Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1899-11-09
I took him into corner and got the

I took him into a corner and got the
story:
Everybody knows" he said, "that my
engagement has been broken, but no one
knows how it happened. Formerly 1
was greatly annoyed by those confounded
mother-in-law jokes in the comic papers,
which, besides their staleness and unorig-
inality, had accused of being unreason-
able. Now I'm converted. They may be
somewhat exaggerated, but | tell you
that the pranks of my mother-in-law
came very close in multiplying this exag-
geration."
You know that all my life was
neither a bad fellow nor particularly
good one; at our engagement / didn't
supply my fiancee with a general confess
sion, for such trifles as being engaged
four or FIVE times are not worth mention
ing
"We were already dangerously near the
harbor of matrimony; furniture had been
bought suitable apartments had been
selected. How all this happened in so
short time you can only realize if you
know of the activity of my mother-in-
law with regard to matrimonial affairs,
and especially when her own daughter
was involved --~-.r-t
Gas the time for the wedding drew
nearer and nearer, / began to realize that
lacked considerable of making good
husband as well as a good son-in-law.
But what could do? l couldn't play the
scoundrel and leave the poor girl without
any reason whatever.
cat last the catastrophe came.
about week before the wedding,
when l, with the best Of consciences, ar
rived at my fancee's residence, where
II ~ - a1t LNSl
while engaged, I found my darling at her
sewing table crying. The expression on
| dear father-in-laws face chilled me more
than looking at Fahrenheit thermometer
which indicates 20 degrees below zero,
| while mother-in-law's face was as stern
| as that of a high priest Of India.
I'm answer to my somewhat surprised
good morning she quietly handed me a
letter, from which I could Immediately
see concerned myself, and not in the
most pleasant manner, either.
"All my little adventures and love af-
fairs, of which a sensible man should new
er make mention, were described here in
the most gaudy manner. OF course my
three former engagements were not omit
ted, and besides l was represented as q
gambler, a drinker and God knows what
not. I
"There was no signature to the letter.
Therefore / returned it, with the most
cordial expression on my face. whereup-
ON a drawn ~aWelY was heard to- issue
from the whole family.
"'Well.' | replied with the most possi-
BILE coolness, although soreiy angered at
the receipt of this letter. 4 don't think it
necessary to defend myself against an
onymous letters @'f
But the three enga agements,' the
whole family asked in one breath
81 never tried to deny them l am
swered
No, you didn't because 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
scoundrel,' the daughter echoed from
the window.
"'Well, Dick George resumed. you
know me. Patience is not one of my
principal good habits. therefore rose
and addressed my now former mother
in-law in a fashion something like this:
Dear madam, since an anonymous
letter destroys your confidence in me in
so short Il time l must reaaark that this
confidence could not have brea very
great. That Il young man cannot travel
through life without any adventures will
be clear even to your worthy minister
who was to wed your daughter and my
self in such a short time hence, and re-
garding my three broken enGagements'-
"'You will be kind enough to add a
fourth, dear mother-in-law completed
my worthy speech and of course l had
no more to say.
"Bowing to my former fancee, l said
with as much feeling as possible, Fare
well, dear Maud may you be happier
with man more worthy of YOU
Two other bows were answered by q
cool Good day. and | closed the door
from the outside free man.
After reaching home / bundled all the
letters, rings, presents, hair lock, ETC., to-
gether and sent them to West Seventy
fourth street, my former fancee's resi-
dence, and | can again attend the club,
have as many adventures as like and
be engaged as many times as ! like"
/ just wanted to congratulate George,
as | thought that he was through with
his narrative. when he said; why don't
you wait till the end. That's not the Sc
cret. Every one knows that, or Maud's
mother must be an exceptional woman.
But now listen. l was sick and tired of
being engaged. | found out that | wasn't
ready as yet to get married, but didn't
care to play the scoundrel and leave the
girl without any reason, therefore l
wrote this anonymous letter myself
Paul Plaschke in Pittsburg Press