The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1901-07-04

likes. don't care where things ar,
kept"
"You certainly DON'T" Eleanor ha,
exclaimed. THAT II the very point
You are a dear, but you never di,
have a real place for u thing; an,
II you had. you probably wouldn'-
keep the thing in I, all the time
Would you Nalerie?"
"No. ] suppose not" Valerie had re
turned. but you know I've visitet
Johns mother. I shocked her H.
tie. I'm afraid. but she was YER,
kind"
wait until she is your motbcr-in'
law" the weII-intcntioned Eleanor
had said.
Valerie had waited so happily. but
now-she thought Of the silver tea.
pot. 'Thirty-five years. Thirty-f,,
sninufes would he ne?--r the time
I'D have kept II in one place." sh,
reflected.
She looked at Johns mother curl.
ously. almost forgetting that she had
stayed in the house for week with
her--and, presumably. with the silver
teapot: she had not noticed exactly
where Johns mother kept II. Her
mother-in-law in turn looked AT Val
erie, almost forgetting. ON her part.
the visit during which Valerie had
been so demure and sweet that her
habit of dropping her small personal
belongings about the house had been
| all but forgiven. Elcanor's words
| gained weight. Disoricrly order
Trajectory. thought Johns mother.
John scrcnely finished his break
fast. and methodically folded his nap
kin. He wondered why his mother
and his wife were So silent. lie even
asked them. but they smiled and did
not tell him.
Valerie followed him into the hall.
dropping her handkerchief. two hair
pins and the rose from her hair on
the way. She detained him as long as
possible: then she went to the gate
with him. At the gate she told him
five times TO come home early. very
early. She fingered until he turned
the corner: then. restraining n wild
impulse to run after him. she slowly
returned 10 the house.
''How absurd I ami" she told her
self But ! am so afraid Johns
mother won't really he fond Of me.
She thinks I'm frivilous. I know"
Johns mother met her In the hall.
She held Vnlcrie's rose. her handker-
chief and her hairpins in her hand.
She was n kind woman. hut her life
had followed for many years the self
same pattern. and she had acquired
cool. fixed demcanor that might have
made less sensitive. impulsiyc
daughter-in-iaN than Valerie shrink.
81 think you dropped ihcse?" she said.
and Valerie felt uncomfortable.
''Thank you." she answered. She
tucked the rose and the hnirpins IN
her hair and pushed the hnndkcr-
chief into her sleeve. Her face was
so serious that Johns mother was
distressed.
What shall ! ever do with her."
she asked herself. ~ had rather
hoped she might love me. hut she c,i-
IDENTITY thinks me foolishly particu-
lar" She turned tn 20 into the din
ing room and Valerie followed her.
"Do let me help you," said Valerie.
II don't know very much about house
keeping-but IL you will tell me how.
Id love to help about everything"
She was divided between u feeling
that she really ought 10 help and the
fear that Johns moth might not
desire her To help. She suddenly won
dered II Johns mother expected her
to attend to all the household affairs.
She decided to write and ask her own
mothers opinion; hut meanwhile she
must carefully feel her way. Eleanor
says that you nre n wonderful house
keeper" she said. lifting her fara to
Johns mother. eagerly.
Johns mother smiled: she was
trifc vain because the silver teapot
had never. except when IN actual use. !
left its appointed place. Valerie was
coming nearer. Johns mother ac-
cepted her help.
Valerie did her best. hut her heart |
sank. "How shall ! ever endure IT." |
she wondered. when Johns mother |
explained Ia her that the coircc-urn al !
so belonged In n particular place. that /
the sugar bowl was not kept In the !
lee chest and that soapy water made
cut glass dull. They spent u sober,
restrained morning. After luncheon |
Valerie, almost on the point of tears. |
took refuge in her room. ito write
letters" and Johns mother patiently
did again the things that Valerie had
assisted her In doing. Can ! really
endure this-in my old agc?" she
asked herself.
Valerie found that her letters re-
fused 10 be written. John would not
he home for NJ least three hours,
She east about In her mind for some
occupation. John had men
toned that their wedding presents
had arrived; that the boxes contain
ing them were In the room at the end
NJ the hall. She decided to ask Johns
mother To help her arrange them.
She went downstairs, her gloom
lightened. u was so pleas |
mt To remember that the wedding
presents hnd no ccustomed proper
places! Valerie peeped Into the dim
parlor, with its chairs so precisely
set In place. its books 50 fixedly ar
ranged on the table. which was so
yeomet rically placed In the center Of
he room. Johns mother was not In |
he parlor. and Valerie wandered
,bout the house looking for her.
~ shall he nice to her always, re-
! perish In the attempt"
The heroically resolved. Valerie's
deas of order were perhaps chaotic. |