The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-08-25


as the grave once more. Fred, the young
husband, was even more taciturn than
before. He avoided his mother, whom
he seemed to regard a. the natural enc
my of his wife.
One day l met him In the street.
"Where is your wifep / asked. Don't
you hear from her at alp
He laid his finger on bis lips, forget
ting that his mother was miles away and
could not possibly hear what he had to
say. 60,
II hear from her very often" he whis-
pered, and a light broke from his timid
eyes.
as Mrs. Damman going to remain
away from you foreverw
He came quite close to me now.
"She Is right here in town." be answer
ed, with her aunt, and ! Zee her every
day"
II am glad of that" said. Perhaps
your mother will come around and 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 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 it7'
He seemed SO boyish and fearful Of con-
sequences that could not help getting
out of patience with him. II he had had
a little more energy, felt sure the two
women would not have become separat-
ed. He shrugged his shoulders. Il
can't help myself" he murnured, land,
as things are now, am glad to be able
to be with my wife without being mo-
lested."
"You must bring them together" l.
admonished. 1T is your duty. Try to
make an end Of this unsatisfactory state
of affairs"
raised my hat and walked on. Two
weeks later I met the young couple
promenading in the park. "Ah,"
said ION your way home at last?'
"Fred's going there, but not !" an
swered the young wife shyly, holding
out her hand to me.
"That's more than I can understand"
I said somewhat dryly; "the wife be-
longs in her husbands home.'
"You know how things are with u.s."
she insisted, with SOD.
Eyes, know. You are afraid Of your
mother-in-law, who has a good heart, but
is unusually obstinate. And you," turn
ing to the husband, have 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 60 back"
When l saw that my words had made
deep impression on the two young peo-
Die, / 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" I suggested. LET
your wife prepare the tea, and when she
comes back from the theater every
thing will be lovely"
/ told them to follow me and, to my
joy, saw that they had agreed to do as
babe them. entered the house about
five minutes before they could possibly
reach it, for they had perceptibly fallen
behind. Once within, l 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. I 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 fash l 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 mother!" 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. love you both, dear
daughter and beloved son. l couldn't
wait for you, because had to 60 to the
theater. Your Mother"
Erred, Fred" she sobbed, "your
| mother wants me to come back again.
She has forgiven me-dear mother"
The door flew open, and the girl wife
| rushed in. With sob she threw herself
| into the elder woman's arms. "Forgive
me, mother, forgive mel Oh, how glad !
| am to be at home again with you"
stood motionless at my door, What
| next? Mrs. Damman had not opened
her mouth What if she were still OBJ.
stinate and would drive again from
| home the penitent girl? But, no, !
| heard her voice now.
"My dear child" she said softly, $50
| you are sorry? If you had said SO on
that miserable day, all would have been
well. l love you; you are my child just
as much as he!' -.
"Oh, mother" she sobbed anew, II
never knew how good you are. Scold me-
do what you will with me, you are my
darling mother anyhow"
And they were reconciled. They call.
ed me to witness their joy, and I had
hard work to make Fred understand that
had placed the scrap Of paper on the
door that had brought about peace and
harmony in the little household. 1t was
on innocent deception, and if he ever
had the courage to confess it to his wife
| never heard of it.-St. Louis Republic
Ill. t