The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1888-10-11

Marius Gray, letting his hand fall des-
pairingly on the table.
IAN end of what?n 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 difference, Hal"
''You don't mean,n said his friend,
that YOU would let this make any diff
ference with your plans?"
at must make difference, Hal"
And in the name of common-sense,
what difference?"
Don't you seeP 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. see!" said Morse, Struggling
his shoulders. .'Alice won't relish the
idea of 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?"
II hope my mother will enjoy them,
Hail. said Gray, with something like n
culver on his lip. 'But | once heard
Alice make some laughing jest about
the terrOrs ola mother-in-law. ItwaSn't
much. | don't think she attached any
particular importance to it, but still it
has stuck to my memory. In the recol-
lection of that, / can't ask her to share
any divided empire in my house"
s.Oh, hang it," cried Morse, tlinging
his paper on the table. What do
women want to be so cranky for? I'll
90 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?"
There 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 Il bride home to the
little cottage where the white muslin
curtains rustlcd 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 ;,tlectionate 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 sec Alice that very even.
ing. She was Il music-teacher, and
lived in one of those genteel comfort
less boarding houses which afford so
poor substitute for real homes, and
she came down into the parlor, where
the gas was economically lowered and
the scent of the vegetable soup that had
been served for dinner still fingered.
"Oh, Mariusln she said. with little
gurgie 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.
I've got sucn favor to ask of YOU,
Marius-and oh, | don't know how to
do it, after all the hateful things I've
said about mothcrs-in-law, and that
sort of thingm faltered she.
He stood still listening. and after q
short pause Alice went hurriedly on:
'.It's my Aunt Alethea. I've got to
take her home and take care of her,
for her cousin who has supported her
all these wears can't do it any more;
and oh, Marius, we can't be married
unleSs-unless you will be very good
and kind. and let old Aunt Alethea
come and live with us.
Marius Gray's face lighted up.
Alice forgive mer' he said You
have shown greater confidence in me
than | have done in you. As far as l
am concerned, your aunt will be most
welcome in my home that you and l
are to share together. But Alice, L
had come here to ask you to release me
from our engagement
Alice gave little start.
'Marius! Oh, Marius, you don't
mean it?"
For the reason" he went on .'that
it is now incumbent on me to support
my mother. who has hitherto lived with
her father. | 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"
'.Marils," cried Alice, ''it's quite
true " hat 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?n
Il am sure of it now. Alice" said
the young man, still holding her hand
tenderlv in his.
And | won't release YOU from your
engagement" declared Alice, disguis-
ing her emotion under a very effective
pretence of gay bddiaGge 'rve been
taking lessons at a cooking-school and
making up household linen. and l mean
to show your mother and my Aunt
Alethea what capital housekeeper /
can be. And oh, how proud | shall be
when they eat the first dinner | cook
in my own hoUSpi