Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-09-11

But, mamma dear, pleaded little
Bessie, don't be too cross with him.
please-for my sake, dear mamma. /"
what do you mean, Bessie?" de-
manded Mrs. Grim, Indignantly;
I'm ashamed of you! Have YOU no
self-respact? You my daughter If
your father had ever ventured to treat
me SO disgracefully, do you think I
would have asked my mother not to be
cross with him2 No, [ should have
lped her! That's what you should
! do; but you're unfit. You're a weak,
silly creatures; still, thank goodness,
I'm able to do it myself"
And Mrs. Grim marched off, APP
parently fairly satisfied with the turn
affairs had taken, and determined to
talk to Master Joseph in a way he
had never been talked to before.
Poor Bessie, too weak with crying to
make any opposition, heard her
mother, a few minutes afterward,
prance down the hall and Slam the
| front door after her.
Mrs. Grim called cab and drove
straight to the station. She Just ar
rived in time to catch the tram that
Joseph had arranged Bessie. should
come by. All the way to Wimbledon
she occupied herself by turning over
in her mind the most disagreeable
thipgs she could think of, and getting
them into the most disagreeable shape
possible, ready for launching at the
head of her offending son-in law. AS
the tram drew up to the station she
saw him standing on the platform in
his volunteer uniform, looking as
handsome and innocent as usual.
The moment she got out of the car
riage he noticed her, and came hurry
ing forward, with rather an anxious
expression on his continuance.
where's Bessie, Mrs. GrIm?" he
cried. Has anything happened to
here Why is she not here?
eyes, Mr.. Goode," answered Mrs.
Grim, looking him full in the face,
and refusing his profered hard.
Eyes, Mr. G0ode something has hap
pened to her"
you don't say 500" he said, alarm
ed. why didn't you telegraph to
me? What is it?"
ooh, only this: she has found you
out"
"What are you talking about?" ask
ed Joseph, angrily. SIS Bessie i'll, or
is she nots Answer me that"
"Ill answer you nothing, sir, till
you first answer me-" replied Mrs.
Grim, sternly.' How dare you, you
scoundrel, abuse the confidence of my
poor daughter? You viper 10 run,
away from your good and faithful
wife to follow wicked actresses and
other disreputable women!"
Joseph gazed on his mother-in-law
IN amazement.
by Jove!' he SAID to himself, IT
always thought she was bit touched,
but [ never imagined she would go
raving wild SO soon" Then he said
aloud: pray, Mrs Grim, be calm.
[ really don't quite understand you"
''Oh, no; of course you DON'T" she
answered scornfully. II never i'm
agined you would. Oh, you're sly
hypocrite. you two-faced villain,
you"
Mrs. Grim, dc please keep quiet"
said Joseph, pleadingly. See, all the
people are looking at us. Come out
of the station, and we will talk it over
quietly"
mo, sir; I'll do nothing of the
kind, replied Mrs. Grim, Immediately
straight out of the station. They
went little distance in silence. JOS
eph was apparently convinced that his
mother-inlaw had gone crazy, and
was wondering how he should get her
quietly back to London. While he
was thus occupied she broke in upon
his meaitations.
"Well, SIR" she said, II suppose
you have induced the wretched WON
an, whom you have ruined, to return
to her home? 1t would scarcely do to
have her IN your tent when your wife
arrived"
"Eh? Woman I had in nv tent2
Induced to go home?" said Joseph,
with a puzzled look on her face.
What is this9 Pray 60 on. I think
I'm beginning to understand you"
ooh, you are?' said Mrs. Grim.
$50, you had lady in your tent this
morning, had you?"
Yes, of course l had. How did
you know?"
"What?" exclaimed Mrs. Grim. in
shocked tone and with look of
horror. ''What? Do you confess your
perfdy in that barefaced and unblush-
ing manner? Why this is worse
than ever. [ thought you would at
least have the deccncy to be ashamed
of it."
ASHAMED of what, Mrs. Grim?"
inquired Joseph.
Ashamed of what? Ashamed Of
your conduct, sir. How dare YOU
confess SO boldly your iniquity to
your wife's own mother2"
=" What the deuce are you thinking
about? l have confessed no ini-
guilty.
"Oh, indeed so you consider that
it is not Ubiquitous to deceive a good
and trusting, wife? L suppose that's the
way lawyers look at such matters. It's
just what one might expect of men
who don't see anything wrong in as
sisting thieves and murderers for a
fo ri rr,1inooS For IT,.