The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-03-20
MOTHER-IN-L

Ned Chatterton was a good deal of a
mothers boy-that is to say, such a
warm affection existed between mother
and son that it was remarkable in this
day of flial laxity.
So when it became known that Ad-
elaide Westcott was engaged to him,
her many friends grew solicitous in
warming her as to the course she should
pursue in regard to her future mother
in-law.
"When mother has always had such
complete ascendency over a son, it is
always a hard matter to make her rec
ognize wife's right, and if this is to
be done, positive measures must be en-
ployed from the first" So her friends
said, and her own mother gave her some
good advice in the same line, while her
sister Nell deplored the necessity Of
having mothers-in-law and reviewed all
the traditions in regard to those very
undesirable personages
With so much instruction Adelaide
became also imbued with very positive
notions on the subject. Of course, he
was an only son and his mother wild
ow, but she could never consent to live
in the same house with the elder wom-
an. If all was to go we'll, she was to
begin right. OF course, Ned loved his
mother, but matrimony would put him
under new obligations. At her first op-
portunity she explained it all to him
and insisted that they should keep
separate establishment.
Ned looked pained. but he said:
81 shall do as You say in the matter,
Adelaide, though had looked forward
to very happy companionship between
you and my little mother. She is not
hard to get along with, I know, and
she could have helped you SO much with
her advice and counsel in the household
affairs.''
But Adelaide showed him how a
mother-in-law by her very love and
preference for her son, might cause dis
sension between husband and wife.
Perhaps ho was not convinced, but he
yielded the point and they were mar
ried. All of Adelaide s friends congratu-
lated her upon her good sense, and be-
hind his back praised Ned for his con-
sideration in sparing his wife the pres
ence of a mother in-law. But he gave
himself the satisfaction Of setting up
housekeeping within block of the
mother he loved.
Sometimes at night, when he and
Adelaide sat lonely by the fire, he
thought of his mother and wished that
she might be with them, but on the
whole they were happy and no morbid
thoughts entered his brain, for he be-
lieved that in time Adelaide's own good
sense would triumph over the prejudices
aroused by oficious friends But this
was his mothers wisdom.
There were times when the elder Mrs.
Chatterton wept little that she was
denied the daily vision of her sons joy,
but she said nothing and kept her tears
to herself. Ned was very faithful and
dutiful, but she did not go often to the
house, because her presence always
seemed to put Adelaide in a mood of
defense almost bordering on aggression.
The young woman meant to be under
stood, and plainly understood, that she
would tolerate the interference in her
affairs of no mother-in law.
And so the months passed.
In the first glow of connubial joy Ned
had neglected his club, but as time
went on and the household began to
move in the accustomed routine he be-
gan occasionally to drop in and spend IA
social hour with his man friends. At
first it was but once in two or three
weeks and only an hour or two then
Then he went more frequently and
staid later.
Some evenings Adelaide was very
lonesome. and after awhile, when he
staid late, would cry to herself, but
she always tried to welcome his return
with an unclouded face. She believed
that it was only thoughtlessness, and
that after awhile, when he came to re-
alize how very lonely she was, he would
not stay away from her so long.
But he did not seem to realize.
Once, when she was very lonesome,
Mrs. Chatterton came in and sat with
her. They talked together and busted
themselves with some needlework, and
the hours did not seem SO long And
when Ned came that night they walked
home with his mother and all were
light hearted and happy.
But other evenings passed when no.
body came in, or when her mother or
Nell dropped in to find her alone, and
limited that Ned was neglecting her.
They would look at her strangely, as If
they pitied her, and wondered if she
were happy. Somehow this panied her.
Ned was good. She loved him and knew
that he loved her; he was only thought
less She said this over and over to her.
self, and she could not bear to see In
the eyes of her relatives the look that
accused him.
One night when he had been later
than usual and when her heart was
overfull she tried to tell him how he
was paining her, but broke down and
burst into tears.
His face was flushed and he answered
her impatiently:
Nonsense, Addy; don't act like a
baby; you must remember that you are
a woman. You oughtn't to expect a
man to stick in the house all the time" "
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