Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1895-01-23
THAT IIOTHER-IN-LAW,
How She Came to Be Appreci-
ated at Her True Worth.

ated at Her True Worth.
''One thing I'm resolved upon," said KeAe
Rider 70 her sister. I'm going to be MIS-
tress in my own house l won't be ridden
over by a dreadful mothern-law."
stick to that, Kate, and you'll be happy"
said Rose
Rose had been married two years; Kate
two weeks. Roses husband was a young
lawyer, who lived in a thriving town, and
had no relatives that he cared any thing
about, or even seemed TO desire to sea
again. Henry Rider, Kate's husband, was
a young physician, who had struggled into
practice in an out-of-the-way village where
he had lived all lis life with an old-fash-
toned mother, to whom he was extremely
attached, and two plump, good huuored
sisters, who, If neither accomplished nor
stylish, We're the best girls in the world
Kate was boarding-school girl, W tn all
manner of accomplishments, and natural
aptitude for the latest fashions. She had a
little income of her own, and was c0nsid-
cred beauty by very many people; and
Henry Rider had yielded to her fascina-
tons, courted her a month, been engaged
two, and married at the end of three
months acquaintance. He was very much
in love.
AS for Kate, it was her first offer; and
Henry was very handsome. To be doc
tors wife was well enough; though, had
she inquired more closely into his income,
she might have hesitated about giving so
ready yes" But since her marriage she
had heard so much about ''motaer'' and
Jane and Fannie that, alarmed at the pros
pect which seemed to spread Itself before
her, she had put the question plump:
"Shall you expect me to live with your
people?" And received the answer:
Il thought you knew we always lived To-
gether"
you were putting up at hotel when I
met you," said Kate. I'm sure 1 never
thought Of such thing"
And Immediately resolving that she would
alter these domestic arrang ements, she
took counsel with her sister, and the result
was the declaration above recorded-'I in
tend to be mistress in my own house"
With these words on her lips she sought
her husbands presence.
You see, Henry she said, with a smile,
| young ladies and old ladies don't like the
same things Our ways of managing would
be different, and we'd quarrel; and it really
is more than you can expect thai l should
manage for SO many at first; and 1 won't
be managed for"
''But you don't want me to turn my moth
er and sisters out of my housem asked the
doctor
''Of course not-only ,vs can live some
| where else,' said the girl-wife.
But wait until you've seen them," said
the husband. 'They are the best of peo-
pie"
"Oh, no Doubt Ones own relatives al
ways are,' said the wife. But one family
is enough for one house, and / shall STAY
cic 1T,
with which words she left him, conscious
of having shown the proper spirit" in time.
The doctor sat with his head upon his
hands for long while. He had foreseen
nothing like this, and was unprepared for
action. However, he was still very much
in love, and ne could not but feel that many
wives might have felt as Kate did, and that
he also might have objected to ready-made
family.
Better, after all, to live amicably apart
| than to dwell together in strife,'' he said;
and after one more conversation with his
wife he wrote to his mother to engage board
for himself and his bride within short
distance Of his own home, adding only:
kate thinks she would like boarding best"
To this shortly came an answer:
"You have kept the truth from me, in kind
| ness said the old lady. II know how il is.
! Your wife objects to a mother-iE-law; but, my
! son, your practice would be injured by re-
moval; your comfort destroyed by beginning
| married life in clearinghouse The girls and
myself VIII find a new home have enough,
thank Heaven, for all three, and am not n
the least offended. Fannie and Jane are
| younger than 1, ana you must not blame them
| II they are different"
Indeed, buxom Jane came to the city that
very day, and in the excess of her indicna-
! ton heaped reproaches on her brother. and
spoke Of his wife as a ''nasty stuck-up lit
tie wretch
''See herp' cried Jane, with the tears
streaming down her round, dimpled cheeks.
''Be introduced to herl No; neither nor
Fannie want to see or meet or speak to
| that woman who has turned our dear old
mother out of the home where she has nursed
us ali; that viper that has set her only son
against her ] should insult her if she came
into this room. So don't bring her-nasty,
white-faced beastI'
Remember you are speaking of nlywife.
Jane" said the doctor.
And why need you have married such
cfeatureln cried Jane. How we've worked
FOr you and done for you, up late and down
| early, to make a home for you. But tie
like mans ingratitude don't want TO sec
you again, Henry Rider hopeI never may
see you again as long as I live"
''Do you mean that" asked the man
II dol" sobbed the girl I'D rather have
Ieen you in your coffin than have it come to
this. SO goodbye forever, as far as l go y
And away went Jane 10 tell her mother
and sister that Henry's new wife had made
him harder hearted than a stone and to
weep bitter tears over the packing OF aer
few possessions and her departure from her
lifelong home,