Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-09-18
THAT MOTHER-IN-LAW.
How She Game to Be Appreci-
ated at Her True Worth.

How She Game to Be Apprect-
ated at Her True Worth.
"One thing I'm resolved upon" said Kate
Rider to her sister. I'm going to be mis-
tress in my own house won't be ridden
over by dreadful motherin-law."
'Stick to that, Kate, and you'll be happy"
said Rose.
Rose had been married two years; Kate
two weeks. Roses husband was a young
lawyer, who lived In thriving town, and
had no relatives that he cared any thing
about, or even seemed to desire to see
again. Henry Rider, Kate's husband, was
a young physician, who had struggled into
practice in an out-of-the-way village, where
he had lived all lis life with an old-fash-
ioned mother, to whom he was extremely
attached, and two plump, good d-humored
sisters, who, If neither accomplished nor
stylish, were the best girls in the world.
Kate was boarding school GIRL with all
manner Of accomplishments, and natural
aptitude for the latest fashions. She had a
little income of her own, and was consid-
cred beauty by very many people; and
Henry Rider had yielded to her fascina-
tions, courted her a month, been engaged
two, and married at the end Of a three
months acquaintance. He was very much
in love.
AS for Kate, 1t was her first offer; and
Henry was very handsome. To be a doc
tors wife was well enough; though, had
she inquired more closely into his income,
she might have hesitated about giving so
ready ''yes." But since her marriage she
had heard so much about ''mother'' and
Jane and Fannie that, alarmed at the pros
pect which seemed to spread itself before
har ha had mt 10 rNlu
"Shall you expect me to live with your
peoplel" And received the answer:
II thought you knew we always lived to-
gether."
"You were putting up at hotel when
met you," said Kate. "rm sure ! never
thought of such thing"
And Immediately resolving that she would
alter these domestic arrangements, she
took counsel with her sister, and the result
was the declaration above recorded-'I in
tend to be mistress In my own house"
With these words on her lips she sought
her husbands presence.
"You see, Henry" she said, with a smile,
young ladies and old ladies don't like the
same things. Our ways of managing would
| be different, and we'd quarrel; and it really
| is more than you can expect that should
manage for so many at first; and 1 won't
be managed for"
"But you don't want me to turn my moth
er and sisters out of my housei" asked the
doctor.
"Of course not-only tCe can live some.
whore else," said the girl-wife.
But wait until you've seen them," said
the husband '"They are the best of peo
pie"
"Oh, no doubti Ones own relatives al
ways are" said the wife. But one family
| is enough for one house, and shall stay
with sister until have q home of my OtUn, "
with which words she left him, conscious
of having shown the proper spirit" in time.
The doctor sat with his head upon his
hands for a long while. He had foreseen
nothing like this, and was unprepared for
action. However, he was still very much
in love, and he could not but feel that many
wives might have felt as Kate did, and thai
he also might have objected TO ready made
family.
Better, after all, to live amicably apart
than TO dwell together in strife" he said
and after one more conversation with his
| wife he wrote to his mother to engage board
for himself and his bride within a short
distance of his own home, adding only:
''Kate thinks she would like boarding best >
| To this shortly came an answer:
| You have kept the truth from me, in kind
/ ness, ShlQ the Olo iaQY. KNOW now II Is
/ Your wife objects to a mother-iE-laW; but my
son, your practice would be injured by re
| moval; your comfort destroyed by beginning
married life in q clearinghouse. The girls anC
| myself will find a new home. have enough
thank Heaven, for all three, and am not IL
the least offended. Fannie and Jane arr
| younger than /, and you must not blame then
| II they are different"
Indeed, buxom Jane came to the city tha
very day, and in the excess OF her indigna
tion heaped reproaches on her brother, anC
| spoke Of his wife as a NASTY stuck-up lit
| tie wretch"
'.SSse herp' cried Jane, with the tear
streaming down her round, dimpled cheeks
"Be introduced to her No: neither no
Fannie want TO see or meet or speak Il
that woman who has turned our dear olC
| mother out of the home where she has nurse1
US all; that viper that has set her only sol
against her. should insult her if she CAM
into this room. So don't bring her-nasty
white-faced beastr'
"Remember you are speaking of my wife
Jane" said the doctor,
"And why need you have married such
creaturer' cried Jane. "How we've worke,
for you and done for you, up late and dow
early, to make home for you! But it
like mans ingratitude. don't want to Sc
| you dHdils NNiuCE. uOpt never
see you again as long as live"
"Do you mean that's" asked the man.
II do" sobbed the girl "Fd rather hay
seen you in your coffin than have it come t
this. So goodbye forever, as far as go
And away went Jane to tell her mothe
and sister that Henry's new wife had mad
him harder hearted than stone, and I
weep bitter tears over the packing of he
few possessions and her departure from he
lifelong home.
The doctor said nothing, but he was yer
grave. The homecoming of the bride wa
not gay one. To be sure, old Mrs. Ride
came over 10 call on the first afternoon, an
showed the young hnusekeeper great de;
of politeness and kindness; bnt Kate di
not, to use her own expression, stake ,
her" The old lady was hoInely and coul
, trified, and used the English language q
carelessly as do most old country ladies'; an
she wore homemade brown alpaca, and
cap with border all round, tied under tn
G chin. Kate rejoiced over her resolution &
she Hade her gesd-bye.
But the husband went far on the roa
with his mother, and was not ashamed I
shed a few tears; and coming home, /
wished aloud, unheaFd by any thing but Il
old COW who graSed IN the lane. and WI