The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-06-14


dences concerning her m~other-in-
law; yes. she actually had come into
possession OF a mother-in-law! What
should she do with her? Eleanor had
.aid, imrressively:
my dear, Johns mother Is lovely,
but she Is the precisest person that
ever existed. She has kept her silver
teapot in the automatically same
spot for IS years; she told me so her
self! She has a place for every pin,
and she keeps the pin exactly in It,"
WELL" Valerie had said. II don't
care. She has a perfect right to keep
her pins and her teapot where she
likes. i don't care where things are
kept
"You certainly don't" Eleanor had
exclaimed. THAT is the very point.
You are a dear, but you never did
have a real place for a thing; and
il you had, you probably wouldn't
keep the thing in it-all the time.
Would you Valerie?"
"No, l suppose not" Valerie had re-
turned. but you know I've visited
Johns mother. / shocked her a lit
tie. I'm afraid, but she was very
kind"
"Wait until she is your mother-in-
law" the well-intentioned Eleanor
had said.
Valerie had waited so happily, but
now-she thought Of the silver tea
pot. "Thirty-fve years. Thirty-fve
minutes would be nearer the time
ia have kept it in one place." she
reflected.
She looked at Johns mother curl
ously, almost forgetting that she had
stayed in the house a for week with
her-and, presumably, with the silver
teapot; she had not noticed exactly
where Johns mother kept it. Her
mother-in-law in turn looked at VAL
erie, almost forgetting. on her part,
the visit during which Valerie had
beer SO demure and sweet that her
habit Of dropping her small personal
belongings about the house had been
all but forgiven. Eleanor's words
gained weight. Disorderly order
might be picturesque, but il was con-
Trajectory, thought Johns mother.
John serenely finished his break
fast, and methodically folded his nap
kin. lie wondered why his mother
and his wife were SO silent. lie even
asked them, but they smiled md 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 a wild
impulse 10 run after him, she slowly
returned 20 the house.
"How absurd ! ann" she told her
self. but I am so afraid Johns
mother won't really be fond of me.
She thinks I'm frivilous. I know"
Johns mother met her in the hall.
She held Nalerie's rose. her handker-
chief and her hairpins in her hand.
She was a kind woman. but her life
had followed for many years the self
same pattern. and she had acquired a
cool. fixed demeanor that might have
made n less sensitive. impulsive
daughter-in-law than Valerie shrink.
II think you dropped these" She said.
and Valerie felt uncomfortable.
THANK you." she answered. She
tucked the rose and the hairpins in
her hair and pushed the handkcr-
chief into her sleeve. Her face was
SO serious that Johns mother was
distressed.
"What shall ] ever do with her?"
she asked herself. II had rather
hoped She might love me. but she evil
IDENTITY thinks mt foolishly particu-
lar" She turned TO 60 into the din
ing room and Valerie followed her.
"Do let me help you," said Valerie.
II don't know very much about house.
k~ceping-but il you will tell me how.
Id love to help about ey%erything."l
She was divided between n feeling
that she really ought 10 help and the
fear that Johns mother might not
desire her TO help. She suddenly won
dered If Johns mother expected her
to attend to all the household affairs.
She decided to write and ask her own
mothers opinion: but meanwhile she
must carefully feel her way. Eleanor
says that you are a wonderful house
keeper she said, lifting her face to
Johns mother. eagerly.
Johns mother smiled; she was a
trifle vain because the silver teapot
had never. except when in actual use,
left it, appointed place. Valerie was
coming nearer. Johns mother no
her help.
Valerie did her best. but her heart
sank. "How shall | ever endure it?"
she wondered. when Johns mother
explained 10 her that the coffee-urn al
so belonged in n particular place. that
the sugar bowl was not kept in the
ice chest and that soapy water made
tut glass duh. They spent a sober.
morning. After luncheon
Valerie. almost on the point of tears.
took refuge in her room. ito write
Lac tcrc " ,pJ J,1n's r,nfhar n,t;a,tIy