The Holly chieftain., 1899-09-01
Hgn He ReIdIled His Freedom.


the announcement of his latcst-his
fourth-engaycmen had decided to re-
tain congratuln tions until the engagement
had been broken
A few weeks nftcrward ! met him at
an excursion In company Of his 6ancee
and future mothcr-in-law. but he didn't |
seem to notice me: in fact. he had all he
could do to look out for his tiapcee'y
as well ns his mothcr-in-lnw's capey, uu,-
brcllas. valises. ctc.. with which lie wns
piled up like some great travelling &C.
tress' valet.
Poor George!
After four months had elapsed George
again appeared at the club with the hap
piest face one could imagine but q runor
was ,stioat that this time the girl did the
Shaking"
took him into corner and got the
story:
Everybody knows" he said. "that my
engagement has been broken, but no one
knows how 1t happened. Formerly
was greatly annoyed by those confounded
mothcr-in-law jokes In the comic papers,
which. besides their staleness and unorig-
inality. had accused Of being unreason.
nble. Now I'm converted. They may be
somewhat exaggerated. but tell you
that the prnnks of my mother-in-law
came very close in nullifying this exag-
gerntion."
"You know that all my life was
neither q bnd fellow nor a particularly
good one: ut our engagement didn't
supply my finncee with u general confess
sion. for such trifes us being engaged
four or Eve times are not worth mention
ing.
I'VE were already dangerously near the
harbor of mntrimony: furniture had been
bought. suitable apartments had been
selected. How all this happened in so
short time you can only realize il you
know OF the nc,ivity Of my mother-in-
law with regard to matrimonial affairs
and especially when her own daughter
wns involved.
''.is the time for the wedding drew
nearer and nearer. l began to realize that
lacked considerable of' ma king good
husband AZ well us n good s0n-in-lnw.
But what could do? IiG0nlln't play the
scound.'el und leave the poor girl without
any reason whatever.
"At last the catastrophe came.
"About n week before the wedding.
when l. with the best OF conscienccs. ar
rived at my 6ancee's residence. where
now tool, my lunch. the only 'cinch' had
while engaged. found MY darling at her
sewing table crying. The expression on
dcnr father-in-lnw' face chilled me more
than looking Mt II Fahrenheit thermometer
which indicates 20 degrees below zero.
while mother-in-lnw's fnce was as stern
as TINT of a high priest Of India.
"ln answer to my somewhat surprised
good morning she quietly landed mt /.
letter. from which | could Immediately
zoe concerned myself. and not In the
nluat uitsuSftu rInuuaryl sStthpr
"All my little adventures and love uf-
fnirs. Of which u sefsbhs min should new
er make mention. were described hero In
the most gIndy, manner. or course my
three former engagements were not omit
ted. md besides ] WINS represented MS n
gambler. drinker and God knows what
not
'-rhcrc was no signature to the letter.
Therefore ! returned it. with the most
cordial expression IN my face. wherpul-
on u drawn 'WellY wns heard to Issue
from tho whole fnmily. ~ =
"Wcll. | replied With the most possi-
bic coolness. although sorely angcred ut
the receipt of this letter. 4 don't think 1t
necessary to defend myself ngainst an-
onymous letters
But the three rngagements.' the
whole family asked in one breath.
"'I never tried to deny Them ! an
swcred.
"'No. you didn't becnhse you kept them
secret from the start my future or rath-
er BY this time cx-future mother-in-law
cried Indignantly. and
George. ! never knew you were such
a scoundrcl.' the daughter echoed from
the window.
"'Well. Dick George resumed, you
know Eie. Patience Is not one Of my
principal good habits. therefore rose
and addressed my now former mother
in;law in fashion something like this:
'Dcnr madam. since an anonymous
letter destroys your confidence In me in
so short time must remark that this
confidence could not have been very
great. Tint II young man cannot travel
through life without any adventures will
be clear even to your worthy minister
who was to wed your daughter und my.
self In such n short time hence. md re-
garding my three broken enEagcmpnts'-
lyon will be kind enough to add
fourth dear mother-in-lnw completed
my worthy speech. and Of course had
no more to sny.
Blowing to my former fnncee. said
with as much feeling as possible. Fare
we'll dear Mud; may you be happier
with man more worthy Of you
Two other bows were answered by
cool Good day and closed the door
from the outside free man.
After reaching home bundled uil the
letters. rings. presents. hair lock. ETC.. to-
sethcr and sent them to West Seventy
fourth street. my former funcee's resi-
dence. and can again attend the club.
have ns many adventures ns like and
be engaged us many times us like"
just wanted tn congratulate George.
as l thought that he was through with