The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-02-11
Her MOther=in=laW

"so she does" said Pierre, but she and my sister don't seem to agree"
 "oh~ said I, thinking how disagree able she must be to quarrel with her own mother.
 My mother-ln-law arrived the next day-a fat old lady. with a 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 homeT And she scrutlnlzed my simple toilet with pen etratlng gaze. Docs Pierre's Income admit of thatr'
 "Pierres Income has nothing to do with It." returned I gayly. "l bought the dress myself. It was one had be- fore we were married"
 q should advise gingham or al- paca for home dress" said my moth er-in-law.
 Pierre likes to see me In black silk" l" [ protested.
 "NIen know nothing about such things" said my mother-in-law.
 That was the beginning of 1.-the be- ginning of a course of meddling and criticising and interference that nearly drove me frantic She disapproved of everything on principle.
 "Niy 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 l.
 "Education Fiddle! What does a girl like her need except to read and write and cast up accounts? should think she might get a place as cash girl in store instead of living on Pierre's charity"
 colored hotly.
 of Pierre does not object" said I. mo one else need"
 "I don't like to see him imposed up on." said my mother-ln-law.
 She grew more and more dlsagreea- ble with mesevery day. It wasn't a week before she got the housekeeping money away from me.
 "I shall spend lt so much more eco nomlcally than young thing like you. Ella" said she.
 But at the months end she had 10 ask Pierre for another $l0 to balance the bills.
 Things are so much higher here than in Milwaukee" said she.
 But I noticed that very evening that my motherin.law came home with new bombazlnc dress. And l put two and two together. How could I help lt?
 She told Pierre that I was lazy and extravagant She asked him if Cora was to stay forever. "Sponglng" 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 through it all she pretended that she was very fond Of us all.
 "Of course" said she. it would be a deal pleasanter for me to stay with my dear daughter ln Milwaukee, but all 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.
 l went into the other room, when Pierre and his mother had gone out without thinking of consulting me to get a new china tea set.
 Cora" said I. "I can't stand this. Pierre has got to choose between hls mother and me"
 "Oh. Nelly" said innocent little Cora
 q mean itr' said |. But how l was to carry cut 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 a day or two she broke out with a scarlet rash.
 "There Is q great deal of smallpox around" said Pierre, with troubled face. "I fear It Is that At all events, we had better all be vaccinated. How lucky that my mother is here to help nurse her"
 But Mrs. Wallace. Sr.. 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 golngT'
 Home" said Mrs. Wallace grlmy "to Milwaukee"
 And leave EllaT
 "Era will do very we'll" said Mrs Wallace. "I don't mean to stay and expose myself to the smallpox. My own health Is the first consideration"
 And away went my motLer-in-law without even stopping for the formal ity of a goodby."
 Pierre set his teeth together.
 q would not have believed" said he "that any human creature could be SC 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 wouldn't mind the smallpox itself if 1t only helped tC rid me of that Cld lady. Oh. Pierre. sh' has made me so wretched!'
 My darling Ella! And why did you not tell me soT' he asked.
 "She was your mother, Pierre, and al that could say would not have opened your eyes as this last exhibition of hei true character has done"
 And that was the way tn which wal | tt....a f..... ,,,,. ,,nfhar-tn In. law Sl(