Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-10-25

httie housekeeper, and want her to have as
much practice as possible. She must hustle
about more than ever during the short time you
are mere" q thought that was rather neatly
putt, so that she may have the full benefit Of
your experience" Rosie gave me grateful
look. and pocketed the keys again, while Mrs.
d. tried to look as II she didn't mind In the least
and wagged her curl-papers more playfully than
ever.
started on my daily round to look in at the
hospital and call on my few patients, and did not
return until dinner time. My little wife came
out to meet me in the hall with by no means her
usual smiling face; indeed, it struck me that
her eyes were a little red. / did not make any
remark until we were lett alone. Then / in
quired the cause. The poor little woman tried
hard to maintain her composure. but it was not
until after she had had good cry on my Shout
der that extracted from her, by degrees, that
mamma had been going on at her So telling
her that she did pretty nearly everything wrong
that she felt quite discouraged and miserable
| comforted her as best could. The dinner
for the nrst time since our marriage, was fail
ure; and Mrs. ID. did not improve matters by re-
marking. In her sweetest manner, that she
feared all along it would be so. If dear Rosie
had only taken her advice and hadn't done this
and had done that. and had been a leete more
particular about something else. all would have
been as 1t should be. OF course, took my
Wlfes part. and testified, with some warmth,
that up to that day the cookery had always been
perfection. Mrs. ID. drew herself up, and for
II,
rom which digniied but constrained position it
took three glasses of my best Madeira to extri-
cate her.
We had hitherto been accustomed to have q
little music every evening, but we were de-
barred from that pleasure by Mrs. d. taking
possession of the sofa in the drawing room,
and going to sleep Immediately after dinner.
1t struck me that if she objected to the sound
of the piano she might as well betake her
sell 10 some other room, and l tried few
chords to see if she would take the hint and re-
TIRE; but she merely opened her eyes with the
air of saint in the act of martyrdom, and
family remarked that she feared one of her
dreadful headaches was coming on again. OF
course. under such circumstances music was
out OF the question, and my reading aloud to
my wife. which was another of our enjOyments
was equally tabbOoed. In desperation limited
to Rosie that We had better return to the din
1ng-room, but the sleeping beauty on the sofa
languidly opened her eyes and said: .'Pray
Keep NE company, my dears; | assure you you
don't disturb me in the least" which, If snoring
is a sign of undisturbed repose, we certainly
didn't. She continued to dose for the re-
malnder OF the evening, but if by any chance /
pressed my wife's hand. or ventured on any
other little conjugal endearment one eye of the
sleeper would slowly open and gaZe at me with
an expresson-I really hardly know ,rhat ex-
PRESTON but the effect was awful. Nobody
who hasn't tried it, can imagine the nameless
horror, the uncanny and witch-like fascination
that is contained in the steadfast gaze of sim
gle eye particularly if that eye belongs to a
mOther-in-law.
The evening came to an end at last and was
followed by several Others as like it as possible
My wife and l. who had been accustomed to
make sweet music together, or to sit side by
side and hand In hand on the sofa enoying the
last new magazine, now sat in grim prOpriety
on opposite sides Of the fireplace, hardly ven
turing to talk above our breath for fear OF dis
turbing manma-in-law, whose nasal ophcleide
kept up smooth droning burr. occasionally in
terspersed by rapid snorts like cOrks drawn in
quick succession. As we could no longer enjoy
our evenings at home determined to make an
effort to enjoy them abroad, and accordingly an
nounced to Rosie at dinner time one day that l
intended to treat her to the ballad concert at
st. James hall that evening. Mamma-in-law
VINO no longer cared for music when it could be
had gratis on the premises. was Immediately
seized with an intense desire to hear that dear
Sign0r somebody or other, and accordingly
had to take her. too. 1 must own that
she offered to pay for herself but on
my saying politely that / could not possibly
allow her to do so, she yielded without a muir
muir. An evening at the opera had similar re-
suit. and found that she would sit out lee
ture on the driest subject in the whole range of
science. say protopasm or catapiasm. or even
go down in the diying-bel with us. rather than
let US 90 alone. In the daytime matters were
little better | myself was generally out all the
morning, but poor Rosie was so lpctured and
instructed, and advised. all in the sweetest (and
most agSrayating) manner. that she began to
look quite haggard and worried. Our cook
really valuable person. with whom we had been
much pleased had given warning four days
after Mrs. Dmplys arrival, stating unreserv-
ediy that two 'mssuses" in one house were one
too many for her. And cordially sympathized
with her. - =
The "week or two" had expanded into three.
and the three into four, and still there was no
sign OF mamma-in-law's departure. Indeed
she had begun to talk OF cher roOm" and to
make little alterations in the furniture which
betokened a very heightened visit | now be-
gan to understand why she had taken such a
warm interest in the uphoistering of the spare
room. l remember her telling Rosie that
spare room gave such a
style" to house. | began to wish the spare
room at Jericho, or even farther But relief
was at hand. and it came from most unexpect-
ed quarter. indeed, in shape which at first sight
seemed to threaten an aggravation of our griev-
ance. have no doubt disciple of Hahnemann
would claim it as a grand exemplification of
homeopathic principles. 1t certainly was a case
OF similia simlibus curantur. But the reader
shall judge for himself.
don't think have yet mentioned that my
self have mother living. a good Old soul, with
out any of Mis-. Dimply's town-bred graces. but
wthal remarkably keen old lady and York
with US just four weeks, when one morning l
received a telegram as follows
10 Ii. A SsITHERs, NJ r. G. s., II. JESSAMINE VII
LAS, ST. JCHS's WOOD, NV:
Letter Just TO hand from Brodby & Grigg saving
must come up 10 town at once. Snail rely on you
to give ne bed. Meet Inc at station at T.
From BIS. SntftlteTS, HGnSiet Leeds.
should here explain that my mother was in
terested in a chaucery suit, under which she
was entitled 10 share OF some considerable
property and that Messrs- Brodby & Grigg were
her lawyers. For the moment | did not know
what to do. 1t would never do to send the
dear Old lady to hotel. and vet our only spare
room was occupied. What on earth was to be
done? After little reflection decided to do
nothing at ali, but to let two visitors settle
the matter between themselves. They were
both self-invited guests. We had only one room
TO give them, and they must share it. We. at
any rate, should be doing all in our power and
they must make the best Of the arrangement
Mrs. Dimply was out when the telegram ar
rived; but at dinner time l broke to her. as
gently as could, that my mother was coming
to town unexpectedly, and would have to share
her room.
dear E.e," SIZE said. II am afraid that will
be very announcement for both parties. And
am such a very light sleeper! Couldn't it be
arranged for Mrs. Smthers to sleep at hotel?
don't mind on my own account in the least
but should think it would be so much more
comfortable for her." / explained that nv
mother, being cOuntry-bred and unused to Lon
don ways. would feel nervous In a strange
house; but If Mrs. Dimply thought it necessary
would secure room for her at hotel This
suggestion did not meet her views at all s.Oh
dear, no. don't think of such a thing on mn &C.
count, she said. 81 suppose your mother won't