The record-union., 1896-05-17
A MOTHBR-IN-LA

ITO put the matter quite plainly,
Polly, it has come to this: Your mother
must go. Upon that point am deter
mined
Jack Hadley saw the tears come into
his wife's eyes as he spoke, but 1T had
taken him too long to screw himself up
to his present attitude to be lightly
shaken from it, now it 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
land took you down to Bognor for the
wedding trip we both enjoyed so much.
When on our return from that all too
short honeymoon your mother proposed
to come and spend little time with us
made no objection at all ito the pro-
ceeding, for as we were making fresh
start in life l deemed the experience of
an older hand an advantage to us and
thought that you would be glad to avail
yourself of a mothers help in Your do
mestic concerns
He paused mometarily, relieved at
having thus far safely delivered him
self of speech he had spent much time
in putting together. His wife remained
silent and he continued:
| But when it came to months and
your mother gave no indications of re-
turning to the maternal abode. I began
to wonder whether it might not be bet
! ter for us both if we We're left to our
| selves, to make the attempt to walk
alone. This l have delicately limited
to your parent on several occasions, but
she has refused to take the hint, and
now, as l say, it has come to this-she
must be told to go. You see your
mothers not content to take back seat
| like any other visitor On the contrary,
she keeps herself always in the front,
and even affects to rule. If a new car
pet is to be bought she chooses the ma
| terial. When the rooms are to be pa
] pered 1t is she who selects the pa ttern.
| Even in preparing the daily dinner
your mothers tastes and wishes always
| have the first consideration. I've had
just about enough of it, 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 in language that she can't mis-
understand
y
not" sobbed Polly.
Jack had hoped that the task might be
undertaken by his wife, who, with her
| Womanly tact would, he thought, be
able to manage the affair little more
skinfully than he could hope to do, but,
| having gone so far, he would not now
retreat.
Very WELL" he said, airily, "I'll tell
her myself tomorrow, whatever the
consequences may be"
"Mother-in-law," said Jack, the next
morning, having found the opportunity,
I've got something particular to say
affecting yourself"
The old lady adjusted her spectacles
in neat little stimulation of surprise.
Affecting me?" she exclaimed GO
on, my dear John, Pm all attention.
Jack screwed up his courage and went
| on
'I-we-that is. your daughter and I
have been married three years
Three years!" broke in the old lady.
Dear me, How the time fies 1t
hardly seems three months! Wel1?"
Jack didn't like that Well" but he
went on
1T is three years. though, and you
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
conclusion that-we should now like to
to 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 Jack, de-
precatingly I'VE should never, of
course, think of turning you out, but we
certainly ventured to hope that you
would probably see your waygto living
at your own home in the future as no
doubt you do"
Il quite understand, John Hadley,''
returned the mother-in-law, freezingly.
It's just the same thing. I'm not a 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 of 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 toward the door as if pre-
pared to act instanter. "One word be-
fore l leave" she added, majestically,
pausing at the threshold. "You said
| we Do 1 understand that my daughter
is party to this INSULT"
your daughter, Mrs. Haslop," said
Jack, stung into a commanding tone by
| the dignified demeanor of the old lady,
| is my wife, and as such her first duty
is to her husband. Consequently any
| thing done by me or at my wish is
| equally her act"
Thank you," said the old lady, bow
ing herself out of the room.
| Jack was surprised, but not alto
| gether delighted at the easy victory he
| had achieved He had Anticipated op-
| position and was almost disappointed
at finding none. However, he accom-
plished his purpose, for Polly's mother.
! true to her word, made a speedy exit
| from the house.
At first Jack and his wife missed the
old lady greatly, for she had always
been very much in evidence In fact. so
lonely and solemn did the house now
seem without her that Jack sometimes
almost wished she hadn't gone, and as
for Polly, she had many a good cry by
herself over the affair. But as her hus-
band now made a point of spending
less time at his club and more at home
in her society. she couldn't help be-
coming reconciled to her loss. So the
lonely feeling gradually wore off and
the young couple got used to the new