The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-07-16
| NV MOther=in=Law. /
e BY JENNY WREN. I
4 X K X x x Il =: 4 X -: <. \, \, z

.hor,s funeral, that / was alone in
= world; that no longer my first i'm
leo on entering the house must be to
With quick steps to the library to see
handsome head raised from his
o,k of writing with some word of love
his lips, when now only an empty
Noir and soundless space hereafter
onld prove my greeting. His illness
"a been so short. so sudden, that it
I,oost seemed as though l should
1sken from the frightful nightmare
che past few weeks and find it all
.sam. vivid but unreal. Only fort
nbt before he had been stricken down,
III had sent in hot haste for my old
-r.ctitioner, to find him absent and
,trangSr in his place. AT first felt
A.et. but when saw DIR. Phillips and
..,tnessed his earnest, skiilful care, that
sel,ng gave way to congratulation and
~ assurance that if human skill could
[s,l he would be saved. 1t was he
sho told me finally there was no long
! hone; he whom turned upon with
s,ick fury that he should dare assert
Aatmy fathers life was in absolute dan
s,r when in all the wide world we two
ere alone together; he who stood be-
ade him at the last, then, with firm,
.pntle hand, drew me from the chamber
i death and himself prepared the
eeping draught which sent restSul
sleep to quiet my strained nerves. In
ny new sadness, Ely utter despair, he
sme and wen. as of old, until it
asmed as though brothers protsc-
Lon had been offered me, and begin
4 wait and watch for the hour WHEN
should see him, to feel keen disar-
ointment if it passed without hiEi,
antil one evening, sitting alone by the
bv, smoldering fire in the first day Of
bring, I was reused by his familiar
&ep.
Helen" he said, drawing a chair
ose beside me, "Dr. Edwards, you
now. has returned, and my own pa
ents in Philadelphia are demanding
u presence among them. 1 have
&ayed already longer than intended"
"And you now are going?" l ques-
aoned, while a black cloud swept be-
Ire my eyes
yes" he answered, "but If you will
h me, l am coming back. did not
bean to tell you of my love just yet.
can hardly hope that in all the drear
isolation which has overspread your
& He, love had found time to plant a
hgle germ, but with me it has been
1ferent. 1 have Owed you from the
tst moment l saw you, and my fondest
nbition is to see you my wife. Do
BIT answer me now; only when the
rds sing and the flowers bloom try
think they breathe message from
e. and when l return in the fall, re-
uber my home will have been made
edv for you, and if you can come to
inns, they will open. oh. so gladly!
(ecive you"
$50 II left me. and let him go with
10 answer, for did not know my own
Heart. That it was love beating at it's
bortalsfor admission-love which had
made b. coming so welcome. his going
d sad, could not realize until he had
bone; aid then came only the long.
Khotherl, letters, so full of earnest solic-
L Jude for ny comfort. so unselfish in the
&reful gard ever shown in his own
i feling fo- me, till the time drew nigh
hA 10 n
1pubt, uncertainty. all fed, and l knew
~ heart had passed from out of my
Keeping. 20 went to meet him, stand
Pc in the open door of my home as he
Rme up the pathway, and in answer TO
1is question as for moment he held me
n while lie looked straight into my
yes; "Heen, is this my wife?" L
build only falter: "Yours forever
bore"
The succeeding week few swiftly by.
He suddenly grew impatient of delay.
hd declares he could not go back to his
ork until l went with him. The
bought of ny loneliness without him
Rged me to consent, and SO the days
ere filed with busy preparation, while
the evenings sat by his side, content
pd blissful while he told me OF his
pine, of his widowed mother who
barred it, and of the new, sweet daugh-
r he was to bring her. But when all
. hs over. when 1 had stood in my we'd
: ng robes before the gray-haired min
ter, and knelt to receive for the last
me his blessing, when my husbands
st rapturous kiss had been pressed
bon my lips, fervent congratulations
fered by the few friends present at
: n quiet wedding. my wedding dress
changed for travelling garb, the long
urney at last over, it was with feel
3 of tired relief that the carriage in
dusk of the evening drew up before
handsome house, and my husband
flcomed me to my home. But where
fs his mother? All day visions had
need before my eyes of two loving
ns waiting TO enfold me, of q sweet,
. therly face bending over me to ini-
d mt the kiss of greeting on my cheek,
;. the whispered words: welcome, my
t lighter" sounding in my ear; but no;
door was thrown wide open by
want in livery, but the handsome hall
. us long vista presented to sight no
b er occupants, and, to my amazement,
as hurried past the elegant drawing
) m' where 1 caught sight of a cheer
nre burning on the hearth, and up
rs into my own luxuriously fur
l. hed apartments.
AND how does my bird like her
{ V questioned my husband, bend
over me with tender care as sank
austed into a chair.
% much. Hugh, that she feels as
ugh she must stay here forever May