River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-06-24
My Mother=in-Law.
BY JENNY WREN.
leaaaaaa 3aooeo5aeel

IT was hard to .ealize. as came home
desolate and forIoru the day of my
fathers funeral, that | was alone in
the world: that no longer my first inn
pulse on entering the house must be TO
fly with quick steps 10 the hJrary TO see
the handsome head raised from his
work of writing with some word OF love
on his lips. when cow only an empty
chair and sOuLdicss space hereafter
would prove my greeting. Ills Illness
had been 50 short, so sudden, that u
almost scented as though l should
awaken from the frightful nightmare
Of the past few weeks and find il all a
dream. vivid but unreal Only fort
night fore he had been stricken down,
aud had sent in hot haste for my old
practitioner. To find him absent and
u stranger in his place. At first / felt
regret, but " hen ] saw DR. Phillips and
witnessed his earnest. skillful care, that
feeling gave way 10 generalization and
The assurance that IL human skill could
avail. he would be saved. 1t was he
who told me finally there was no long
or hope; he whom I turned upon with
quick fury that he should dare assert
thatmv fathers life was 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
If 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 il
seemed as though brothers prOtec-
lion had been offered me. and / began
20 wait and watch for the hour when
I should see him, 10 feel keen disap-
pointment If it passed without him,
until one evening. sitting alone 10y the
low, smoldering fire in the first day Of
spring. / was reused by his familiar
step.
Helen" he said. drawing a chair
close beside me. DIR. Edwards, you
know. has returned. and my own pa
tients i'm Philadelphia are demanding
my presence among them. have
stayed already longer than intended.
And you now are roing?' | ques-
Toned, while a black cloud swept be-
fore my eyes.
Yes" he answered. "but If YOU will
Let me. / am coming back. ] did not
mean to tell YOU of my love just vet
] can hardly hope that i'm all the drcar
desolation which has overspread your
life. love had found time to plant a
single germ. but with me it has been
different. I have loved yol. from the
first moment I SAW you, and my fOndest
ambition is TO see YOU my wife. DO
not answer me now; only when the
birds sing and the flowers bloom try
90 think they breathe message from
me. and when I return I'm the fall, re-
member nv home will have been made
ready for on. and II you can come 10
my arms, they will open. oh. so gladly.
10 receive yOu."
So he left me. and let him go with
no answer. for did not know my own
heart. That il was love beating NJ its
portals for admission love which nal
made his coming so welcome, his going
80 sad, could not realize until he had
gone; and then came only the long.
brotherIy letters. So fun Of earnest sole
itudc for nv comfort, 50 uuseltish in the
careful guard ever shown i'm his own
feeling fer me, till the time drew nigh
when he was 10 come again Then
doubt. uncertainty. all fled, and 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 10
lis question as for a moment he held me
Oft while he looked straight into my
ewes: Helen. is this my wife,"
could only falter: Yours forever
more" 49, -
The succeeding wees few swiftly by.
lie suddenly grew inpatient Of delay,
md declared he could not go back to his
work until I went with him. The
thought of my loneliness without him
urged me to consent and so the day $
were filed with busy preparation. while
in the evenings sat by his side. content
and blissiul. while he told me of his
home. of his widowed mother who
shared il. and Of the new, sweet aaug!i-
ter he Was 10 bring her. But when an
was over. when had stood in my we
ding rot $ before the gray haired -1Iu-
istcr, and kuelt TO receive for the last
time has blessing. " hen ms husbands
i.rst rapturous Kiss had been pressed
upon my lips. ferNeut congratulations
offered by the few friends present AT
our quiet wedding. my wedding dress
exchanged for travelling garb. the long
Journey at last over. il was with a feel
ing of tired relief that the carriage in
the dusk of the evening drew up before
welcomed me TO mas home. But whcr,
was his mother? All day visions had
danced before my eyes Of two loving
arms waiting 10 cufcld me. of a SWEEP
TiOthcrly face bending over me To inn
riut the Kiss OF grcctiu. on mN chcek.
at tine " whispered words; Welcome. IN,
daughter" sounding jn my ear: but no;
the door WAS thrown wide open bv a
servant in livery. but the handsome ha 4
in its long vista presented To sight uo
either occupants. AMI. to my amazement.
was hurried past the elegant drawing
room. where ! caught sight of a cheer
fui fire burning on the hearth, and up
stairs into my own luNuriOusly fur
uished apartments.
And how does my bird like her
iiSSt. HNtNttuAcA NV husband. bend
ing over me with tender care as / sank
exhausted into a chair.
so much. Hugh, that she feels as
though she must stay here forever. Nav
not have tea here to-night?~
oh, darling. mother would be so dis
appointed not 10 see You! Come. change
your dress and look your prettiest, that
i may present you to her"
Change my dress! Even tonight. in
the quiet home circle. must remove NV
dust-stained garb and 20 through the
eNertiOn of a fresh toilet ere my hus-
bands mother extended 10 me her wei
Gomez But I could not refuse, and when.
my toilet completed. Hugh's proud
glance Of approval met mine. ! felt re-
warVied. Then he led me downstairs.
aud we entered the drawiug-rOom to-
uether. In the farthest corner a tall
figure rose from an armchair, aud in
ali the rustIing dignity Of velvet and
lace approached me-
"My wife, mother Hugh said. while
l felt a cold hand take mine in pas
efanIaxc urraen A kiss as III q fallen