St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1893-08-19
HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW.

His MOTHEK-IN-LAW.
She Was Not the Hard, Unforgiv-
ing Creature He Expected.
You've come, have your" said my
mother-in-law in = deep voice. ~ she
stood on the threshold grimly survey.
ing me with eyes that shone like hard,
Rreentsh-blue gooseberrieS behind her
spectac'eA For such modern triflcs as
eyeglasses were - unsuited to my
mother-in-law's Ane Roman nose as .
POINT lace collar would be to the Venus
di Milo. could feel her glance pcne-
traoe 10 the very marrow of my bones;
and yet contrived to keep bold front
q stood facing her.
. IL was rather . curious complication.
My mother-in-law had not the least
Idea who wsa had checrfully in
tended to take her by surprise; but now
that the eventful moment had arrived,
my courage, like that Of Bob Acres, n
Jenerson shows him, was ooziug out 1t
the ends Of my fingers
My name Is Richard Dalton. I was
then just twenty-one, with . face that
was not absolutely ugly, . sublime au-
dacity, and pockets not particularly
well lined, and had just distinguished
myself BY running away with pretty
girl from boarding school.
But, Dick" abe had demonstrated,
'Te have 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, are hctitiouA A crust Of
bread and . glass of water three times
. day, and now and then . suit Of
clothcs-we must be poor, indeed, il we
can't manage TO compass that"
Nettie had looked sdmirinRly upon me
and acquiesced in my argument We
had taken board at the "Angel Hill
Hotel" and began our honeymoon roy
ally. At the end Of . month mine host
had become . little importunate on the
subject Of his bill, and Nettic's mother
had written . letter to her signifying
that she wanted nothing whatever 70
do with rs. 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 do7"
'.HanGed II I know!' was my rather
blank response. But don't cry. dar-
ling. I'll 60 and see her myself"
lyon, Dick7"
I Il myselfr'
''She'l have nothing to say 10 you."
''She can't help herself"
''She'll turn you out Of doorsL"
"We'n see about that"
''But, Dick, you don't know-you
can't have any idea-how terrible she
H." sighed Nettie.
''St. George conquered the dragon,
my love, !" asserted, cheerfully. and I
mean to conquer your mother. So pack
my valise. there's darling, and I'll be
on before the landlord comes back from
Liverpool 1.
but, Dick, II he's troublesome, what
can / say to him?" appealed poor little
frightened Nettie.
'Tell him I've gone out Of town and
shall be back in . few days" said I,
conndently.
: But valiantly as spoke. my mental
with this bold part Twas beginning
dinly to realize what . very unwise
step had taken and also persuaded
poor Nettie TO take.
/, And was secretly making up nv
mind that IL Nettie's mother refused to
receive us, would ship myself OF to
go - second mate or third purser, or
something Of that sort. send my ad-
vanced wages to my poor little wife
and commence the world over again in
this irregular fashion.
= But when walked resolutely mp TO
my mother-in-law's door she greeted
me as II had been expected for the
last week or SO.
you've come. have your w.s the
oalutation.
/, ''Well, yes" admitted, 1--WE come"
"What on earth detained your said
ohe.
In my mind I cast about what 70 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, /" said she, ''and get warm. It's
awful cold weather for this time o.
year. isn't it?"
"Yes," said !. with IN assenting nod.
''Let me zee, /" said my mother-in-law.
- she took steaminR platter Of ham
and eggs out Of the oven and lifted Q
coffee pot from the stove; ''how
old arc you?"
a.
!, DO you think" said she, pensively
feeling Of her chin, that you are able
70 take care Of the place? There's .
great deal q do. you know, on . farm
like this. Do you think you're up 70 |
the worl9s
'.Of course think So" said ], won
dering what On earth ny mother-in-
law meant.
"You are married. ! suppose" said
she.
''Oh. yes. /" said I. swallowing the hot |
coffee and winking my eyes very hard
I'm married"
Can your wife make herself general
y useful about the placer" sharply de-
manded the old lady.
Certainly she can," said ], beginning |
to see my way through the
mists Of perplexity that had heretofore
pbscured my brain.
How old is she?" asked Mira Martin. |
"Eixhteen," answered
Mrs. Martin frowned.
"what does possess girls 70 get mar
lied nowadays" said she. before
they've left Oh dolls and patchwork?"
I looked thoughtfully down It the
pattern Of my pl.te-a pink Chinaman