The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-01-13
MY DAUGHTER IN-LAW.

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She was only sixteen years old when first
John brought her to the farm--a dark
skinned, velvet-eyed girl, with light step
like that of some beautiful panther stealing
over the forest leaves. I was preserving
grapes in the kitchen, with big white
apron tied around my waist, and my haii
tucked away behind the frills of muslin
cap, when John opened the door and said
to me-
Mother, dear, here is q daughter for
you'll"
" daughter !" echoed, dropping the
glass jar to the ground, where it shivered
into score of sparkling pieces. For this
was the first had heard of my sons mar
rage. John Murray, what on earth do
| you mean?"
Didn't you get my letter, mother ?" said
! he.
had received no letter, and l told him
so.
That is unfortunate" said John, grave
ly. But can tell you now what wrote
You last week-that am married to Juliet
Percy. Have you no welcoming kiss fol
my wife p
Mechanically kissed her, but there was
no heart in the action.
Come into the parlor, my dear" said ],
"and take off your hat and shawl. I sup
pose you are very tired with your journey
and would like cup Of tea."
Juliet did not answer, only looked at me
with her dark, solemn eyes.
For mercy's sake, who is she % asked
John, when he came to me out in the gar
den, where l was gathering peaches to slice
up for tea. "Where did you meet her
And how did you come to marry her in this
unexpected way?'
:" She is the daughter of Percival Percy,
the actor. He boarded at the same house
where did, and died suddenly from an
overdose of morphine. She was left utter
ly alone and uprovided for, and got inter-
ested in her, before l knew it."
Humph !" was my comment.
"You will try to love her, mother, for
my sake, urged John, laying his hand ca
ressingly on my shoulder. could feel the
sudden tears trimming into my eyes,
John" cried I, " I would try to love
cook-maid or q beggar girl, if you brought
her home here, and asked me to love her
But, it may not be such an easy task"
Mrs. Deacon Dodley came to tea the next
lay, and told her all about it.
" She seems pretty girl enough" said
Mrs Dodley.
" But she's such mere child" said I,
land as inanimate as block of wood
And an actors daughter ct that. John has
married her merely out of pity, and hope
be won't live to repent his rash Quixotism,
that's ALL"
:" Do you really mean it ?"
HE as good as told me so himself" said
When the tea-bell rang, Juliet was mo-
where to be found.
g 1 suppose she has gone out to the field
to meet her husband" said 1. These
young married people are so silly. We
won't wait tea for them, Mrs. Dodley."
The meal, however, was but half over,
when John came in, very pale, and with
vet look about the muscles of his mouth
| which had never before seen there.
" Mother" cried he, passonately, "what
is this thing that you have done ?"
"I?" echoed l. in amazement.
" You have driven my wife away from
mel"
"Johnl"
met Juliet just now, hurrying down
the road, with bundle under her arm
She told me you had said to Mrs. Dodley
that had married her merely out of pity.
She declared to me that was free, once
and forever. could not stop nor pacify
her, poor, tortured child; but gathered
from her incoherent talk that she was going
to her friend, Mrs. Bligh, who kept the
New York boarding house. Get me my
things, mother. will follow her there at
once"
| But when he reached Mrs. Bligh's house
Juliet had hot been there. And no trace
could he find of her anywhere.
He came back TO the farm, looking full
ten years older.
Mother" said he, hoarsely, "this ia
your work"
"Oh, John John |" was all that could
say, as wrung my hands in mute despair
81 didn't mean any harm didn't in
deedl"
You have blighted my lifel" he sad,
bitterly. g And poor, poor little Juliet
God only knows what has become of her n
can hardly remember how that autumn
md winter passed away. But it was the
aext spring, just as the crocuses began to
,how their emerald points through the vail.
ing snow that covered the March world,
when John fell ill of typhoid fever. And
in his delirium he kept calling day and
night for Juliet! Juliet !" He never
mentioned his mothers name he never
looked up into " face with eyes of tender
recognition but he fancied himself looking
for lost child in the woods, and the name
Of that child, repeated ever and anon like a
sad refrain, was Juliet! I"
Who is Juliet ?" the city doctor we had
called IN suddenly asked. Whoever she
IS, let her come to him. It may be his sal
vation.n
And then was forced to tell him all.
Put an advertisement in the personal
column Of the daily paper" said the doctor.
Do you think it will do any good ?" J
'sked, piteously and he answered.
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