The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-08-26

'But you're not going to live here, +"
Florella said, with very emphatic ned
of the head. lone of my unalterable
maxims is, Don't put up with mother
in-law.' Every one knows that there
can't be two mistresses in a house,
don't they, Wally?"
Mrs megevale gasped, actually strick-
en- dumb with anger and astonish-
ment-
And" went on Florella, "there's the
old farmhouse by the creamery that
you could live in, just as well as not.
want the whole of my own house for
my own relations, and l mean to have
it. I've asked jolly lot of young folks
down from New Haven to visit me this
autumn, and we don't want any old
folks pottering around-eh Wally?''
Walter" cried Mrs. Merevale, do
you stand calmly by, and hear your
mother addressed thus?"
But Walter, too wise to commit him.
self, only leaned against the fireplace,
with his hands, in his pockets, and
whistied.
Settle it among yourselves" said
he. "Suit yourselves, and you'll suit
me-"
Il will not stay here to be insulted,"
said Mrs Merevaia.
'I amt insulting YOU" said Florella
with provoking good humor. I'm only
telling you the truth
"And my son, who ne-never would
have proposed to you if | ha-hadn't
advised him to!'
ti- hot n1I lIr-ox
observed Florella. They think the
world would stop wagging around if
they didn't push the wheels"
Mrs. Merevale hurried sobbing out OF
the room.
Il never was spoken to thus in all my
life," she said Historically. Dear little
Judith Jay always treated me as if
were a queen! Oh dear-oh dear!
what dreadful mistake | have NADER
While Walter and Florella, left alone
in the dark wainscoted parlor, looked
at each other, half awed, half delight
ed.
Wasn't l horrid?" said Florella in a
whisper
Didn't know you could be such q
brave little soldier" said Walter in the
same soto U0ce
'.Do you think she has had enough
of it?" said Florella.
"I-should - say - that-she-had," "
very slowly replied Mr.. Merevale.
Half an hour subsequently Walter
found his mother weeping pitifully in
her own room-an elderly Niobe
'Why, mother, what's the matter?"
said he.
'1t's that girlr' cried Mrs. Merevale
spltefully.
She's the very daughter-in-law you
selected for yourself" reasoned Walter;
isn't she?"
But l never suspected that she could
be such a dragoness," faltered the poor
old lady. "Oh, why did l interfere!
What made me suppose that | knew
better than Providence did?"
''Do you think Judith Jay would suit
you better than Florella, mother?"
"Yes. a thousand timesr said the un-
wary Mrs. Merevale, clasping her hands
eagerly.
"Well, then, mother, I'll tell you a
secret" said Walter. "Florella and l
have only been doing little parlor-
drama in one act. We aren't engaged
at all. Florella is to be married in the
spring to Captain Lee"
''And l wish him joy of herr' said
Mrs. Mereyale with rancor.
''And shall never marry anybody
but Judith JAY" added Walter.
judith is at least docile and ami
able" said Mrs Merevale.
But, | thought l would let you see
how matters would work if you had
your own way about it," said Walter,
laughing, "And now, shall l 90 and
bring Judith here?"
"Yes, Walter" said the old lady
meekly.
"As your future daughter-in-lawP"
Yes, Walter"
The sun was just setting as Walter
rushed into the Jay cottage
Come, Ju." he cried gleefully, ''it's
all right I've honored my father and
mother-or, at least all that's left of
them-and they've had quite enough of
it. Florella Winton has played Queen
Stork until my mother is thankful TO
come back to Queen Log. Come Ju,
for better, for worse, for richer, for
poorer"
Walter, what do you mean?" said
Judith, her eyes still red and swollen
Come up to The Place and see, -
said Walter with calm exultation.
And little Judith Jay found herself
joyfully received by her majestic moth
er-in-lawelect.
Il don't know what | have done to
deserve such happiness" said Judith in
a trembling voice.
You have been self-sacrificing little
darling said Walter that's what
You have done"