St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-07-24
Ny Mother-in=Law.
BY JENNY WREN.

BY JENNY WREN. +
SosaassssssSssseesaaeeeaeaaS
IT was hard to realize. as came home
desolate and forlorn the day of my
fathers funeral, that I was alone in
the world; that no longer my first i'm
pulse on entering the house must be to
dy with quick steps to the library to see
the handsome head raised from his
work of writing with some word of love
on his lips, when now only an empty
chair and soundless space hereafter
would prove my greeting. His illness
had been SO short. SO sudden, that it
almost seemed as though l should
awaken from the frightful nightmare
of the past few weeks and find it all a
dream. vivid but unreal. Only a fort
night before he had been stricken down,
and 1 had sent in hot haste for my old
practitioner, to find him absent and
q stranger in his place. At first l felt
regret, but when saw DIR. Phillips and
witnessed his earnest, skillful care, that
feeling gave way to cOngratulation and
the assurance that if human slall could
avail, he would be saved. 1t was he
who told me finally there was no long
= hope; he whom I turned upon with
quick fury that he should dare assert
that my father'sl lifewas in absolute dan
ger, when in all the wide world we two
were alone together; he who stood be-
side him at the last, then, with firm,
gentle hand, drew me from the chamber
Of death and himself prepared the
sleeping draught which sent restful
sleep to quiet my strained nerves. In
my new sadness, my utter despair, he
came and went as of old. until it
seemed as though a brothers protec-
tion had been offered me, and began
to wait and watch for the hour when
should see. him, to feel keen disap-
pointment il it passed without him.
until one evening, sitting alone by the
low, smoldering fire in the first day of
spring, I was reused by his familiar
step.
"Helen," he said, drawing q chair
close beside me, "Dr. Edwards, you
know, has returned, and my own pa
tients in Philadelphia are demanding
my presence among them. I have
stayed already longer than I intended" !"
"And you now are going?" I ques-
toned, while a black cloud swept be-
tore my eyes.
EYES," he answered, ''but if you will
let me, I am coming back. I did not
mean to tell you Of my love just yet.
can hardly hope that in all the drear
desolation which has oyerspread your
life. love had found time to plant a
single germ, but with me it has been
different. I have loved you from the
Arst moment saw you, and my fondest
ambition is to see you my wife. Do
mot answer me now; only when the
birds sing and the flowers bloom try
to think they breathe a message from
me, and when I return in the fall, re-
member my home will have been made
ready for you, and if you can come to
my arms. they will open. oh, so gladly!
TO receive you"
i So he left me. and let him go with
NO answer, for I did not know my own
heart. That it was love beating at its
portals for admission-lovc which had
made his coming 50 welcome, his going
. sad, I could not realize until he had
rome; and then came only the long.
brotherly letters, SO full of earnest solic-
itude for my comfort, so unselfish in the
careful guard ever shown in his own
feeling for me. till the time drew nigh
when he was to come again. Then
doubt, uncertainty. all fed. and I knew
my heart had passed from out OF my
keeping. So went to meet him. stand
ing in the open door of my home as he
came up the pathway, and in answer TO
his question as for a moment he held me
Oh while he looked straight into my
eyes: '.Helen. is this my wife?" l
could only falter: "Yours forever
0ore,"
The succeeding week few swiftly by.
i He suddenly grew impatient of delay.
ard declared he could not 60 back to his
,~ork until l went with him. The
4Aought Of my loneliness without him
ueGed me to consent, and SO the days
Nere filed with busy preparation. while
d the evenings sat by his side, content
and blissful. while he told me of his
Nome. of his widowed mother who
shared it, and of the new. sweet daugh-
z Ter he was to bring her. But when all
vas over. when had stood in my we'd
ding robes before the gray-haired min
iEter. and knelt to receive for the last
time his blessing. when my husbands
0rst rapturous kiss had been pressed
upon my lips, fervent congratulations
O3ered BY the few friends present at
our- quiet wedding, my wedding dress
exchanged for travelling garb, the long
Journey ut last over, it was with feel
ing OF tired relief that the carriage in
The dusk of the evening drew up before
handsome house, and my husband
welcomed me to my home. But where
was his mother? All day visions had
danced before my eyes of two loving
arms waiting to enfold me. of a sweet.
motherly face bending over me to inn
print the kiss of greeting on my cheek.
Of the whispered words: Welcome, my
daughter" sounding in my ear; but no;
tie door was thrown wide open by a
servant in livery. but the handsome hall
n its long vista presented to sight no
other occupants, and, to my amazement,
Twas hurried past the elegant drawing
room. where I caught sight Of q cheer
11l dre burning on the hearth, and up
stairs into my own hxuriously fur
ni6hed apartments.
And how does my bird like her
3ogt! questioned my husband. bend
80 over ma NTH %nu6nr r0re ss sank