Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1892-02-27

tIdt ohohS AAhS MANU- 6ASNhAS SNe
gooseberries behind her spectacles.
For such modern trifes as eyeglasses
were as unsuited to my mother-in-
laws fine Roman nose as a point-lace
collar would be to the Venus di Milo.
l could feelher glances penetrate to the
very narrow of my bones; and yet ]
contrived to keep a bold front, as ]
stood facing her.
1t was rather a curious complication.
My mother-in-law had not the least idea
who l was. l had cheerfully intended
to take her by surprise; but now that
the eventful moment had arrived, my
courage, like that of Bob Acres, ms JEFF
ferson shows him, was oozing out at
the ends of my fingers.
My name is Richard Dalton. was
then just twenty-one, with a face that
was not absolutely ugly, a sublime
audacity and pockets not particularly
well-lined, and l had just distinguished
myself by running away with a pretty
girl from boarding-school
but, Dick" she had demonstrated,
we've nothing to live on"
Don't be a goose, darling,"h had been
my reply. What do people need to
live on? All the wants of this world,
more or less, are Fictitious. A crust of
bread and a glass of water three times
a day, and now and then a suit of
clothes-we 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 at the Angel Hill
hotel, and began our honeymoon royal
ly, At the end of a month, mine host
had become a little importunatc on the
subject Of his bill, and Nettie's
mother had written a letter to her, sig
nifying that she wanted nothing what
eve to do with us. We had made IL
own bed, she signifed, and now we
might lie on it.
"Oh, Dick" cried Nettie, clasping
her hands: What are we to do?"
Hanged if l know" was my rather
blank response. But don't cry, dar-
iihk, II SO anu Stc ntE NY SCIl'
"You, Dick"
~, myself"
She'll have nothing to say to you"
"She can't help herself"
Shell turn you out of doors"
We'll see about that"
But Dicl, you don't know-you
can't have any idea -how terrible she
is" sighed Nettie.
Saint George conquered the dragon,
my love-" asserted, cheerfully, 'and
Imean to conquer your mother. So
pack my ~valisc, there's a darling, and
I'll be off before the landlord comes
back from Boston,
But, Dick, if he's trou blesome, what
can l say to him?" appealed poor little
frightened Ncttie.
Tell him I've gone out of town, and
shall be back in a few days" said l.,
confidently.
But, valiantly as l spoke, my mental
sensations by no means correspondent
with this bold part. | was beginning
dimly to realize what a very unwise
step | had taken, and also persuaded
poor Ncttie to take. And | was secret
ly making up my mind that if Nettie's
mother refused to receive us, | would
ship myself off to sea as sccond-mate
or third purser, or something OF that
sort, send my advance wages to my
poor little wife, and the
world over again in this irregular fash
ion.
But when | walked resolutely up to
my mother.in-law's door, she greeted me
as if ] had been expected for the last
week or so.
You've come, have you?" was the
s~alutation.
well, yes" | admitted, 1--WE come"
What on earth detained you?" said
she.
In my mind / cast about what to say,
and settled on the first convenient ex-
cuse that came into my head.
"The train was delayed at Boyle
town." said !.
well, come in, now that you're
here" she said, land get warm. It's