The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-05-30
A MOTHER in LAW.

come to this: Your mother must go. Upon
| that point I'm determined"
Jack Hadlcy saw tho tears como into his
wifc's eyes he spoke, but it had taken
him too long to screw himself up TO his
it, now it was reached. Therefore ho pre-.
tended not TO notice her 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 that littlo
wedding trip we both enjoyed 50 much
When, on our return from that all too
short honeymoon, your mother proposed To
como and spend n little time with us, l.
for my part, must ntmit-although some
what avcrsc 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, L deemed the
experience of an older hand an advantage
TO lis both and thought that YOU, Polly in
particular, would be glad to avail yourself
of u mothers help in those domestic CON
Germs which form such large item in Il
young married womuns affairs
He paused, momcntarily, relieved at
having thus far safely delivered himself of
II speech that had taken much timo 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-
tions of returning To the maternal abode
l began to consider if we We're not having
too much of 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 have dclicatcly sug-
gcstcd to your parent on several OCCASIONS
but sho has refused TO take the hint, and
now, us l shy, il has come to this-that
She must be told plainly to go.
You see, Polly" Jack went on "yUur
mothers not exactly an ordinary person
She's not content to adopt the attitude of n
visitor and take IL back seat On the con-
trary, she keeps herself continually in the
front and even affects To ruls In truth,
She does rule, for nothing is allowed to be
done in this house unless her approval has
been first obtained. If II now carpet is TO
be bought, your mother chooses the mate
rial. When the walls want rcpapcring, 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.
I've had just about enough of it," he
concluded, with n bit of unstudicd candor,
land 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" sobbcd Pol
| ly, for l cannot. 1t would break my
| heart
Jack had Hoped that the disagrccahlc
| task might be undertaken by his wife,
who, with her natural womanly tact,
| wOtll1 hn tlnu,r OH hn milo In Ia,
affair little more skillfully than he could
hope 10 do, but, having put his hand to
| tho pillow, he was not going tn turn back
| Very well. then, Polly,' he said air
| lily. '"l'll tell her myself tomorrow, what
ever tho consequences.
Mothcrin-law," said Jack, the next
day, having found his opportunity, eve
got something particular to say, affecting
| yourself"
Affecting me-" circulated the old lady,
adjusting her spcctaclcs in n neat little
stimulation of surprise 600 OH, my dear
John; I'm all attention."
| Jack screwed himself up, and went on:
'I-wc-that is, your daughter Polly
and have now been married three
! years.
Three years." broke in the old lady.
Dear me! How the time fics II hardly
seems three months! Wcll:'
Jack didn't altogether like that Wcll?''
but seeing u chance of striking II hot iron
went for ii nj once.
1t Is three years, though" he said,
land you, mother law, have lived with
US all the time"
"Ah, yes John, so 1 have" said the old
lady blandly.
"And I've, that is-havc como to tho
| conclusion that-that-1yc sho,1ld NOW lil,,