Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1900-06-22


comfortable fashion, lay a scrap Of
white paper.
The welcome" 1 murmured, and
stopped and lifted the motherly greet
ing to save 1t from destruction with the
rest of the debris.
'She can't be very sentimental" was
my silent comment, cor she would have
treasured these penciled lines all her
life" Naturally l soon made the ac-
quaintance of the youthful bride and
found her to be all that her mother-in-
law had said of her. She was as handy
and alert about the house as she was
fresh and pretty. Mrs. Damman was
relieved of a good deal Of work, al
though she superintended the house
hold as Of old. Fred Damman, the
young husband, was head over heels in
love with his wife, and she seemed
fond of him in her ingenious girlish
fashion. There were little chickering's
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, and when sum-
mer came l was ready to indulge in
an extended journey that was likely
to keep me away from Mrs. Damman's
house for at least three months.
Upon my return the family received
me with open arms. All three had
friendly word for me and for each
other, and | was more than delighted
at the continued harmony that pre-
vaded my landlady's home. That much
of this harmony was sham | learned
before many days. Mrs. Damman was
the first to pour out her heart to me.
She complained bitterly of the young
er woman'S wilfulness, and her daugh-
ter-in-laW usurped rights which did not
| belong to her and threatened dlssolu-
| tlon Of the household. 1t came sooner
than even l anticipated, but III an en-
tirely unexpected manner. After bit
terer quarrel than ever young Mrs.
Damman left the house without telling
her mother-in-law whittier she was go
Ing. 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 SEEM
ed to regard as the natural enemy of
his wife.
One day l met him in the street
Where Is your wife?" asked. Don't
you hear from her at aNT"
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
whispered, and light broke from his
tlmid eyes.
us Mrs. Damman going to remain
away from you forever?"
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" said Perhaps
your mother will soon come around and
|
He shook his head hopelessly. "She
doesn't even want to hear her name
spoken" he answered sadly, land
haven't enough money to set up house
keeping. My wife is sorry now for
what has happened, but she is misera-
bly, afraid OF my mother"
what are you going to do about it?"
He seemed so boyish and fearful of
consequences that could not help get.
ting out of patience with him. If he
had had little more energy, felt
sure the two women would not have
become separated. He shrugged his
shoulders. IL can't help myself" he
murmured, "and, as things are now,
am glad to be able to be with my wife
without being molested."
You must bring them together"
admonlshed. 1T is your duty. Try to
make an end of this unsatisfactory
state of affairs"
Two weeks later l met the young
couple promenading in the park. "Ah,"
l said, ION your way home at lasty"
"Fred's going there, but not l." an
swered the young wife shyly, holding
out her hand to me.
THAT'S more than 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-ln-law, who has a good
heart but is unusually obstinate. And
you" turning to her husband, "have
not the energy to bring these two wo-
men together. You, my dear Mrs. Dam.
man. went out Of your own free will