The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1896-02-27
BLANcHE's MoTHER-IN-LAw


possibility for stern husbands to speak
quietly to meek little wives. ale would
not now, If it had not been for his
mother. believe Mrs. Everard has
hated me ever since crossed the thresh-
old.
There was tap upon the door.
IA note1" Blanche calculated, with
little iutter of surprise, as she took the
soiled and crumpled scrap of paper from
the boys dirty fingers and opened it.
Inside was written scarcely legibly:
al believe | am dying. Could you
come to me' The boy will show you
the way. Don't tell John. E. F."
Blanche turned the billet, and glanced
at the back. 1t was certainly directed to
"Mrs. Everard," and John and his moth
er were out for the day, so she could not
consult with either, and somebody was
dying. She guessed who.
1t was the middle of the afternoon and
a biting blast outside, but she swiftly
donned her fur cloak and babe the little
ragged messenger lead the way.
Her face was quite colorless and she
returned to her room several hours later
and the sweet ewes were dimmed as with
weeping.
"Are you ill3" demanded her husband
81 am quite well answered Blanche,
meeting his look sweetly, and replying
| to Mrs Everard seniors remarks upon
her palor so unconsciously as almost to
disarm that lady of the suspicious
which she was really always on the
watch to find grounds for; and Lucy had
told her already about the note that had
taken Mrs. John Everard out of the
house for several hours in the afternoon.
"It's more than ever thought you
would submit to, John" she remarked to
her son in the evening,
Don't make a mountain out of
molehill, mother" responded John with
the least touch of impotence, and think
ing remorsefully of the mornings UNI
kindness to his six months pet. al d re-
say the boy came about some charitable
business or other"
"Why didn't she tell us where she had
been?" demanded Mrs. Everard, Sr., ma
liciously.
"Perhaps she was afraid of another
lecture upon extravaganza. There
mother, think we had better drop the
subject"
Four or five days later she followed
her son into the library By sharp watch
ing she had found that Blanche went
out every day at o'clock returning
barely in time for dinner.
John listened quietly while she told
him. 1t was little odd that Blanche
had never spoken of these afternoon
promenades of hers, which seemed such
a regular thing, too; but his conscience
had given him more than one twinge
lately in connection with his mothers
avowed dislike and distrust of his pretty
unretaliating wife.
ats all right, mother, of course" he
said, resuming his book.
"Well, them" she said, with an un
wonted pleading mingled with the re
sentfulness of her tone, "if you are S:
lenient to her, you will perhaps have
some kindness to spare your owr
brother"
And she gave him letter which sh,
had been lingering nervously all the
time.
John Evered read the letter through
frowning.
at is the old story he said, returning
it to her. "He is out of money and ii
debt and he wants us to foot the bills
| told him the last time shouldn't do i
again Whenever Ned is ready to settl
down to some steady and uscfu
and hon rable business I'll do what
can for him, in the way Pve told him
But I'll pay no more debts. And
wouldn't give him more than a crust
he was starving, as long as he goes o.
this way"
Mrs, Everard dropped the letter in he
pocket as see turned away, and quite
the room with a gloomy countenanct
She was as afraid of her stern, eldes
son, in way, as she was fond of he
youngest, and she knew there was no al
peal from this decision now.
Her son saw her as she passed throug
the hall, and he glanced at his watcl
1t lacked ten minutes of 3. In about l
minutes he heard his wife's light foo
: fall coming down the hall from he
room. AS the front door closed benin
: her his cheek flushed slightly and h
passed quickly to the window.
He watched her to the corner, an
d then, snatching overcoat and hat, darte
a out and followed at safe distance, fee
ing very much ashamed of himself an
IT more still as his mother emerged from
5. milliner's shop ahead. She did not ST
r him.
Poor little Blanche had small susr
cion that She was followed as she passt
c swiftly on, leading her husband al
mother pretty chase till she came
o what seemed to be tenement house
a some responsibility.
|. HAhp exclaimed Mrs. Everard SEM,
as Blanche entered without knockin
LETT BROS