her eyebrows. ..Don't
your other daughters miss YOU very
much, Mrs. Dimply?'
"Well, they are beginning to COM
plain a little. In fact, 1 was only say
ing this morning that as soon as dear
Rosa can spare me l really must take
my departure" Of she had said any,
thing of the kind Pm a Dutchman,
but OF course we didn't contradict her.
"No doubt it is very nice for Rosa to
have you," (Rosa made a little face at
me, privately, over her mammals Shout
der), ''but [ think myself that the
sooner young people get out of leading
strings the better. Nothing teaches
housekeeping like a few mistakes to
tegin with"
Eyes, perhaps so," said Mrs. Dimply;
"but dear Rosa is so very mex
perienced."
"No doubt" said my mother still
more sweetly. 81 suppose all young
wives are at first starting. But the IN
experience soon rubs Off when they are
left to their own devices. Never fear,
Rosa, my dear, you'll soon learn your
business if you are let alone"
Mrs. Dimply looked uncomfortable
and changed the subject, rather to my
own relief. We had supper that even
ing, my mother being in the habit of
dining at midday, and soon after the
cloth was removed Mrs. Himply, com
planning that she 5elt tired, went to
bed. My mother sat chatting for an
hour or so longer, and then She, too,
wished us good night, and retired.
lfclt a little anxious as to how the
old land new tenants of the spare room
would get on together, their habits be-
ing as unlike as we'll could be. Mrs.
Dimply was, if l may be permitted the
expression, rather .'stutfy'' in her ways.
She liked a fire in her bedroom and
warm water to wash with, and was
dreadfully afraid OF draughts. NY
mother affected cold baths, slept with
her window open summer and winter,
and always declared that she could not
breathe in a close room. Mrs. Dimply
liked to lie in bed in the morning, and
found it hard work to get down stairs
in time for a nine O'Clock breakfast.
My mother set her alarm for five in the
summer and six in the winter, and did
a couple OF hours work of some kind
or other before breakfast. I did not
know how far she would transplant
her country habits to London, but the
next morning, p~unctually at six. Rosa
and [ were awakened by q sound like q
sky rocket of the largest size suddenly
going off in the adjoining DON
"God gracious! what's that dreadful
noise:?' '.said Rosa.
''That's mothers pet alarm," I said,
laughing. ''She would never forgive
herself if she didn't get up at her usual
time"
But what about my poor mother:?"
said Rosa, laughing in her turn.
'she'll be frightened out of her
Senses"
.Oh, she'll get used to it after a day
or two, and perhaps we shall have her
down in proper time for breakfast,
which is more than she has been for
the last three mornings"
"Ah-um:" said Rosa.
"What did you say9" I inquired, but
I found She had gone to sleep again.
When we went down to breakfast.
my mother was already in ths dining
room. Rosa asked her how she had
slept. "Capitally, my DEAR she said,
''thank you. l always sleep we'll.
But Pm afraid your mamma did not
have u very good night. Between III
selves, she was a little iniudicious at
supper, and she has suffered for it,"
AS she spoke. Mrs. Dimply appeared,
fully dressed, but with a Shetland
shawl tied round her head, and looking
the picture OF misery. Il am sorry to
hear you are not very well. Mrs Dimp-
ly," 1 said. s'What is the matter?:''
''The matter! Why, that dreadful open