The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-12-14
"A THORN IN THE FLESH.

! III cannot De uenleu THAT motnerS-lu-
law are a much maligned class, aud
perhaps the stigma arises from the oc-
casional existence of such an one as
Victor WALES wife's mother, who was
veritable thorn in the flesh. Unself-
ish, 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 a 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 her.
self which she loved best.
Old Mrs. Bourne loved money, per-
haps, because she never had any, and
when the rising young merchant OF
good family and large income came
counting her only daughter, she for
warded the match with all her might
Rosemary was but slightly educated,
and Victor knew it would never do to
introduce her thus to his friends, both
on her own account and his, so he paid
her tuition at fashionable boarding
school for year or two, and then
when she graduated, a fair-faced, gen.
tie girl, with some natural dignity and
much acquired grace, a speedy we'd
ding followed.
The young couple lived at a down.
town hotel for 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 lux
uriously and presented the deed of it
to Rosemary with kiss and whis-
pered word of affection. Mrs. Bourne
frequently spent the day with Rose
mary, and if the weather was unpro-
pitious, she spent the night also. If
Rosemary was unwell, as began to
happen often, her mother stayed till
she was better, and when the twins
were born, Mrs. Bourne came with a
trunk and boldly took possession of
the best chamber without invitation RI
permission. Victor, and pe,'"pS
Rosem Try, too, supposed she v'uia 10.
treat in good order when ]O''or' anu
nurses were dismissed; pl' NOV So-.ne
old lady remained cahniy sea'eo III ner
fortress.
INV dear - ,emarked Victor, "when
,,,,u o,brr leaves us, l have some
friends = wish TO invite for a short
stay
nome yet" faltered Rosemary, divided
between wish 70 please her husband
and natural desire for her mothers
company.
Spring came; few sultry days fol-
lowed, and Victor sent Rosemary, the
boy, twins and nurses to the seaside.
This effectually dislodged Mrs.
Bourne, She returned to her own
home, and they met no more till
autumn breezes blew, when her daily
visits recommended.
Victor did not and could not like his
mother-in-law. He disliked her in
quisitiveness; he felt extreme contempt
for her parsimony, and absolutely for
babe that it should be practiced in his
house, for Mrs Bourne had way of
going into the kitchen and instructing
the servants how to economic in food,
which led to frequent battles between
the hirelings and herself; and Victor
loved peace at home, and hated to
have wars and rumors of wars forced
upon him.
One black Friday, Mrs. Bourne slip
ped on frosty pavement near Victor's
house, and received a severe sprain,
the effects Of which lasted far into the
winter. Of course she was taken into
her daughters home to be cared for.
Her trunks were sent for, and, although
she ultimately recovered the perfect
use of her limbs, it began to be tacitly
admitted that she was permanently
located with her daughter. Victor
frowned in silence, but treated her
with unvarying, if somewhat stiff,
courtesy.
For awhile there was peace, or, at
least, an armed neutrality. Then Mrs.
Bourne announced, first in yelled terms,
afterward plainly and repeatedly that
she thought Rosemary ought to
have an income of her own. Victor
heard her in establishment, and replied
that he would talk it over with his
wife. Rosemary burst into tears and
begged him not to mind what her
mother said. He bad always provided
for her and her children, as his means
would allow, nor did she ever ask for
money; her little purse was kept in
certain corner OF her dressing case,
and before it became entirely empty,
it was always replenished by Victor.
Then Mrs. Bourne objected to the
situation of their house, and wished
the whole family, including herself, to
spend the winter in the heart of the
city. Victor treated this suggestion
with silent disapproval, after consult
ing Rosemary, and learning that the
wish did not originate with her.
Many and various were the causes
for complaint which Mrs. Bourne
found, and Victor began to be irritable,
moody and jealous. His little Rose
mary was no longer his; she was al
ways in her mothers company, and he
scarcely saw her alone save in the wee