The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-03-22

new steel and orcido abDMinations--
that within the week. and before Alice
had quite decided what % say when
she should cct ready ~ write q her
mother-in-law. there came q pleasant
little note from Mrs Jtahn Smith tho
elder. saying how lony = time u was
sincc she had had a visit from Allie.
Cant you como now slo wrote,
while John h away trnselIng2 L
should moi al all wonder II he stopped
here on his way home. and what n
pleasant surprise u viii be- 20 himto
End you herei-
Alice's face frightened She ran 10
show the letter 10 Joanna
"won't II be nicce~ said she. like .
delighted child
1T Just wiili- said Joanna
Mrs John Smith. the elder. was not
In tho least Hike the conventional idea
OF mother-in-lnw. She was com
Portable. pillowy old lady, with twink
ling gold spcctaclcs. frill Of real lace
around her neck and black silk dress
that rustled softly Ms she walled. just
the kind Of woman TO coniisle IN, and
in less than twcnty-fonr hours she and
Alice had tnllsed the whole matter over.
and Alice Ind prepared sundfy test
dishes in the kitchen.
"My dear" said the old lady. "you
are better cook than ever ! was. 4
..Rut. mother, John doesn't think
80.
"Js,hn raust be nude 70 appreciate
his blessings my dear" said Mrs.
Smith. the elder
on course Mr. Smith was pleased 10
ilnd Alice there when he stopped for =
fiying visit on The way home. Il was
Just Il dinner time wlien he arrived,
and he ate like q stagved wolf
%Ah.h-lhs sail he. helping himself q
second tine to the flaisy chicken pho
and sending his coffee cup for re-
plenishmrnt "This u something liisci
The people out wet don't know what
cooking means ! SEQ. mother. you
haven't forgotten your old skill. An-
other croqrcttc.. please. And pass the
dougbnut& Now, look here. Allie
eat these, II you want to know what
doughnuts really ale, Why, ] used TO
take these to scliSol III my lunch box
when was ten years old haven't
eaten such dinncr MS this since was
ut homo before. do wish. mother,
yon could give Allie few points In
these matters.
Mrs JOHN Smith. the elder. looked
across the table 10 where Alicc'a fair
head eroopcd over her plate.
Don't mind him, Allie,, she said,
cnconragingly "You may show him
tomorrow what you can do.
At breakfast tho iishbalis were pro-
nounccd too dry.
Don't you like thcm2s fiuttered
Allie. with an appruhenslve glance at
her mothcr.in-law.
"DosI like sawdust2 Whnta that
you've got thcre7 Iroiled chiclcnsi
How came you 10 scnrch them 500 And
hnlf raw In tho nliddloi Call these
rolls2 Why. they're heavy rs leadi
Doll me an egg, can't you2 Luckily no
body can spoil d ho led egg. "
Dinner was no better. The ronst
grouse was ovcrdoDc, the oyster pie
was pronounced ''soggy," tho pudding
like lead
.No vendor" groancl Air, Smith,
that dyspepsia 81 the great American
diseased"
why, John" chirpcd tho choery old
lady. 'whnt ails you2 Yon never used
to grumble so at what you ate and
drank"
'Its Allies vile cooisingi'' groancd
the young man.
mo, Il isn't, said Mrs John Smith.
the elder. tits mine"
.'Whatr' shouted her son. dropping
his knife.
.I'vc done all the cooking to-day"
said Mrs. John Smith, the elder. "Ex-
nctly as used to do II when you lived
ut home. md suited you 10 To-
"And--nnd who cooked the dinner
yesterday" stammcred John.
'.Aliccl Everything on the tablet
cook than was. And you will believe
itnow."
John sat for moment or two in
silence; then he whistled q low, long
whistle.
II give up beati'' said he. "Alicc. we
shall have TO hand over the frat prize
TO you. Come around here. my girl,
and kiss me-
And Alice obeyed, stopping on the
way to give her mother-in-law q low
ing little hug.
Joanna johnson was on the alert to
catch every word and look when the
young couple returned home, and ap-
parently the result Of her obscr-
vations was satisfactory.
II kind D. thought II would work,
said She to herself, with d grim smile.
Them donghnuts ahc fried last night,
he said he had never tasted no better.
They was like thistiedowns. "
Just then Alice came in all radiant
Joanna" said shc, did You hear
what Mr. Smith said about my cook
ing2'
.'Yes, deer. | did, smiled Joanna
'.He likes my cooking now
..IIc'd be a strange person II he
didn't, dear" observed the help"
But Alice kept the story Of the little
stratagcm to herself She was too
loyal a wife to bctray Johns discomfit-
ure even 10 faithful Joanna; and on
her side the ianls New Highlander never
let Alice know Of the letter she had
surreptitiolsly written to Mrs John
Smith, tiie elder. suggesting this very
plan.
1T takes good deal Of machinery 70
get ahead OF man." said Joanna 70
herself. "but guess we did Il this