The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1901-07-04
The Meeting of
the Extremes.
ny ELIZABETH McCRACKEN.
7 AIERIE had been amply pre-
nnreI p.n.,l,. L..

VALERIE had been amply pre-
pared. amply warned by John,
numerous girl cousins-by Eleanor
particularly-but when the dreaded
moment arrived she was alarmed. Ir
five minutes John would be gone
actually gone. for the entire day. and
she would be all alone with Johns
nother--yes. actually with her
mothcr-in-law!
She looked at John very soberly,
and let him take her hand under
shelter OF the table-cloth. John
smiled fondiy at her. They were hav.
ing breakfast. they and Johns
mother. In their OWE home for the
first time. They had been married
exactly five weeks, and they had
come home from their wedding trim
ON the previous evening. The home
was new only TO Valerie. II had been
for many years the home of John and
of Johns widowed mother.
John had explained to Valerie that
he might not leave his mother alone.
and that she would lie loath to re-
Iinluish her home, and almost unable
Ia adapt herself to n totally new en-
vironment. Valerie was quickly sym
pathetic.
''Shc need not. John" she had said.
renssuringly. ''Shc Is older than !,
and ! don't want to spoil any of her
life for her. or course we will 20
and live with her. I shu'n't he n hor.
rid. typical daughter-in-law!" she had
warmly concluded.
John did not know exactly what
she meant by typical daughier-in-
law, but he assured her again and
again that she could not possibly be
anything horrid. Their discussions
of the practical details of their fu-
ture invariably ended in such per-
sonal irrelevancies.
Valerie certainly looked unlike any
thing horrid ns she grovely returned
Johns smile. Her rose-colored mus
lin breakfast jacket, with its decorn-
tion OF black velvet bows artistically
sewed ON nj random. lighted charm
ingly her fresh young face, and har-
monized prettily with the rose stuck
also artistically mt random in her
curly. brown hair.
Johns mother. about whom there
was nothing ut random. glanced at
Valerie occasionally with an inner
disquiet almost equal to Nalcrir's
alarm. In u moment John would be
gone. actually gone. for the entire
day. and she would he left all alone
with Johns wife-yes. actually with
her dnughtcr-in-lnw. She also had
been amply prepared and amply
warned. touching the inevitable
emergency: hut she nlso looked So
berly at John.
He thought that his mother was
thinking how beautiful II was 10
have Valerie permanently In the
house; and again he smiled. His
mother was gentle and tender he
nenth all the precision and primness
concerning which Johns cousin FL
eanor had solemnly warned Valerie
Valerie, whose theories OF order were
undeyeloped-nnd she had assured
John that his wife would he most
welcome.
81 have no intention. my dear"
Johns mother had said Ia him. "of
being u conventional mother-in-law-
and II will be sweet 10 have daugh-
ter"
She Ind the gentlcst intentions;
hut ns she looked at Valerie she re-
called yividly all that her niece FL
canor, who had been In college with
Valerie, hnd said regarding the girls
tendency to leave her hat ON the
piano. her umbrella on the library
table. her overshoes on the stairs, or
her book ON the floor.
Valerie Is an angel" Eleanor had
said, "bit she thinks u house In made
Just tn live In. She has such n pic
tnresgue. disorlerly way of being or
derIy!"
Johns mother had had occasion 10
appreciate the justice Of Eleanor's
criticism. for Valerie had visited her
for u week before her marriage. |
Johns mother had given the criti-
elsm not very much thought; but
now Valerie was no longer guest;
she wns a permanency.
The pernancncy was meditating
upon the possibility Of going with John
aud spending the day nt his office.
The nearer he approached the end OF
his breakfast. the more dearly she re-
tnembered his cousin Elennor's cont |
,iences concerning her mother-in- |
hw; yes, she actually had come into
Ipons<ssIon o2 Z mot other-In-lawi What
nhoum shs DE- With her? Eleanor had
sQjI. l,npreo1lvsly,
~Ny dosr. John'e mother Il lovely. |
M ~ n TIE peeelseot psrson thst
&~6f e1aa1e1. ~ ~ M her silver
< r. ~ mn1heuoA A1cn1ly nnmo
l11, ~ ~ - - 49, J