New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-08-18
PERVERTED AFFECTION.

principal streets OF the metropolis.
He was of an elegant and interesting
presence. He gazed absent mindedly
into the show windows to the right,
and seemed lost in thought.
Good morning, Edmund" called a
gentleman apparently ten years his
senior and OF compact figure, with a
full black beard, who was coming to-
wards him. ssThis is the first time I
have seen you since your marriage,
and it confirms the sad aphorism that
a young husband forgets nothing more
easily than his friends. Do not inter
rupt me, for intend no reproaches,
since am aware OF your happiness.
You have married the prettiest girl in
town, and think you are too sensible
not to agree with me when Isay her
money is no drawback. Poverty
makes no one happy, and riches do
no harm, you know
Over the handsome face OF Mr.. Ed
mund Hagen, the person addressed,
fitted weak smile.
doctor, l do not say that you are
not right, y he answered; "but money
cannot do every thing. 1 am happy,
yet"
He did not finish the sentence.
"Yet?" repeated DR.. Henry Brose.
who was a physician OF note. "This
word betrays the fact that your hap
piness has some sort of unpleasant
after-taste. What do you mean by
this YETI"
Nothing nothing!' said Hagen.
''This won't do,' continued Brose.
II do not require confession; but an
old friend should not be cut off short
in this way. Where does it pinch?"
''Nowhere-nowhere!" cried Hagen,
half out OF humor "My happiness
would be complete, werenot the moth-
er of my wife :"
"Aha! The mother-in-law!" broke
in the doctor. "You have always de-
scribed her to me as most excellent
person"
"She is ali that! I consider her a
paragon of a woman and mother
"My dear Hagen, then I do not I'M
derstand you.
'My wife is an angel Every day I
learn to esteem and love her more, :"
continued Hagen. "My mother-in-law
is a very excellent woman; kind, COM
plant, self-sacrifcing. She does every
thing to please me, yet"
"Again that mysterious yeti broke
in the doctor. PRAY speak intelligi-
bly,"
II do speak intelligibly.' said Ha-
gen. "She fosters and cherishes me
as her own son and favorite. Every
morning she prepares for me the most
delicious coffee; at noon she selects
| for me the most DELICIOUS It'd bits; in
the evening she cuddles me like child,
she spoils me!''
"Well, that is not SO TERRIBLE" said
Brose, Laughing.
s'But she never leaves us alone to-
gether!" burst out Hagen at last.
"That is unpleasant"
"She means it all right; but it is
very painful for me, continued Hagen.
e'She loves my wife distractedly, be-
cause she is her only child, and this
reconciles me to the conditions again
and again; but this love becomes I'M
comfortable, since my wife cannot
separate from her mother either. I
rejoiced like child in anticipation OF
our wedding trip. / had to give it up
because my wife insisted that her
mother should accompany us"
"You acted very prudently," said
Brose, in his dry, earnest manner.
eyes, l was defrauded OF my we'd
ding trip, and now l am being swlndled
out OF my honeymoon" continued
Hagen, even more passionately, "My
wife cannot part from her mother, nor
the mother from her child. I have
often the feeling as though were not
the husband of my wife, Or master in
my own housed"
Edmund this is bad state of at
fairs" said the doctor, stroking his
beard with his right hand. "You are
all of you suffering from too much,
and, I may add, perverted, affection.
But have an idea! How would it do
20 marry your unOtueF-ln-laW 10 some
body? She is not forty yet, is well
preserved, handsome woman, and,
to one who had not seen her certificate
| of baptism, she would appear thirty at
the most. !"
"Are you mad?" cried Hagen.
! "Why?"
"My wife is the only heir of her
mother, to whom the entire property
belongs. Should she marry again We
| might perhaps be left with a trifing
| inheritance"
.'You are right. Let us not get her
married, then. But l would willingly
be of assistance TO you in this crisis OF
your callow marital felicity"
ssYou can!" said Hagen. Visit me
this evening frequently-every even.
ing! My mother-in- law is refined, cul.
tured, amlable lady. Entertain your.
self with her I am certain you will
not pass the time unpleasantly. ]
know you like Rudesheimer. Ihavea an
excellent vintage Of this brand. One,
two, three bottles at your service ev-
cry evening. / will see that you have
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