Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-08-17
Ills MOTHER-IN-LAW.
Sbo Was Not the Hard, Unforgiv-
ing Creature lie Expected.

"You've come, have you?" said my
lnother-in-law in deep voice, as she
stood on the threshold grimly survey
ing me with eyes that shone like hard,
greenish- blue gooseberries behind her
spectacles. For such modern trifles as
eyeglasses were as unsuited to my
mother-in-law's fine Roman nose as a
point lace collar would be to the Venus
di Milo. l could feel her glance pene-
trate to the very marrow of my bones;
and yet contrived to keep bold front
as stood facing her.
1t was rather curious complication
My mother-in-law had not the least
idea who I was. I had cheerfully in
tended to take her by surprise; but now
that the eventful moment had arrived,
my courage, like that of Bob Acres, as
Jefferson shows him, was oozing out at
the ends of my fingers.
My name is Richard Dalton. / 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 a pretty
girl from boarding school.
But, Dick" she had demonstrated,
tive have nothing to live on
Don't be goose, darling!'' had beeh
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
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 roy
ally. At the end of month mine host
had become little importunate on the
subject of his bill, and Netties mother
had written a letter to her signifying
that she wanted nothing whatever to
do with us. We had made our own bed,
she signified, and now we might lie on
it.
"Oh, Dicls!" cried Nettie, clasping her
hands; what are we to dop''
"Hanged if 1 know!' was my rather
blank response. But don't cry, dar.
ling I'll go and see her myself"
You, Dick?"
II, 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, Dick, you don't know-you
can't have any idea-how terrible she
is" sighed Nettie.
hn
my love-" asserted, cheerfully, land |
mean to conquer your mother. So pack
my valise, there's u darling, and I'll be
off before the landlord comes back from
Liverpool"
but, Dick, if he's troublesome, what
can say to him?" appealed poor little
frightened Nettie.
Tell him I've gone out of town ana
shall be back in few days." said L
confidently.
But valiantly as l spoke, my mental
sensations by no means corresponded
with this bold part. l was beginning
dimly to realize what a very unwise
step l had taken and also persuaded
poor Nettie to take.
And l was secretly making up my
mind that if Nettie's mother refused to
receive us, would ship myself off to
sea as 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 up to
my mothcr-in-law's door she greeted
me as if had been expected for the
last week or so.
you've come, have your" was the
salutation.
"Well, yes" admitted, 'I've 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 I.
well, come in, now that your.
here" said she, ''and get warm. It's
awful cold weather for this time o.
year, isn't it?"
"Yes," said l, with an asserting nod.
Let me see," said my mother-in-law.
as she took a steaming platter of ham
and eggs out of the oven and lifted a
shining coffee pot from the stove; chow
old are you?"
Zone and twenty" said 1.
"Do you think" said she, pensivel.
feeling of her chin, "that you are able
to take care of the place? There's a
great deal to do, you know, on a farm
like this. Do you think you're up to
the worlS?"
"Of course think so," said l, Won
dering what on earth my mother-in-
law meant.
you are married, suppose" said
She
"Oh, yes," said I, swallowing the hot
coffee and winking my eyes very hard.
"Pm married."
"Can your wife make herself general
ly useful about the placeP" sharply de-
manded the old lady.
Certainly she can," said l, beginning
vaguely to see my way through the
mists of perplexity that had heretofore
obscured my brain.
"How old is she?" asked Mrs. Martin.
Eighteen" l answered
/ Na,.ftt, fynxxy,,a1