Nevada County picayune., 1889-05-22
A THORN IN THE FLESH,
BY ELEANOR ". F. BATES.

It cannot be denied that mothers in-law are a much maligned class, and perhaps the stigma arises from the occasional existence of such an one as Victor Nialle's wife's mother, who was a veritable thorn in the flesh. Unselfsh, affectionate and helpful are many, nay, most of her order; she possessed none of these qualities, and nearly wrecked her daughters whole life.
 Rosemary was pretty creature without much will of her own, but with strong affections, which were divided between her husband, her mother and her children, and she never asked herself which she loved best.
 Old Mrs. Bourne loved money, perhaps, because she never had any, and when the rising young merchant of good family and large income came courting her only daughter, she forwarded the match with all her might.
 Rosemary was but slightly educa- ted. and Victor knew it would never do to introduce her thus to his friends, both on her account and his, so he paid her tuition at fashiona- ble boarding school for a year or two, and then when she graduated, a fair-faced, gentle girl, with some natural dignity and much acquired grace, a speedy wedding followed.
 The young couple lived at down. town hotel for a year or more, and Mrs. Bourne saw her daughter only at such intervals as Rosemary could spare from her husband and from society, for the young wife became a belle in a small way.
 After this the first baby was born, and balls and operas lost their charm for Rosemary. At her request they now went to keeping house. Victor bought charming little cottage on the outskirts of the city, furnished it luxuriously and presented the deed of it to Rosemary with kiss and q whispered word of affection. Mrs. Bourne frequently spent the day with Rosemary, and, if the weather was unpropitious, she spent the night also. If Rosemary was unwell, as began to happen often, her mother stayed until she was better, and when the twins were born, Mrs. Bourne came with trunk and boldly took possession of the best guest chamber without invitation or per mission. Victor, and perhaps, Rose mary, too, supposed she would retreat in good order when doctors and nurses were dismissed; but not so-the old lady remained calmly seated in her fortress.
 My dear" remarked Victor "when your mother leaves us, l have some friends l wish to invite for 2 short stay"
 'She-she hasn't mentioned going home yet" faltered Rosemary, divi' ded between a wish to please her husband and a natural desire for hei mothers company.
 Spring came a few sultry days followed, and Victor sent Rosemary the boy twins and nurses to the sea side. This effectually dislodgeC Mrs. Bourne. She returned to hel own home, and they met no more til autumn breezes blew, when her daily visits recommended.
 Victor did not and could not llk' his mother-in-law. He disliked her Tn ouisltiveness he felt extreme con tempt for her parsimony, and abso lutely forbade that it should b' practiced in his house, for Mrs Bourne had way of going into thu kitchen and instructing the seryant how to economize in food, which lee to freouent battles between the hire limos and herself; and Victor loved