Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-03-22
Their Daughter-in-LaW.
BY EMMA A. oPPER
BY EMMA A. OPPER,

This is absurd" he said Indignantly
ut is more than absurd; it is unjust
and dnarrow-minded. How sensible-pre.
sumably sensible people," Harvey
corrected. rather bitterly. "can say, in
regard to person they have never
seen, that it could not be worse is
past my comprehension"
I'VE will not talk of it." said Mrs.
Seely, holding up restraining hand.
discussion will not mend matters.
And you are to be married next
month";"
"On the NINTH" Harvey rejoined.
"Of course you will all be there?" he
added, rather obviously.
by no means!" said his father,
shortly.
you could hardly expect it," said
Mrs. Seely, reproachfully.
very well; If Mohammed won't
come You've heard the observa-
tion. We shall pay you a visit imme-
diately on our return from our we'd
ding tour. with your kind permission
You must know Dora"
When he left the house, an hour
later, he had the required permission.
His mother and the girls had even
kissed him good-by, in an injured and
reproachful way; and his father had
shaken hands, coolly.
But his ears still rang with that
odious assertion, at could not be
worse!" and he was thoughtful all the
WaV hack t0 tba nifu
H.
The Seelys were in a state Of sub
dued excitement.
Harvey's wedding tour was COM
pleted; and they had received a tele-
gram that afternoon to the effect that
he would be ION hand" tonight, with
his new wife.
The diningroom table was set for
dinner; and Mrs. Seely wandered
from one end of it to the other, ner-
vously.
Her husband sat under the chande-
lier with his evening newspaper; but
he was not reading it, Kitty and
Margery futtered about uneasily,
watching through the window for the
carriage from the railroad station.
81 hope" said Margery, with a ner-
vous attempt at cheerfulness, that
she will be barely decent-present-
able. Think of the people who will
call! l hope she won't be worse than
we're prepared to see her"
"She couldn't be-" said Mrs. Seely.
dismally.
There was a roll of wheels, and the
twinkle of the carriage-lamp at the
door, and the bell rang sharply.
Kitty and Margery clasped hands in
sympathetic agitation; Mr. Seely
dropped his newspaper and arose; and
Mrs. Seely advanced toward the hall
door with dignity
1t opened wide before she could
reach it. and Harvey entered, his face
suffused with genial. blissful smiles.
This is my wife," he said, proudly
my mother, Dora; my father; my
sisters Kitty and Margery."
And, with a caressing touch, he
took by the hand and led forward
among them
What?
Mr.. Seely ga2ed with startling eyes;
Mrs. Seely dropped the hand she had
started to hold out with her face
growing ashy. and Kitty and Margery
gasped.
For what they saw was woman of
apparently 40 years, with a face
powdered and painted in the most un-
blushing manner, with thin gray hair
crimped over wrinkled forehead in
a sickening affectation of youthfulness,
and with a diminutive, gaily-trimmed
bonnet perched thereon; with an af-
fected, mincing gait and a simpering
smile.
This is my wife" Harvey repeated.
"Have you no welcome for herr"
The bride Uttered.
"Mebbe they think amt good
enough for 'em. dear?" she observed,
tartly.
Impossible, my pet" Harvey re-
sponded; and patted her falsely
blooming cheek afectlonately BE
sides. if you were but a shadow
caricature Of your beautiful self. they
would not have baen surprised. They
were prepared for the worst
He looked at his Mortified relatives
meaningy.
The truth of his words flashed over
them.
Yes, they had all said. repeatedly,
that lit could not be worse" But
this wrctched. wrinkled, bedizened
creature--had they dreamed of this?
Harvey watched them with an un-
disturbed smile-his father turning
away at last and rubbing his forehead
with his handkerchief weakly; Mrs
Seely, gazing at her daughter-in-law
with dreadful fascination, and the
girls, sinking into chairs in dismayed
silence.
well, mother" said Harvey, light
| ly, "of course new addition to the
family is an object of interest; but
don't forget that have an appetite,
| and getting married has rather i'm