Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-01-20
THE MoTHER.lN.LAW.
How She Settled . Family Quarrel
to Her Satisfaction.

) to Her satisfaction.
wouldn't mind SO much" he said
''in fact, wouldn't mind your tempe
:, at ALL Hilder, II only there was SOM
reasonableness with it,
Mean to look me In the face de-
0 manded the young wife, trembling
and to say that I've got temper?'
Very sorry to swear In q court Of
law that you hadn't"
Q "Glad you speak about a court Of
law" she remarked, pointedly. TAKE
your elbow off the table, II you cam
"You don't look glad"
Never you mind how look" re-
torted the young wife heatedly
That's my affair. look jest as
like. You seem to do nothing but pass
remarks nowadays ON my personal
: appearance"
ION more than one occasion since
we married and settled down to live
In two rooms" he pointed out those
remarks have been of a flattering and
II may say a complimentary nature"
He reached across the table and pat
ted her hand.
Il don't want to get mad with you.
Thomas" she said. after pause "I'm
sure I'm the last person in the world
to pick a quarrel. II I've got a fault
1t is that I'm too much for peace and
quietness. Mother says I'm great
deal too much Of a giving in disposi-
ton. Mother says"
Leave your mother out of the
question" he urged, stolidly, "and I'll
undertake to leave my mother out of
the question. We can manage our af-
fairs without any interference of any
kind whatsoever from outsiders"
The argument recommended. 1t was
now close upon 8. and the discussion
had commenced at Ills. Thomas
foreman had made a remark to him
on leaving the works that night and
the true inwardness of this remark
had not been realized by Thomas I'M
til his train had left Stratford. His |
wife's comment on the situation was
that any one could think of repartee |
If they took years for consideration;
she compared his general intelligence
with that of an empty coal scuttle,
and told him 1t was high time he be-
gan to show something more Of alert
ness of manner; her own opinion, If
desired, being that he went through
life with his eyes shut and his
mouth open. He replied that this
happened to be the very charge ne
had felt inclined to bring against her;
courtesy alone had prevented him
from doing so long since. Called
upon to give proofs, he had given a
jerk of the head in the direction of
the sitting room window.
Il don't carei" she cried now Il
don't care If forty thousand neigh
bors put up their winter curtains.
I'm not going to, so there!" I.
It's one of the first words of ad-
vice I've given you concerning the !.
ONE, and this is how you receive it." !
Warning to you to mind your 9
,wn business. White muslin Is good
enough for me and white muslin will j
ave to be good enough for you" ,
Il shouldn't mind so much IL they
vas white"
That is our knocker," she said. {
Go and answer It,"
You go and answer It," II
The double knock came again.
hey compromised grimly by going ID
ownstairs together.
Nice evening to keep anybody II
raiting for howers and howers on N
ne doorstep" remarked the lady !"
18th a kind Of defensive geniality. "a
suppose, Hilder, you want to see
our poor old mother perish of cold. 81
That's the matter?" III
Come up stairs" said her daugh- ny
r, shortly, "and ave warm by the az a,
re, unless it's gone out" IN
What you got for supper?" Sd
'Aven't started on 1t yet, mother"
You two" said the visitor acute
;, you two ave been quarreling." VI
tits Hilder's fault urged the W.
,ung husband. "She begun it." ne
However you can walk upstairs m
re that" said the wife, shocked, WI
nd tell such a downright story,
irly beats me. / wonder you darel ST;
wonder you aren't afraid of some ga
ing 'appening to you" 90
Mice threat for your daughter to no
e, ma'am, toward her lawful mar Nc
ID husband, isn't it, now?" ste
Il don't want to mix myself I'D in orr
ur troubles" remarked her mother. 1ol
nat always Deen my rule. But
u ought not to go on pickering like me
Is" ref
Then tell her." he urged. tell her VIII
t to bicker." Hi
Hilda's mother gave help in pre-
ring the meal. and contributed
cd deal of assistance in the task of 4
assuming it. Supper over. she an SOY so'
unced that she was not going to NJ.
ten for a single moment to the mi,
tements on either side; she had to era
mark Immediately that she could -
possibly follow the arguments
en- both spoke at once. She also ~
marked more than once during the
lring of the case that among her
ny Affections was not included ,
t of deafness
Hilder." she said, when the evil est
ice on both sides had finished, Ego
D the next room for a few min Dr..
s. This is more serious matter o'a
n I thought 1t to be- I'd no idea BRA
was anything like this. Go, this
lute!" IRA
he daughter took up her basket
work and obeyed. Bra
She can overhear every word =