The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-12-08
nat his mother was miles away and
Duld not possibly hear what he had to

that his mother was miles away and
could not possibly hear what he had to
~ hear from her very Often" he whis-
pered, and light broke from his timid
| eyes.
us Mrs. Damman going to remain
away from you foreverT'
| He came quite close to me now. "She
Is right here in town." he answered,
| with her aunt, and l see her every day."
II am glad of that" l said. "Perhaps
your mother will come around aud ask
| her to come back again."
| He shook his head hopelessly. "She
doesn't even want to hear her name
spoken" he answered sadly, "and /
haven't enough money to set up houses
Keeping. My wife Is sorry now for whit
has happened, but she is miserahly
afraid Of my mother"
What are YOU going to do about it?"
He seemed so boyish and fearful of con-
seq af that ;t soGld n0t help getting
little iiiore energy, felt sure the tvs
women would not have become separat.
ed. He shrugged his shoulders. ii
can't help myself he murmured, land
us things are now, l am glad to be
able to he with my wife without being
molested.'
"You must bring them together" ad-
IL ~ Soui uuly. nv
make an end Of this unsatisfactory State
of affairs"
raised my hat and walked on. Two
weeks later l met the young couple
prcmenadiug in the park. "Ah,",I said,
ION your way home at lnst7''
"Fred's going there, bnt not l." an
swered the young wife shyly; holding
out her hand to me.
l said somewhat dryly; "thc wife be-
longs in her husbands home''
~ OH know how things are with us. "
she insisted. with Il sob.
Eyes, l know. You are afraid of
your mother-in-law, who has good
heart but is unusually obstinate. And
YOU, turning to her husband ''have not
the energy to bring these two Tomen TO-
went out of your own free will. and of
your own free will you must go back
| When | saw that my words had made
a deep impression on the two young peo-
pie. l continues: you had better 90
home right now and become reconciled to
your mother-in-law"
Mother is away from home this even,
ing" said Fred.
"All the BETTER" l suggested. 'Let
your wife prepare the tea, and when she
comes back from the theater everything
will be lovely
| 1 told them to follow me. and. to my
JOY, saw. that they had agreed to do as
| babe them. l entered the house about
five minutes before they could possibly
reach it, for they had perceptibly fallen
behind. Once within. 1 discovered that
Fred was in error about his mothers
absence. The sewing machine was rat
fling away at Il lively pace. Suddenly
an idea crossed my mind l fingered
around my vest pocket. and from its
depths pulled scrap of paper. 1t was
Mrs. Damman's welcome to her daugh-
a bride. Quick as a fash pinned 1t to
the door and then withdrew to my own
apartmn MT to await the appearance OF
husband and wife.
The y,uns wife's joyous cry startled
me. Prom MOTHER she gasped. as her
eyes fell on the piece of paper on the
door. And then she read aloud sentence
| laughing: Dear children: God bless
your home coming. l love you both,
| dear daughter and beloved son. l could
not wait fol YOU. because had to go to
! the theater. Your mother"
Erred, Fred" she sohbed, .your moth
er wants ME to come back again. She
has forgiven me-dear mOther!'
The door flew open, and the girl wife
rushed in: With Il sob she threw her
self into the elder woman's arms. For
give me, mother. forgive me! Oh, how
glad l am to be at home again with YOU
[ stood motionless at my door. What
next? Mrs. Damman has not opened her
mouth. What if she were still obstinate
| and would drive again from home the
penitent girl? But no, I heard her voice
now.
My dear child" she said softly, $50
you are sorry? 1t you had said so on
that miserable day all would have been
well. love you: you are my child just
as much as he is
ooh, mother,' she sobhed anew, II
never knew how good you are Scold
nc. do what you will with me; you are
my darling mother anyhow
And they were reconciled. They called
me to witness their joy, and l had hard
work to make Fred understand that l
had placed the scrap of paper on the
door that had brought about peace and
harmony in the little household. 1t was
an innocent deception, and if he ever
had the courage to confess it to his wife
1 never heard it.-St. Louis Republic.