The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-20

that shone like hard, greenish- blue
gooseberries behind her spectacles.
1t was rather a curious complication.
My mother-in-law had not the least idea
who l was / had cheerfully intended
to take her by surprise; but now that
the eventful moment had arrived, my
courage, like that of Bob Acres, us JEFF
ferson shows him, was oozing out at
the ends of my fingers.
My name is Richard Dalton. was
then just twcnty-one, with q face that
was not absolutely ugly, sublime
audacity and pockets not particularly
well-lined. and had just distinguished
myself by running away with pretty
girl from boarding-schooL
But, Dick" she had demonstrated,
we've nothing to live on"
Don't be goose, darling" had been
my reply. What do people need to
live on? All the wants of this world,
more or less. arc Fictitious A crust of
bread and Il glass of water three times
day, and now and then suit of
clothes-wc must be poor, indeed, if
we can't manage to compass that"
Nettie had looked admiringly upon
me- and acquiesced in my argument
We had taken board ut the Angel Hill
ly, At the end of month, mine host
had become little importunatc on the
subject of his bill, and Nettie's
mother had written letter to her, sig
nifying that she wanted nothing what
ever to do with us. We had made our
own bed. she signified, and now we
might lie on it.
"Oh. Dick" cried Nettie, clasping
her hands: What are we to do?'
Hanged if known was my rather
blank response. but don't cry. dar-
ling, Pll 20 and see her myself"
You, Dick!''
81, myself"
She'll have nothing to say to YOU"
''She can't help herself"
She'll turn you out of doors"
well see about that
But; Dicl, you don't know-you
can't have any idea how terrible she
is" sighed Ncttie
Saint George conquered the dragon,
my love-" Iasserted, cheerfully, "and
mean to conquer your mother! So
pack my valisc, there's q darling, and
I'll be off before the landlord comes
back from Boston!"
but, Dick, if he's troublesome, what
can say to him?" appealed poor little
frightened Ncttie.
Tell him I've gone out of town, and
shall be back in few days" said /,
confidently.
But when 1 walked resolutely up to
my mother-in-law's door, she greeted me
as if l had been expected for the last
week or SO.
You've come, have you?" was the
salutation.
well, yes" admitted, eve come"
What on earth detained you?" said
she.
In my mind cast about what to say,
and settled on the first convenient en-
cuse that came into my head.
1.-THE train was delayed at Boyle
town." said I.
We'll, come in, now that you're
here" she said, land get warm. It's
awful cold weather for this time o.
year, isn't it?"
Kinder" said I, with an asserting
nod.
"You are married, suppose?" she
said.
"Oh, yes" said I, swallowing the hot
coffee and winking my eyes very hard
"Im married"
Can your wife make herself gener-
ally useful about the placer" sharply
demanded the old lady.
Certainly she can," said I, begin
ming vaguely to see my way through
the mists of perplexity that had here
tofore obscurcd my brain.
How old is she?" asked Mrs. Mar
tin.
Eighteen" I answered
Mrs. Martin frowned.
What does possess girls to get mar
ried nowadays said she, "before
they've left off dolls and patchworls?"
looked thoughtfully down at the
pattern of my plata pink Chinamau
crossing IL carmine bridge, with two
very red willows dropping at the far
end of it. and some impossible streaks
of water below-and made no direct
answer My mother-in-law was doubt
lessly laboring under misapprehcn-
sion, but did not exactly see that it
was my business to set her right She
had evidently engaged a hired man,
nnd took it for granted that was the
parsonage in question.
What can you do?" she asked. alb
ruptly And with equal curtness re-
sponded
Anything"
Come, like that" said my mother
in-law, rubbing her hands ''At least
You are not afraid of work. Do you
understand cows and horscs?"
"Wcll-not much" owned. There
were no cattle at my last place"
(Which was very true, for had been
clerk i'm bank at three hundred dol
lars year. But have not the least