The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-01-09
KITTY's MoTHER.IN-LAw.

"Let me help you," said Kitty softly.
Kitty Give was one of the sweet
souled ministering angels of the world.
And so it happene that she helped the
old lady in the black Thibet shawl to
get out of the Sixth Avenue car on that
Sleety, slippery October afternoon,
"Thank you, my DEAR" said the old
lady, "You couldn't tell me, suppose.
where Mr.. George Sibley lives on West
18th street? am his mother, my dear.
and I'm a stranger In the city,"
Doesn't he expect you? said Kitty,
turning very pink under the shadow OF
her neat little silk umbrella.
NO. said the old lady. "My niece,
with whom have always had home,
has just died, and have come to live
with my son George. He's somewhere
in West 18th street, know, but have
mislaid my glasses and the writing on
this slip Of paper is pretty fine for old
eyes to make cut"
So Kitty Give took it out of her hand
and beneath the luminous ray Of the
nearest lamp read: "Mr. George Sibley,
No. - West 18th street,"
"It's the fourth house from yonder
store" said she. 1.-THE one with the
OluC anu kOiu 6hduSos
And waiting at the corner until she
saw the old lady safe up the steps, Kitty
Give turned away.
"His mother T. she said to herself
"And she had sweet old face, as fresh
and rosy as winter apple. And she it
coming home 10 live with him. o,
know l shall like mother-in-law like
that"
And Kitty, who had never had a
mother of her own felt strange yearn-
ing thrill in her heart as she thought
how nice it would be to have mild old
specialized face by the fireside-a gentle
household angel to whom she could
carry all the little daily cares and trials
of her life.
The next day, however, when Kitty
came to the little fancy store on the cor
ner to match particular shade Of blue
zephyr wool, she saw her little old friend
of the day before sitting meekly on a
chair with the lynx muff and the re-
spectacle bombazine dress, and the odd
little poke bonnet of black Grape, with
its folds of dead black ribbon.
Kitty looked hard at the old lady.
The old lady looked deprecatingly at
Kitty.
Didn't you find him ?" asked Kitty.
obeyipg the sudden impulse of her heart.
"Oh, yes" said the old lady. 81 found
him; but he doesn't want me any more u
Doesn't want you ~ echoed Kitty,
"No !" said the old lady with sigh.
"Now, I'm waiting here for the first
car to take me to the depot. He says
am to go home again. He Is to be mar
ried in few weeks to a beautiful yonng
lady, and he says she will not care to
have mother-in-law about the house
"He is very good" she added sadly: "he
pays my board at Mrs. Winnings down
near the old place, but that will not be
like living with him !"
"And he has sent you away ?" cried
Kitty, with huge lump in her throat.
"HIs own mother 7"
My dear" said the poor little old
lady, when a man is going to be mar
ried he doesn't stop to think much about
his mother. l suppose its all natural
enough, but must say that it is dis
appointment to me. My sons wife will
love him dearly, l don't doubt, but she
never can love him better than have
done ~
And then the old lady put her pocket
OdCh luIO anu
got into the car to ride to the depot.
Kitty Give looked unusually pretty
that evening when her lover came to see
her. She was always fair to look upon,
but tonight there was a deeper carna.
tion than usual on her cheeks, a more
liquid sparkle in her eyes.
George Sibley was tall and dark. He
had always heretofore, been Kitty's ideal
hero, but somehow since yesterday, he
had had tumble from his pedestal.
Il have something to tell you, Kitty -
said Mr.. Sibley, as he seated himself
close to her work table.
"Well2" said Kitty. And it struck
Sibley that the word was uttered in a
colder accent than usual.
81 have saved you from the doom OF a
mother-in-law," said he, smiling. "My
mother has been down from the coun-
try to see me. She wants to make her
home with us. But 1 thought of you,
my darling, and sent her back"
you thought of me, did you ?" said
Kitty Give, flushing up scarlet to the
roots of her hair. "You thought it
would please me to take a sons heart
away from his mother-to send lonely
woman back homeless to the place she
came from. You supposed was selfish
enough to think of myself, and myself
only, in the world. What a very high
estimation you must hold me in p
"But, Kitty"
"Oh, yes" said the little blonde, ex
citedly. 81 know there is popular
prejudice against mothers-in-law, but
it doesn't follow that l am fool enough
to trudge blindly in all those ridiculous
grooves. l never had a real mother,
and want one."
'If had known, Kitty"
"You never consulted me at all, said
the girl. And this settles the question.
A man who is a heartless and migrate
tul son can never make good hus-
band"
kitty, my own darling p
But Kitty turned away from him,
Only tell me, sweetheart, what to
do" he pleaded, in mingled contrtion
and bewilderment.
"Does not your own filial instinct tell
you" she returned with spirit.
But, dear one want to please you.
That is my first object in life,," he urged.
''Does not the Bible say, And he shall
leave his father and his mother, and
cleave unto his wife p"
"Oh, but the Bible never said, He
shall turn his old mother out of doors, to
suit the selfish whims of younger
woman, ," returned Kitty.
Then you wish me to-"
II wish you to go and bring your
mother Immediately back" said Kitty.
Tell her that her sons betrothed wife is
neither stick nor stone, but human
woman with loving heart in her bos-
omp ~!
So Mr.. Sibley went away somewhat
chagrined and good deal conscience
stricken.
II have behaved like brute" he said
to himself; land Kitty is an angel. I'll
write to my mother tonight. No, Ii
won't-lll go myself and bring her
home |"
Great was little Mrs. Sibley's astonish-
ment at seeing George walk into the old
Vlning farmhouse the next day greater
still was her delight when he announced
that he had come to take her back to the
city. And she actually cried tears Of
Joy when she heard of Kitty Gives
words.
GOD bless the sweet little darling I''
said she. ~ know shall love her."
But when she first cav Kitty Give
she uttered an exclamation Of delight
and surprise.
tfQh5 my darling, my darling I" cried
she is''is " you Thank heaven for that
For ever since saw you and felt your
hand, 80 tender and gentle, in mine, on
the street car that day, I've been hoping
and praying that my sons wife might
be like you'll So you are to be my daugh-
ter-in-law, after ALL"
i'And YOU" said Kitty, laughing
through her tears, "are to be my mother
in-law |" ;Ss.. - 80
And George Siblev frankly acknov-