Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-07-31
HER MOTHER-IN-LAW.

PliOt, examining the natty little dOcu-
ments that the pOstman had left on his
latest errand.
ooh dear me-some poor soul is 60
ing to be disenchanted.'
Disseminated. Aunt Lour' spoke up
her pretty niece Miriam, with wide
open eyes.
That's exactly what it amounts to-"
said Mrs. Pilot.
But, Aunt Lou, | thought you were
such an advocate for matrimony."
80 | used to be-"
You love Uncle Dick, don't youp"
''Of course | do" said Mrs. Pilot,
guiding her scissors skilfully through
the fold of rOse-colOred flannel which
were eventually to be fashioned into a
baby's cloak.
Then, what do you mean by the
groan you gave when you saw those
wedding cardS?n
'Ah, dear Miriam" said Mrs. Pilot,
pushing the red-brown curls out of her
eyes, lit is so hard to explainr'
But, do tell me, aunty dearp"
coaXed Miriam.
We'll, there's that brown cashmere
gown of mine that Mrs. Stitchett sent
home this morning. There it lies
on the sofa. It's love of thing,
the latest color and the most delightful
pattern, but | haven't had the heart to
look at it since Dick took it in. Dick
glanced at the bill and said, in that odd
dry way of his; Seventeen shillings
for making Il dress! My mother al
ways made her ownm
all
Lou" soothcd Miriam.
Il stopped yesterday at the bakers
and brought home roll ofsponge cake.
Dick asked me what it was-and when
| told him he remarked, gloomily,
that nobody ever thought of buying
cake when he was Il boyr"
That's such Il trihe, Aun Lou
when spoke of going out to the
Ladies' Society," this afternoon he
shrugged his shoulders and observed
that he saw now why l had neither
time to bake nor sew--it was all going
and gadding. OF course, after that |
remained at homer
Don't mind him, Aunt Lou said
the peacemaker. "It's only dyspepsia"
There another cause Of complaint"
said his wife, laying down the little
sleeve-pattcrn and cutting deftlv
around it. Il don't cook things as his
mother cooked them! He calls nv
soup, dish-water, and my bread clock
weights! Oh, you may laugh, Miriam.
SO did |, at tirst-so should | now, if
the constant fall OF these everlasting
drops hadn't worn deep wound into
my heart | tell you. child, this house
is haunted by the ghost of Richard's
motherr'
is she dead, Aunt LoUp"
Not that know off, answered Mrs.
Pilot But she haunts me all the
same. No, Betsy; didn't | tell you l
was not at home this afternoon"
'1eS'm.n said the hoarse-voiced
handmaiden; "but this Amt no calling
company. She's come wild two TRUNKS
and bandboX atop of a cab, num-"
Don't make company of me, my
dear, said coy, confidential voice;
and portly old lady, with gray curls
on each side of her face, trundled into
the room. Its Louisa. isn't it? Kiss
me, my dear; I'm Richards mother
come to surprise HIM"
All her life long Mrs. Pilot junior.
had entertained holy horror of
mothers-in-law; all the years she had
been married she had secretly rejoiced
that her mother-in-law was so many
miles away; yet in fifteen minutes she
was sobbing heartily. with her head on
Mrs. Pilot seniors comfortable black
bombazene shoulder, and all her
little troubled secrets were safely con.
tided to this mother-confessor.
Yes, yes, dear; know just how it
is" said Mamma Pilot, patting Louisa's
head as if she were Il baby. Richard
means WELL but men are men. His
father was just like him. Richard must
be made to hear reason"
AT that moment Betsy presented her,
self robed like unto the Queen of Sheba
in all her glory, in green gown, a
scarlet shawl, a crushed raspberry hat
and olive-colored mitts.
PHASE, ma'am, I'm going now," said
she. Aud she vanished.
Mamma Pilot opened her pleasant
old eyes.
''Going" she echoed. Il hope, my
dear, your girl isn't going to leave you
in this unceremonious manner?"
Its her Thursday afternoon out,
explained Louisa, mournfully. I've
got to go down into the kitchen now
and get dinner"
You'll do nothing of the sort, my
dear" said Mamma Pilot. Now, lool
here, I'll get dinner. Well surprise
Dick with some of his old mother:
cooking, and see if he'll appreciate il
any better than he does yours's. Dom
You betray me now"
Louisa's eyes sparkled. I'D die soon
err" said she. ''Oh, you dear, blessed
mother-in-law, why have you never
come to my rescue before?n
We're all human my dear said tn,
old lady. '.And there's no teacher like
experience"
She tied huge white apron around
her waist, rolled up her sleeves. anC
followed her daughter-in-law down int,
the unknown regions of the kitchen
while Miriam put on her hat, and wen
to take her music lesson.
Mr. Pilot came home to dinner
promptly as usual. Mrs. Pilot met hin
in quaint brown merino gown, made
perfectly plain without fold or tuck
like an exaggerated Quakeress.
Halo" said Dick, stopping to lool
at her. why under the canopy hav
you made such guy of yoursef?"
Its the cut of gown your mothc
used to wear said Louisa 9TH