Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-08-25
A MOTHER R-N-LAW.

bsfs Of the same club, We had chambers ON
the same hoor In Vellum buildings-we
wers both bsrristers, you know. but neither
Of us had ever held brief
Idjdn't know very much about Bachelor,
bat liked the man. I would have lent
Batchelor So without security. ! mean It
upon my soul. mean II. Ut was Pump
er who spoke, as we sat smoking)
Batchelor went away for little run upon
the continent two summers ago. l saw
him of. From the moment l saw Jack
Batchelor Of until yesterday l. hadn't
clapped eyes upon him.
: Jack Bachelor dropped out Of my life,
but yesterday met him once again. A
very fashionably dressed little woman was
on his arm, distinctly pretty little woman
fair, huffy. sentimental looking. blue
eyed.
round to look at her. did for one, and as
did so caught Bachelors eye.
At first he favored me with a furious
scowl. Then, as he recognized me, his face
broke into a smile. He stopped, he shook
hands, he introduced me to the pretty little
woman as Mrs. 1iHhtfoot, and then he
asked me to dinner for the same evening
att.
"You must dine with US, Pumper," he
said. "Seven sharp" He thrust oasd In
to my hand.
'If you don't come, I'll never forgive you,
Mr.. Plumper." said the lady. Jacks al
ways singing your praises"
And then she favored me with a smile
an arcfi, merry, intoxicating smile, that
caused my heart to palpitate for full q
quarter of an hour.
GOOD graciousr' thought, "hsre's q
mystery. I hate mysteries. Come and
dine with u.s. Perhaps she II his sister,
keeping house for him; Of course that's II.
He's lucky fellow. Is Batchelori Charm
ing little womanl' thought; "her sweet
smile haunts me STILL"
was In love, sir-over head and ears In
love--with Bachelors sister, and
hummed "Queen of Ny Heart" all the way
to Chelsea, where Bachelor lived.
took an hour and q half to dress, and
my fifth tie hardly satisfied me. When I
arrived, I was shown into Bachelors draw
ing room by trim little maid.
There she was, on a low chair, looking
lovelier than ever. She was wearing a
great spray of Marechal Mel roses, and
she welcomed me In the kindest possible
manner.
my husband has been singing your
praises, Mr.. Pumper," she said.
Her husbandl hate mystery.
Then ! thought that had fathomed It.
am an ingenious man. Bachelor had ev-
identity come into money. He had taken
the name of Lightfoot 1t was all as plain
a. pikesta6.
sMrs. Lightfoot," began.
Mrs. Bachelor, II you please" said the
lady, with a silvery laugh.
I was dumfounded- He certainly intro
duced her to me a. Mrs. Lightfoot. But
before could recover from my surprise the
door opened. and the delicious little vision
Of Bond street sailed into the room.
''Sisters-twins evidently" thought,
attempting to grasp the situation. They
were as like as two peas--you couldn't tell
t'other from which. "Hang It," thought,
"Batchelor must feel as II he were married
to both of them"
And then Bachelor came In, and we had
capital dinner and were as jolly as sand
boys. After dinner he explained things.
"Pumper," he said, 'the very day after
parted from you two years ago met Mrs
Bachelor and her charming mother. / fell
In love with them at once. Mrs. Lghtfoot's 3
pretty woman, as You see, but In widows
mourning she's absolutely irresistible. !
couldn't make up my mind. Like the ass
between two bundles Of hay, hesitated-
.Should 1t be Angela or Angelinai I
could never get either Of them alone. That
was my difficulty. Fortune favored me at
last. Invent into the hotel garden one even
ing, and found Mrs. Lightfoot buried in
thought, gazing on the beauties of the sum-
mer night. made up my mind at once. !
would propose In form.
"But she mightn't care for ma Angela's
grief might be too recent. would be am
biguoua would leave q way Of retreat
open-should II be 90, / would at once ash
for the hand Of Angelina.
"'Mrs. Lightfoot,' said sentimentally,
seating myself at her side, this is vale Of
tears. DO you never, my dear madam, do
you never l said-and ! lowered my voice
to an amorous whisper-'think of-um-ah
-marriager
"'Oh, Mr.. Batchelorl she replied, and
there were tears In her voice, my recent
loss'-
"'You mistake me, my dear Mrs. Light
foot 1 said, taking the cue at once; 1t was
in reference to your charming daughter
that spoke
angela gave little start Of surprise as
! said the works.
"'Your charming daughter continued.
Miss Lightfoot-may / say Angelinat-
has inspired me with feelings that are more
easily imagined than described IT,
went on, the devotion of a lifetime'-
"'Say no more,' burst In Angela-I mean
Mrs. Lightfoot-I am q woman Of impulses;
my first instincts never mislead me- You
love Angelina, Mr.. Batchelori She is very
young; she is not IL. Bless youi may you
be happyP
~ married Angelina within q month,
Pumper. I'm we'll of, SOS Angelina, SOS
Angela mean Mrs Lightfoot. And then
my troubles began.
my mother-in-law is atrociously good
looking, as you have seen. She threw of
her mourning on our wedding day. She's
a creature Of impulse, as she told me. She
firts outrageously. My whole time Is 90
supied in preserving my good looking
mother-in-law from the consequences of her
own fligbtiness.
'She persists in going everywhere.
have to stay up at dances till o'clock In
the morning because Angela-I mean Mrs.
Lightfoot--declares that I'm her natural
protector, and it's my duty. have 10 be
continually threatening with personal vio-
lence fellows who persecute her with their
attentions It's more than flesh and blood
can bear, Pumper. and I'm sick of It."
"She's q very charming little woman,
Batchelor," }" I remarked.
"Of course she Is" said Bachelor sulk-
lily, "a great deal too charming. By jovei
Pumper," he continued as blushed to my
ears, you are-yes, Of course you are-you
Ara hos Int xxiC .Il