The leader., 1904-06-04
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John S Mother |
By
Julia Truitt Bishop
sA9
Copyright. 1904, by Daily Story Pub. Col
Julia Truitt bishop

as he mentioned it.
81 don't know much about women
anyhow, Ellie" he admitted; "and you
know mothers always 0een the head
of the house, and your grandmother g
always been the head of your house
and how they're going to manage it
all of us living together-is more than
can tell"
81 wish / could have seen your
mother and made her love me little
before we were married." sighed Ellie,
which was the nearest she had come 70
acknowledging that there were difficult
ties in the way. But she had acknowl-
edged it to herself with some faintness
of heart, if John had but known it. She
was going to house where she ought
really to be the housekeeper and home
keeper, and she knew that Johns
mother was already jealous of Johns
wife. She must take with her into that
house the white-haired grandmother
who had raised her from infancy, and
was always busy, counting nothing too
hard for her active old hands. And she
herself was very young, and she must
manage all these difficulties herself
and not burden John with them. No
wonder that she looked little
thoughtful, even while she was smiling
at John and assuring him that they
would manage somehow.
Their journey took them past her old
home, where her grandmother was
ready to join them. Old Mrs. Veddes'
was filled with forebodings, and whis-
pered to Ellie brokenly:
I'm SO afraid she'll think I'm in the
way! l don't want to be in anybody s
way, Ellie"
That's all right-don't you worry,
grandma" said Ellie, holding one of
the withered hands in both hers.
But Ellie's heart sank II. ore and more
at sight of the tall, stiff woman who
was at the end of the journey, who
gave them formal greeting, allowing
Ellie to kiss her cheek, and extending
cold hand to old Mrs. Vedder. If it
had not been for Johns persistent
gayety that first evening would have
been dismal indeed, but, as it was,
John jested and Ellie laughed bravely
and pretended not to he thinking of
anything else.
81 hate to go off and leave rou to
fight it out alone" he said to her the
next morning. eve are in for it, l
guess, Ellie"
II am glad you are going" said Ellie,
ruthlessly. "The worst will come up
then, and we will have it over"
And after John had gone she went
back into the dining room, where Mrs.
Mayfield still sat at the table with her
untasted breakfast before her.
81 suppose you will want the keys" "
Johns mother began at once. 81 will
give them to you, and show you where
things are, and then nay work will be
done. 1 suppose can find little COR
ner somewhere about the house, where
1 can sit down and fold my hands and
not be in anybody's way"
In anybody's way! Mrs. Vedder
heard, and arose and spoke up with
trembling voice:
Il s'pose that means that I'm in the
way-an' thought that's what I'd be
when l come here. An I'll go away
you needn't fear that I'd want to be a
burden ON anybody. Ellie can find
some place for me-the poorhouse, if
nowhere else"
Grandma! You are hurting me
dreadfully!" Tears had rushed to Ell
lies eyes, and the old woman saw
them and sat down again, wiping her
own eyes. 1t was great change. She
no longer had Ellie to herself, peace
ful and happy in the little old cottage,
and with no one to interfere. Ellie
felt it all in flash, and somehow, too,
she feltsthe bruised heart of that other
woman who had been a1l-in-all to her
SOM for nearly thirty years, and now
Ellie had come and she was not all
in-all to him any more. Ellie went
and fell on her knees beside her, and
tried to hug her unbending waist
"Mother!" she CREDIT was the first
time she had found courage to call her
by that name; Mother, / don't want
the keys-you've had them so long
and am too young and inexperienced
for so much responsibility. But you'll
teach me, won't you? I'd be so glad to
learn W
You needn't run yourself down that
way, Ellie" cried grandma. sharply,
ready to fight for the child she loved.
You know as much about housekeep-
in as anybody, should hope"
The storm was about To break again,
but Ellie still tried to smile,
II could keep house in cottage,
grandma and did do it nicely, didn't
+? But mother will show me how to
manage this big house won't you,
mother?"
I Johns mother arose stiffiy with that
look of pain about the lips which
comes from hurt at the heart.
You can soon learn H." she said
turning away. Il suppose | can man
age to busy myself about something
when my work is taken out of my
hands, s.f
Ellie started up and hurried to her
room. A flush of Indignation and Of
despair had come over her. Surely she
had been patient and sweet tempered.
Surely she had done her very best to
please Johns mother and to reconcile
her to the new condition of things!
And here, already, everything had
broken up in wrangling and discord.
Ellie threw herself down upon the bsd
and buried her face in the pillow. She
and John might have been so happy
but for this. she wept hot, resentful
tears. Truly, 1t was best. as she had
always heard, for young married eco
pie to have little home Of their own.
with nn third PARTY near to SOW the