The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1902-01-18
Her MOther=in=law

$50 she does" said Pierre, "but she
and my sister don't seem to agree
"Oh!' said /, thinking how disagree
able she must be to quarrel with her
own mother.
Ny mother-in-law arrived the next
day-a fat old lady, with a purple COM
plexion, n sharp, black eye and a fringe
CT false curls on either side of her face.
what" said my mother-in-law, "a
black silk dress at homer" And she
scrutinized my simple toilet with a pen
etrating gaze. Does Pierre's income
admit of that?'
"Pierre's income has nothing to do
with it," returned / gayly. Il bought
the dress myself. 1t was n l had be-
fore we were married"
81 should advise a gingham or al
paca for a home Dress" said my moth
er-in-law.
"Pierre likes to see me in black silk"
I protested.
"Men 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.
"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 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 a store instead Of living on
Pierre's charity"
I colored holly.
"If Pierre does not object" said l,
'no one else need"
81 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 a
week before she got the housekeeping
money away from me.
81 shall spend it 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 $40 to balance
the bills.
Things are so much higher here
than in Milwaukee," said she.
But / noticed that very evening
that my mother-in-law anne home
with a new bombazine dress. And |
put two and two together. How could
l help it?
She told Pierre that I vas lazy and
extravagant. 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
through 1t all she pretended that she
was very fond of us all.
.Of course said she, sit would be a
deal p%leasanter for me to 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 a new china tea set!
Cora" said /, 81 can't stand this.
mother and me"
"Oh, Nellyr' said innocent little Cora.
ST mean it!'' said 1. 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 a high fever and in a day or two
she broke out with a scarlet rash.
''There is a great deal of smallpox
around" said Pierre, with a roubled
face. 81 fear it is that. At all events,
we had better all be v~accinated. How
lucky that my mother is here to help
nurse her!p'
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 EllaT'
ELLA will do very WELL" said Mrs.
Wallace. "T don't near 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 a goodby."
Pierre set his teeth together.
ST would not have believed" said he,
shat 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 wretched!"
my darling Ella! And why did you
not tell me 500" he asked.
"She was your mother, Pierre, and all
that I could say would not have opened
hAH