The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-10-18
Select Story.
How | Got Rid Of My MOthGr-in-LaV.

From Temple Bar.
| was young, very young, and walked
the hospitals as medical student, when |
first became acquainted with Mrs. Dimply.
She was widow with five daughters, all
of them charming, but the third, Rosa
Matilda by name, quickly destroyed all my
power of approaching the attractions of
her sisters. I was introduced to the family
by mutual friend, and from that time be-
came a constant, too constant, visitor at
their house. Once a fortnight merged
into once week, and once a week insen-
sibly increased to twice, or even oftener,
1t was a pleasant house to visit, and we had
remarkably jolly evenings. | was rather
favorite with the whole family, but the
kindness of Mrs. Dimply was simply over
whelming. If l chanced to be little late
she would shake her ringlets at me, and
remark in her deep voice (she had a rich,
mellow voice. which always reminded me
somehow of fruity port), "Late again, doc
tor; you naughty, naughty man. | sup
pose they couldn't spare you at the hos
pital What thing it is to be so clever. u
OF course l wasn't doctor, and the hos
pital could have done perfectly well without
me, but the whole thing was very soothing.
Then again if [ sang song, Mrs D. (who
did so pity anybody who hadn't soul for
music) would sit enraptured, frowning
fiercely and holding up warning finger if
any one ventured to interrupt. And when
1 had fnished-"Dear me, Dr. Smithers,
what a sweet song, and you sing it so
charmingly! You must really give it us
over again. It's your own fault for singing
it so nicely" And if the subject gave her
the ghost of chance she would make a
little gulp in her throat, as if swallowing
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 Il like it sweet),
and always took 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.
must proceed to the more prosaic portion
of my narrative.
Time went on. I succeeded in passing
my final examination, and became entitled
to write myself NJ, R. c, S. OF course l
rushed off at once to the Dimplys with the
joyful intelligence. Mrs. d. shed tears
and blessed me, and melted me to kiss the
girls all round in honor of the occasion.
l need hardly say 1 availed myself of the
suggestion, Rosa Matilda getting Cif l may
be allowed the expression) Benjamin S
portion l think that evening brought
matters to a crisis; at any rate, l found
myself, about week after, asking 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 remem-
ber) that shouldn't be able to induce 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. Ofcourse kissed them all round
once more; Mrs. ID. kissed me, remarking
that 1 reminded her so much of dear
Dimply. The departed D. (unless his por-
trait was libeD had been a podgy little
man, with snub nose, and much marked
with the smallpox; but felt that the OBJ
seryatiop was intended as compliment,
and accepted it accordingly.
Fortunately for myself l was not en-
tirely dependent on my profession, and after
brief engagement we were married. l
pass the wedding, which was pretty much
like any other wedding. L think, perhaps,
l got rather more than the average quantity
of rice down my back, and we drove away
with two white satin slippers (odd ones
unfortunately on the roof of the carriage
Mrs. d. was much affected at parting, en-
treating me to love and cherish her dear,
dear girl, and was scarcely pacifed even by
nv fervent assurance that | had every in
tention of doing so.
We spent three delicious weeks in the
Isle of Wight, and then took possession of
our new home, pretty little villa in St.
Johns Wood. We had been installed
about ten days when an affectionate letter
arrived from mamma-in-law, announcing
her intention of coming to stay week
with us and see how we were getting on
1t struck me that it was little early for
such visit, but it would have been un-
gracious to make any objection. She ar
rived the same evening. Rosie and were
sitting together (she was sitting on my
knee, in point of fact) when we heard
mamma-in-law's cab stop at the door, and
we ran out into the hall to welcome her.
There she was, smiling and shaking her
ringlets as playfully as ever, while the cab
man was bringing in three trunks, two
bandboxes and huge brown paper parcel.
My heart sank within me, but was aroused
by being deputed to pay the cabman, for
which purpose the dear creature handed me
eighteenpence. Cabby demanded half a
Il