Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1903-10-23
ONE TOUCH
OF
NATURE.

before we were married. | knew quite
well that 1t would not last long. The
house is not big enough to hold your
to find other quarters. She's your
mother and l haven't a word to say
against her, but we don't get on to-
gether, and that's the whole truth of
the matter"
John Ferguson locked down at his
wife with a little furrow of perplexity
on his %sunburnt forehead.
"You might have told ma SO before,
Nellie" he said. THE Pearl sails to-
night, as you know well enough, and
there's no chance for me to do any
thing. My mother is a good woman,
and as easy to live with as most people,
/ take it"
"Oh, of course it's all my fault"
Il don't say whose fault it is, but |
don't know what you expect me to do.
l can't turn the poor old soul out into
the street at a minutes notice. She
doesn't deserve that sort of treatment
from me-"
and I'm not asking it, John. I'm
always things would be different per-
haps, but you'll be away for six
months certain, and maybe longer, and
we shall quarrel all the time. | can't
stand 1t, indeed. But don't wish her
to be turned out. I'll go myself. Steph-
an will hn UQru Glad fn have mo hack
again for the time you are away"
"Your brother has his housekeeper
- =
Eyes, but she does not make him
comfortable, and he told me yesterday
that he only wished for his own sake,
though not for mine, that / had re-
manned single. | said | would go and
keep house for him again, and he was
ever SO glad about it"
And the baby-will he care to be
bothered with a young child?"
"Oh, he won't mind! Why should
he?"
Captain Ferguson considered for a
moment.
Mother will be very lonely" he said
at last.
ooh, no. She never minded it before
you were married" said his wife, has
tily.
Perhaps not, but she is three years
older since then. Well, you can do as
you like, Nell. / shall not prevent you.
Just please yourself"
"And you are not angry?"
ANGRY? Oh, mol"
Cor vexed?"
He smiled a little bitterly.
I'm not exactly gratifed," he said.
att isn't likely l should be. But that
makes no difference, of course. I will
tell mother, and put things straight
with her. She is very fond of little
Nellie, and will miss the child a good
deal, but that can't be helped. Poor
old mother"
81 shall come and see her sometimes,
Of course, John"
"Oh. you will? Well, that is some
thing"
Il am sorry you are vexed, John"
"Oh, never mind, my dear! | never
did profess to understand women, but
it's all right"
But Mrs. Ferguson was not alto
gether satisfied with her interview with
her husband. She was very fond Of
him, and she could not help seeing that
he was deeply hurt and grieved. He
would set out ON his long voyage with
a sore heart, and it might ever be that
ho rnaIxlI Not ro+Y,~0 Oh .-zG
wished that she had made up her mind
to bear with her mother-in-law's little
p~eculiarities for Johns sake, but it
was too late now; her pride would not
let her turn back.
tits all settled, Nell" said the cap
tain, coming back to the little parlor
a few minutes later. you will do
just what suits you, and my mother
will not interfere. And now | must be
going, my dear. This is the longest
goodbye We nave said since our mar
riage, isn't it? ThePei Don't cry! I'll
be back by midsummer at the latest, so
look out for me when the roses are in
bloom. Goodbye, sweetheart"
IF you'd rather I stayed, John"
sobbed Nell, clinging to her husband in
a last long embrace.
mo, I'd rather leave you happy, my
dear girl, and mother says she can
manage alone. Now, no more tears if
you love me! Once more, good-bye!"
He was gone and his wife, sobbing
her heart out on the old horse-hair COW
cred sofa, had no thought to spare for
any grief but her own Later on, when
his mother entered the room, the girls
eyes were dry.
I'm sorry you can't get on with me-"
the old woman said quietly, but it's
natural enough no doubt. When are
you going to your brother?"
HE expects me tomorrow. l think
it is best"
ooh, yes, of course it is best, since
you wish 1t. You will like to be alone
this evening, | know, SO am going
out. III do not see you again, good
night"
"If you please, ma'am, | don't think
baby is quite well; she's fretting
dreadIully, ana 1 can get ner 10 sleep.
II you'd just come and look at her
you'd know what to give her to make
her better"
Mrs. Ferguson looked at her nurses
troubled face. and rose at once.
Eyes, I'll come, Bessie" she said. 81
expect baby's teeth are worrying her;
they should be coming through now /
suppose"
But when Helen entered the nursery
and watched the child's flushed face
and difficult breathing a sudden spasm
or pain elutched at her heart. II baby
should be really Ill what should she
do? If only John were at homel But
he was already far or his journey.
you must fetch the doctor, Bessie"
she said. taking the little one In her