The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-09-07

Fred Dammnn, the young husband, was
head over ears in love with his wife, and
she seemed fond Of him in her Ingenious.
eirlish fashion. There were little bieker-
ings between the two women now and
then, but they were forgotten in an hour,
and all was as calm and peaceful as OF
old.
An unusual stress OF business kept me
away from the house longer than had
been my custom, nearly every day for a
minute, and when summer came l was
ready TO indulge 10 nm extended journey
that was likely to keep me away from
Mrs. Dammans house for at least three
months.
Upon my return the family received
me with open arms All three had a
friendly word for me and for each 9TH
er, and ! was more thnn delighted at
the continued harmony that pervadcd
my landlady's home. That much OF this
harmony was sham l learned before
many days. Mrs. Damman was the first
10 pour out her heart to me- She COM
planned bitterly OF the younger woman's
willfulness. that her daughter-in-Iaw
usurped rights which did not belong to
her and threatened dissolution OF the
household. Ii came sooner than even |
anticipated. but IN an entirely unexpect-
ed manner. After a bitterer quarrel
than ever young Mrs. Damman left the
house without telling her mother-in-law
whittier she was going. She failed to
return, and soon everything was as quiet
as the grave once more. Fred. the young
husband, was even more taciturn than
before. He avoided his mother, whom
he seemed to regard as the natural enc
my OF his wife.
Ono duv .,a.f hin, II. 4he
"Where is your wife?v | asked. Don't
you hear from her at ALP"
He laid his finger on his lips, forget
ting that his mother was miles away and
could not possibly hear what he had to
say.
Il hear from her very often" he whis-
pered, and light broke from his timid
| eyes.
'Is Mrs. Dammnn going to remain
away from you foreverT
He came quite close to me now.
"She is right here in town." he answer
ed, with her aunt, and l see her every
day"
Il am glad of that" said. perhaps
your mother viii come around and ask
her to come back again"
He shook his head hopeIessly. "She
doesn't even want to hear her name
spoken" he answered sadly, "and l
haven't enough money to set up house
keeping. My wife is sorry now for what
has happened, but she is miserably
afraid of my mother"
What are you going to do about it,"
He seemed SO boyish and fearful Of con-
sequences that I could not help getting
out of patience with him. II he had had
little more energy, l felt sure the two
women would not have become separat-
ed. He shrugged his shoulders. II
can't help myself" he murmured, "and,
as things are now, | am glad to be able
to be with my wife without being mo-
| Tested"
"You must bring them together" j
admonished. "It is your duty. Try to
make an end of this unsatisfactory state
of affairs"
raised my hat and walked on. Two
weeks later l met the young couple
promenading in the park. "Ah," l
said, ION your way home at last?"
"Freds going there, but not l." an
swered the young wife shylF, holding
| out her hand to me.
''That's more than l can understand"
l said somewhat dryly; "the wife be-
longs In her husbands home"
"You know how things are with u.s."
she insisted, with a sob.
Yes, l know. You are afraid of your
mother-in-law, who has good heart, but
is unusually obstinate. And you," turn
ing to the husband, ehave not the energy
to bring these two women together. You,
my dear Mrs. Damman, went OF your
own free will and of your own free will
you must so back"
When / saw that my words had made
deep impression on the two young peo-
pie, continued, "You had better go
home right now and become reconciled
to your mother-in-law."
Mother is away from home this even
ing" said Fred.
"All the better" suggested. LET
your wife prepare the tea, and when she
comes back from the theater every
thing win be lovely"
told them to follow me and, to my
joy, saw that they had agreed to do as
babe them. 4 entered the house about
| five minutes before they could possibly
reach it, for they had pereeptibly fallen
behind. Once within, discovered that
Fred was in error about his mothers
absence. The sewing machine was rat
ting away at lively pace. Suddenly
| an idea crossed my mind. / fingered
around my vest pocket and from its
depths pulled a scrap of paper. 1t was
Mrs. Damman's welcome to her daugh-
ter-in-law on the night of her arrival as
bride. Quick as a fash / pinned it to
the door and then withdrew to my own
apartment to await the appearance Of
husband and wife.
The young wife's joyous cry startled
me. From motheri' she gasped, as
her eyes fell on the piece of paper on the
door. And then she read aloud sentence
after sentence, alternately sobbing and
laughing: Dear children: God bless your
home coming. i love you both, dear
daughter and beloved son. l couldn't
wait for you, because had to go to the
theater. Your Mother"
Fired, Fred" she sobbed, ''your
mother wants me to come back again.
She has forgiven me-dear motherp'
The door flew open, and the girl wife
rushed in. With a sob she threw herself
into the elder woman's arms. "Forgive
me, mother, forgive me! Oh, how glad
am TO be at home again with your
stood mofi0nless at nv dnor What