Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-11
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
Her Mother-in-Law.

anu my sister UOn seem 10 dSItt.
OH said 1. thinking how disagree
able she must be to quarrel with her
own mother.
My mother-in-law arrived the next
day-a fat old lady. with purple COM
plexion. a sharp. black eye and fringe
OF false curls on either side of her face.
What" said my mOther-in-law, "a
black silk dress at home:" And she
scrutinized my simple toilet with pen
etrating gaze Does Pierre's income
admit of that:'
"Pierre's income has nothing to do
with IT," retNrned l gayly. II bought
the dress myself. It was one had be-
fore we were married"
81 should advise n Bingham or al
paca for a home Dress said my moth
er-in-law.
pierre likes to see me in black silk"
protested.
Men know nothing about such
things" said my mother-in-law.
That was the beginning of 1.-THE be-
ginning of n course OF meddling and
criticising and interference that nearly
drove me frantic. She disapproved of
everything on principle.
my dear Ella" said she, that great,
tall sister of yours ought TO be earning
her own living"
But she must get an education first, ."
pleaded !.
Education, Fiddle! What does n
girl like her need except to read and
write and cast up accounts? l should
think she might get place as cash
girl in a store instead of living on
Pierre's charity"
colOred holly.
eff Pierre does not object" said ],
mo one else need"
II don't like TO see him imposed up
on" said my mother-in-law.
She grew more and more disagreed.
BILE with me every day. 1t wasn't n
week before she got the housekeeping
money away from me.
81 shall spend il so much more eco
nomically than a young thing like you.
| Ella said she.
But at the months end she had to
ask Pierre for another so 10 balance
the bills.
Things are SO much higher here
than in Milwaukee," said she.
But / noticed that very evening
that my mother-in-law came home
with a new bombaZine dress. And
put two and two together. How could
i help it?
She told Pierre that / was lazy and
extravagaht. She asked him if Cora
was to stay forever. ''sponging" her
living out of him. She shook her false
curls and groaned out that she didn't
see where all the money went to. And
81 IL CI, I,af l,n
was very fond OF us all.
"Of course" said she. cit would be n
deal pleasanter for me 10 stay with my
dear daughter in Milwaukee. but | al
ways prefer duty to mere personal
| qualification
You are very kind. mother" said
| dear, stupid Pierre, who put implicit
| faith in everything the old lady said.
/ went into the other room. when
Pierre and his mother had gone out
without thinking Of consulting me
to get new china tea set.
Cora said /. Il can't stand this.
Pierre has got TO choose between his
mother and me-
"Oh, Nelly" said innocent little Cora.
"I mean it," said l. But how l was
to carry out my programme l had not
| the least idea.
Fortune, however. favored me. Cora
came home from school the next day
with high fever and in n day or two
she broke out with n scarlet rash.
There is a great deal of smallpox
around" said Pierre. with a troubled
face II fear il is that. At all events,
we had better all be vaccinated. How
luclSy that nv mother is here to help
nurse her."
But Mrs. Wallace. ST., presently came
down stairs in the bombazine dress,
with Pierre's best leather travelling bag
in her hand.
"Why. mother" said Pierre in aston
ishment, where are you Going?"
Home" said Mrs. Wallace grimly;
''to milwaukee,"
"And leave EllaTi
ELLA will do very WELL" said Mrs.
Wallace II don't mean to stay and
expose myself to the smallpox. My
own health is the first consideration"
And away went my mother-in-law
without even stopping for the formal
ity Of n goodby."
Pierre set his teeth together.
81 would not have believed" said he.
"that any human creature could be so
selfish or so cold hearted"
Pierre" said l, creeping up to him,
don't be afraid. It's only the measles
that Cora has. And l wouldn't mind
the smallpox itself if it only helped TO
rid me of that old lady. oh, Pierre. she
has made me so wretchedr'
MY darling Ella And why did you
not tell me so?'' he asked.
'She was your mother, Pierre, and all
that / could say would not have opened
your eyes as this last exhibition of her
true character has DONE"
And that was the way i'm which was
relieved from my mother-in-law. She
never came again. and il she had done
so / doubt whether Pierre would have
let her in.