The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-05-11
4 MOTHER-IN-LAW

come to this: Your mother must go. Upon
that point I'm determined"
Jack Hadley saw the tears come into his
wife's eyes as he SPOKE but it had taken
him too long to screw himself up to his
present attitude to be lightly shaken from
it, now it was reached. Therefore he pre-
tended not to notice her and went on:
You see how things stand. 1t is just
three years siuce [ made you my wife, and
took you down to Bognor for that little
wedding trip we both enjoyed so much.
When, on our return from that all too
short honeymoon, your mother proposed tc
come and spend little time with us, I,
for my part, must admit-although some
what averse to the principle of the thing
did not raise any objection to the proceed
ing, for, as we were necessarily new to the
responsibilities of housekeeping and were
making fresh start in life, deemed the
experience of an older hand an advantage
to us both and thought that you, Polly, in
particular, would be glad to avail yourself
of mothers help in those domestic con-
Germs which form such large item in a
young married woman's affairs"
He paused, momentarily, relieved at
having thus far safely delivered himself of
a speech that had taken much time to put
together. His wife remained silent, and
he continued:
"But when it came to weeks and then
months, and your mother gave no indica-
lions of returning to the maternal abode,
I began to consider if we were not having
too much of a good thing and whether it
would not be better for us both if we could
be left to ourselves and make the attempt
to walk alone. This 1 have delicately sug
gested to your parent on several occasions,
but she has refused to take the hint, and
now, as I say, it has come to this-that
she must be told plainly to go.
"You see. Polly" Jack went on, ''ycur
mothers not exactly an ordinary person.
She's not content to adopt the attitude of a
visitor and take back seat On the con-
trary, she keeps herself continually in the
front, and even affects to rule. In truth,
she does rule, for nothing is allowed to be
done in this house unless her approval has
been first obtained. If a new carpet is to
be bought, your mother chooses the mate
rial When the walls want repapering, it
is she who selects the pattern. A picture
cannot be hung without her first being
consulted as to the position, and even in
the preparing of the daily dinner your
mothers tastes and wishes always have the
first consideration.
GIVE had just about enough of 1t, (" he
concluded, with bit of unstudied candor,
"and the thing must stop. AS the old lady
doesn't seem inclined to leave of her own
free will, and refuses to take a gentle hint,
she must be told to go in language that
she cannot misunderstood"
"Then you must tell her," sobbed Pol
1y, "for I cannot. 1t would break my
heart
Jack had hoped that the disagreeable
task might be undertaken by his wife,
who, with her natural womanly tact,
would, he thought, be able to manage the
affair a, little more skillfully than he could
hope to do, but. having put his hand to
the pillow, he was not going to turn back
every well. then, Polly he said air.
lily. "I'll tell her myself tomorrow, what
ever the consequences.
X
Smother law" said Jack, the next
day, having found his opportunity, "Ive
got something particular to say, affecting
yourself
Affecting ret" calculated the old lady,
adjusting her spectacles in neat little
stimulation of surprise. "Go on, my dear
john I'm all attention"
Jack screwed himself up, and went on:
"I-we-that is, your daughter Polly
and I-have now been married three
years.
"Three years!" broke in the old lady.
"Dear mel How the time flies! 1t hardly
seems three months! Well?"
Jack didn't altogether like that ''Wellp"
but seeing chance of striking hot iron
went for it at once.
"It is three years, though" he said,
"and you, mother-in-law, have lived with
US all the time"
"Ah, yes, John, so 1 have" said the old
lady blandly.
"And I've, that is-have come to the
TOTO live alone"
briskly.
"Oh, John Hadley," she said stif1y, 81
see what you mean. You want to turn me
out of doors. Is that it?"
'Not exactly that" put in Jack depre-
catingly. "We should never, of course,
think Of turning you out, but we certain
ly ventured to hope that you would proba-
bly, see your way living at your own home
In the future, as no doubt you intend to
do"
81 quite understand, Mr.. John Hadley,"
returned the nother-in-law freezingly.
'It's 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"
dayP'
"There is no need for such great haste"
said Jack mildly. ga week or two, or
three, would give you time to arrange your
plans, and would quite suit ours"
Enough; 1 go at once" said the old
lady, moving toward the door, as if pre-
pared to act instanter. Zone word before
leave, she said, pausing at the threshold
and speaking majestically. 'You said
We Do [ understand that my daughter
is party to this little proceedings"
=" Your daughter Mrs. Haslop," said
Jack, stung into commanding tone by
the dignified demeanor of the old lady, sis
my wife, and, as such, her first duty lies
to her husband. Consequently, anything
done by lne or at my wish is equally her
act.''
THANK you'll" said the old lady, bowling
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