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

which was another of our enjoy
ments, was equally tabooed. In
desperation [ limited to Rosie that we
a better return to the dining room,
u the sleeping beauty on the sofa
iangguidly opened her eyes and said,
"Pray keep me company, my dears: 1
assure you you don't disturb me in the
least" which, ii snoring is a sign of
nndlsturbed repose. we certainly didn't.
She continued to doze for the remainder
OF the evening. but if by any chance I
pressed my wife's hand, or yentured on
any other conjugai endearment, n
eye OF the sleeper would slowly open,
and gaze at me with an expression-I
really hardly know what expression,
put the effect was awful. Nobody who
hasn't tried it can imagine the name
less horror, the ~uncanny and witch-like
fascination, that is contained in the
steadtast gaze of a single eye, particu-
iarly If that eye belongs to a mother-in-
law.
The evening came to an end at last,
ana was followed by several others, as
ike it as possible. My wife and 1, who
had been accustomed to make sweet
music together, or 10 sit. side oy side,
and hand in hand, on the sofa, enjoy-
ing the last new magazine, now sat in
grim propriety on opposite sides of the
t1rc place, hardly v%enturino to talk
above our breath for fear OF d%isturbino
mamma-in-law, whose nasal ophicleide
Kept up q smooth droning burr, occa-
sionally interspersed by rapid snorts,
like corks drawn in Quick succession.
AS we could no longer enjoy our even
lngs atshome, l determined to make an
effort to enjoy them abroad. and ac-
cordlngly announced to Rosie at dinner
time one day that 1 intended to treat
her to the Ballad Concert at st. James
Hall that evening. Mamma-in-law,
who 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 Signor some.
body or other, and &C :ordingly [ had
to take her, too. 1 must own that she
offered to pay for herself, but on
my saying politely that l could not
possibly allow her to do so, she yielded
without q murmur. An evening at the
opera had a similar result, and | found
that she would sit ont. q lecture on the
driest subject in the whole range of
science, say protoplasm or cataplasm,
or even go down in the diving-bell with
us, rather than let us go alone. In the
daytime matters were little better. /
myself was generally out all the morn
ing, but poor Rosie was so lectured, and
instructed. and advised, all in the
sweetest and most %aggravating man
ner, that she began to look quite hag-
! gard and worried. Our cook, q really
valuable person, with whom we had
been much pleased, had given warning
four days alter Mrs. Nimply's arrival,
stating unreservedly that two "miss.
uses in one house were one too many
for her. And l cordially sympathized
with her.
The "week or two" had expanded
into three, and the three into four, ant
still there was no sign of mamma-in.
laws departure. Indeed she had begun
to talk of ''herl room," and to make
little alterations in the furniture. which
betokened a very heightened visit.
now began to understand why she haC
taken such a Warm interest in the up
holstering OF the spare room. I re
member her telling kosie that a taste.
fully furnished spare room gave such !;
''style" to a house. l began to wish
the spare room at Jericho, or ever
further. But relief was at hand and il
came from q most unexpected quarter
indeed, in q shape which at first sight
seemed to threaten an ]aggravation o!
our grievance. l have no doubt a dis.
ciple OF Hahnemann would claim it as
a grand exem%plitication Of homeopathic
principles. 1t certainly was a case Of
simiLiG sin1i1ibus cur0ztur. But the
reader shall Judge for himself.
l don't think I have yet mentioned
that I myself have a mother living, q
good old soul, without any Of. Mrs
Dimply's town-bred graces, but withaJ
a remarkably keen old lady, and York.
shire to the backbone. Mrs. Dimpls
had been with us Just four weeks, when
one morning I received a telegram, as
follows:
From Mrs. smithers, To H. A. smithers
Hunsler, Leeds. M.k.C.S., II Jessn-
St.. Johns mlR Wo HiIlr \, w.
Letter JUST to hand ftOm Bro lby and Grigy
saying I must come up to town at once. hal
Ie.y on you to give me a bed. Meet me Al
station at seven.
l should here explain that my moth
er was interested in a chancery suit,
under which she was entitled to y share
of some considerable property. and
that Messrs. Brodby Il Grigg were hel
lawyers. For the moment / did not
know what to do. 1t would never do
to send the dear old lady to a hotel,
and yet our only spare room was occu-
pied! What on earth was to be done?
After a little reflection i decided ~ do
nothing at all, but to let our tno Wis
itors settle the matter between them
selves. They were both seit-invit~d
guests. We had only n room to give
them, and they must share it. We, at
any rate, should be doing all If val
power, and they must make the BEST OF
the arrangement. Mrs. Dimpley was
out when the telegram arrived; but at
dinner time l broke to her, as gently
as I could, that my mother was COM
ing to town unexpectedly, and would
have to share her room.
.'Dear me-" she SAID: 'I'm afraid
that will be very ~inconvenient for both
parties. And I am such a very light
! sleeper! Couldn't 1t be arranged for
Mrs. Smithers to sleep at q hotel? l
don't mind on my own account in the
least, but | should think it would be so
much more comfortable for her." l eN-