The evening times., 1895-08-28
n MOfhor-in

Il WOfllDI-lll-AdW.
| ''To put the matter quite plainly Polly, it
has come TO this: Your mother must go.
| Upon that point / am determined"
Jack Hadley saw the tears come into his
wife's eyes as Lee spoke. bat it had ia ken him
too long to screw himself up to his present
| attitude 10 be lightly shaken from it, now
IL was reached. He therefore pretended not
to Notice her tears and went on:
You see how things stand. 1t is Just
| three years since l made you my wife and
took you down to Bognor for the wedding
trip wehOth eDjo yed SO much. Whenonyour
| return from that all too short hone yrnoonyour
| mother proposed to come and spend little
time with US / made no objection at all to
the proceeding, for as we were making a
fresh start in life deemed the experience of
an older ha nd anadvan nta ge to usa nd thought
that you would be glad to avail yourself of
mothers help in your domestic concerns"
Hepaused sedmomeDtarily, relieved al thaving
thus far safely delivered himself of a speech
he had spent much time in putting together.
His wife remained silent and he continued:
But when it oanc 10 'lou:.s and your
n other gave no indications of returning
TO the maternal abode, / began to wonder
whether 1t fright s1ot be better for US both
if we were left to ourselves, to make the
attempt to walk alone. This have deli
cately hinted to your parent on several
occasions, but she has refused to take the
hint, and now, as / say, it has come to
this-she must be told TO go. You see, your
Totbers not content to take a back seat
like any other visitor. On the contrary,
she keeps herself always i'll the front and
even affects to rule. In fact, she does
rule. II a new carpet is to be bought
she chooses the II aterial. When the rooms
are to be papered 1t is she who selects
the pattern. Even inpreparing the daily
dinner your II mother's taste and wishes
always have the first consideration. I've
had Just about enough Of 1t, SO the thing
must stop. AS the old lady doesn't seem
inclined to leave Of her own free Will,
and refuses to take hint, she must be
told to go in language that she can't
misunderstood"
"Then, you must tell her, for 1 cannot"
sobbed Polly.
Jack had hoped that the task might be
undertaken by his wife, who, with her
woma anly tact would, he thought, be able
to manage the affair little more skill
ing gone So far, he would not now retreat.
Very Well" he said, airily, iii tell
her myself tomorrow, whatever the con-
sequences may be-"
Mother in Ia W said JACK, the nextmor
ing having found the opportunity, I've got
something particular to say affecting your
SELF"
The old lady adjusted her spectacles In a
neat little stimulation of surprise.
affecting me-" she exclaimed "Go
on my dear John. I'm all attention"
Jack screwed up his courage and went
on
'I-we-that is, your daughter and have
been married three years"
Three years." broke in the old lady.
Dear me! How the time flies! 1t hardly
seems three monthsi well?''
Jack didn't like that 'well, )" but he went
on
lit is three years, though, and you have
lived with us ali the time"
''Ah, yes, John, SO have" said the old
lady, blaDdly.
.And I've, that is-have come to the |
conclusion that-we should now like toto |
live by ourselves"
The old lady Strengthened herself up with |
dignity.
"Oh, John Hadley," she said coldly, II |
see what you mean. You want to turn me |
out of doors!''
Not exactly that" said John, deprecat- |
ingly. I'VE should never, of course, think of |
turning you out, but wecertainly venturedto |
hope thatyou would probably see your way |
to living at your own home in the future,
as no doubt you do"
''Iquite understand, Mr.. John Hadley re
turned the mother-in-law, freezingly. Its |
Just the same thing. I'm not fool and can
put two and two together. Very well, it
shall be as you wish-I will go to-day"
There is no need for such haste" said
Jack mildly. "A week or two, or three,
would give you time to arrange your plans
and would quite suit ours''
Enough: go at once" said the old lady,
moving to wardthe door as asifpreparedt to act
lone word before 1 leave" she
added ma jestically, pausiDg at the threshold.
You said 'we.' Do 1 understand that my
laughter Is a party to this insult?''
Your daughter, Mrs. Haslop," said Jack,
'tung into ding tone by the digni-
led demeanor of the old lady, lis my wife,
md as such her first duty Is to her husband.
an ything done by me or at my
wish Is equally her act"
THANK you," said the old lady, bowing
lerself out of the soom.
Jack was surprised, but not altogether
delighted at the easy victory he had
achieved. He had anticipated opposition
md was almost disappointed at finding
lone. However, he accomplished his pur-
lOSp for PolIv's mother. truts tO her word |
made a speedy exit from the house.
At first Jack and his wife missed the old
ady greatly. for she had always been very
much in evidence. In fact, SO lonely and
Iolemn did the house now seem without her
hat Jack sometimes almost wished she
hadn't gone, and as for Polly, she had many
. bsz Al