The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-06-22

self that any fool might do that.
She asked one or two questions more,
which answered with the blind faulty
which attends youth and confidence
She seemed pleased with my willing
ness to undertake anything and every
! thing.
And now about wages?" she said
briskly. What viii you ask for your
own services, and those of your wife
by the month";"
l fitted the tips of my fingers reflect
lively together.
las we are both rather inexperi-
enced," said l. well agree to work the
first month for our board; after that
you shall pay Us what you think we
| are both worth"
"Hum-hum." said my mother-in-
law, that's a sensible proposition-a
very sensible one, indeed. Well, send
! for IL reung woman at once. Ia the
mean -lue I'll show you over the place
and explain to you the nature of your
duties"
So hired myself out to my mother
| in-law as farm servant, without further
ceremony, and Immediately wrote and
posted letter TO Nettie.
On my return from the post Office l
met burly young man meditating a.
a spot where four roads meet.
Can you tell me, SIR said he,
''where Mrs. Abel Martin lives?"
''Oh. yes, sir. l can tell YOU re-
sponded. affably. But if you are look
/ I. ba ! 81
you that it's filed
The bury young man made some re-
marks, indicative, in d general way, of
! his opinion of the fickleuess of woman
kind, and departed, whilst returned
rejoicing to the old farmhouse
Here's a very nice beginning" said
to myself. 1T is now my business to
give as much satisfaction as possible. F."
Fortune favored me in more WAYS
than one. My mother-in-law sprained
her ankle on the second day. and |
| played cook as well as man-of-all-worlS
| with distinguished success, AID | had
| the satisfaction to hear her say to old
| Miss Priscilla Perkins that she didn't
! know when she had taken such notion
to anyone as she had to the new man.
Hes too young and good-looking to
suit me" observed Miss Priscilla, purs-
ing up her steel-trap of a mouth.
''He is good looking, amt hep said
my mother in-law. But he's dreadful
handy about the house, and he AIM one
bit afraid OF work. And you ought to
have seen the oysters he stewed for nv
supper last night, and the cup of tea
he made; why, l don't miss Jemima
Styles one bit. If Nettie could have
stayed single till she met such man
as this!'
I smiled to myself as I laid out the
kindlings for the breakfast fire. My
accomplishments as "Jack-of-all-
trades had never done me much good
before. But now they were certainly
winning me much credit in the world.
At the end of the third day she had
told me the whole story of her
daughters runaway match with a
''good-for nothing young city chap"
On the fourth day she had consulted
with ne as to whether it was better to
put the forty-acre lot into oats or rye,
and had won her heart by taking to
pieces the old town clock, which had
not gone for ten years, and restoring it
to running order once again.
And on the evening of the same day
Nettie arrived, all blushing and treIn-
bling.
ooh, Dick" said she, sis she very an
gry?"
MY dear, she hasn't any idea who 1
am
But, Dick
No butts, my darling" said I cheer
fully. Let us be Julius Caesar over
again. I'VE come, we see, we con-
quer.'"
And I dragged my unwilling little
wife into the back room, where nv
motherin-law lay on a sofa nursing
her ankle.
Here's my wife. ma'am," said I,
land hope she'll give satisfaction"
Mrs. Martin jumped up, spite of the
wounded ankle.
''Nettie!" she cried, in blank amaze
ment.
''Oh, mother. mother" faltered Net
tie, throwing both hands around the
old lady's neck, please forgive ne this
time and FL never, never elope againr'
Please, ma'am, We'll be good"
added l.
And my mother-in-law relented on
the spot How could she do otherwise?
Henrietta" said she. you've been
naughty girl-there's no denying that.
But Your husband seems handy man
about the house, and I'm tired of living
alone. So take off your things and go
to work getting supper. As for you,
Richard
Yes. ma'am," said J, II know I've
been playing a double part, and de-
ceived you all along. But I wanted
you to like me-and you know"
added, ''all IS fair in love and war;
We'll. l do like you a little" admit
ted my mother-in-law. And now that
l have seen you, Dick, don't much
wonder at the way Nettie behaved"
After that she never scolded me any
more. And / honestly believe that this
is the only case on record in which a
mother-in-law was conquered IN so brief
campaign. Nettie says she doesn't
know how did it In fact, | don't
quite know my self-Boyv Bells.
--Intuit8ve knowledge. Bob !
bic" said the teacher in natural his