Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-10-25
MOTHER AND AUNT.


Marius Gray, letting his hand fall des-
pairingly on the table.
'.An end of what?" asked Harold
Morse, his roommate and companion,
who had been smoking a meditative
pipe by the fire.
''Of my three years work." Gray
answered. 'of all that I've been toll
ing and striving for so long"
''Jt must make a difference, Hal"
s'You don't mean," said his friend,
shat you would let this mal-s any diff
ference with your plans?"
sit must make difference, Hal"
''And in tie name of common-sense,
what 6fnerence?"
Don't you see? Now that my grand
father is dead, I've got to make home
for my mother. I've got to see that
life is made easy for her in her old
age.
"Oh. I see!" said Morse, Struggling
his shoulders. tAlice won't relish the
idea of a mother-in-low-is that it?"
Il shall not ask her, Hal. My first
duty is to my mother"
.'But the little house you've bought,
and the furniture you've been select
ing piece by piece?"
Il hope my mother will enjoy them,
Hail." said Gray, with something like a
culver on his lip. ''But I once heard
Alice make some laughing jest about
the terrors of a mOther-in-law. Itwasn't
much. I don't think she attached any
particular importance to it, but still it
has stuck to my memory. In thereof
lection of that, l can't ask her to share
any divided empire in my house"
''Oh, hang it!'' cried Morse, flinging
,.is paper on the table. what do
women want to be so cranky for? I'll
go bail Alice Ardley would go through
fire and water for her own mother.
Why should she feel differently toward
the mother of the man she loves?"
EsThere is all the difference in the
world" said Gray sadly.
And so he went to bed to ponder over
this new complication of events; and
when he fell asleep he dreamed that he
had just brought q bride home to the
little cottage where the white muslin
curtains rustled in the wind, and the
moss rose-bush was in full blossom,
and somehow Alice Ardley's blooming
face was frilled around with cap-bord-
ers, and decorated with an immense
pair of silver spectacles.
To Marius Gray's credit be it spoken
that he never for an instant hesitated
as to what decision to make.
He wrote an affectionate letter to his
mother, telling her of the little home
which was now at her disposal, and Of
fering to bring her thither at any time
which she should fix.
He went to see Alice that very even
ing. She was music-teacher, and
lived in one of those genteel comfort
less boarding houses which afford so
poor a substitute for real homes, and
she came down into the parlor, where
tile gas was economically lowered and
the scentof the vegetable soup that had
been served for dinner still fingered.
ooh, Marius!' she said, with little
gurgle in her voice, 1--we been want
ing to see you so much"
Have you, Alice?"
He stood holding both her hands in
his own.
GIVE got sucn a favor to ask of you,
Marius-and oh, don't know how to
do it, after all the hateful things I've
said about mothers-in-law, and that
sort of thingr' faltered she.
He stood still listening, and after
short pause Alice went hurriedly on:
''Its my Aunt Alethea. I've got to
take her home and take care of her,
for her cousin who has supported her
all these years can't do it any more;
and oh, Marius, we can't be married
unless-unleSs you viii be very good
and kind, and let old Aunt Alethea
come and live with US.
Marius Gray's face lighted up.
''Alice forgive me!' be said. "You
have shown greater confidence in me
than have done in you. As far as [
am concerned, your aunt will be most
welcome in my home that you and
are to share together. But Alice, L
had come here to ask you to release me
from our engagement"
Alice gave a little start.
s.Marius! Oh, Marius, you don't
mean it?''
For the reason" he went on 'tthat
it is now incumbent on me to support
nv mother, who has hitherto lived with
her father. I didn't like to ask you,
dear, knowing your opinion on the
subject of-well, of mother-in-law, to
share your home kingdom with any
one else; and there was no other home
to bring my mother to. But now
'.Marius," cried Alice, ''it's quite
true what you say. You have put no
confidence. in me. If | could trust
you to be good to my poor old aunt,
could you not have been sure that l
would love your mother?"
81 am sure of it now, Alice" said
the young man, still holding her hand
tenderly in his. 3
"And l won't release you from your
engagement" declared Alice, disguis-
ing her emotion under very effective
pretence of gay 6adinage. I've been
taking lessons at cooking-school and
making up household linen, and mean
to show your mother and my Aunt
Alethea what a capital housekeeper
can be. And oh, how proud | shall be
when they eat the first dinner cook
in my own house!'
"Alice, you are an angel?' asserted
Gray.
mo, am not" said Alice. I'm
only silly chattering girl, who says
lots of things that she is sorry for at
forwards. But / know how good and
forgiving you are, and you shall see
how dearly I will love your mother for
your sake until have learned to ap-
nreciata her for her OWN