Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-09-19
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two months when his wife announced
to him that she wished her mother to
come to live with them Frost had only
kindly feelings toward Mrs. Englehart,
but he fatty refused.
From that time his Bertha was
changed toward him. She often failed
to give him the connubial kiss when he
went to business in the morning or on
his return. When she did so it was
without the previous heartiness. From
feeling kindly toward her mother he
gradually came to consider her mon
ster who had turned his wife from him.
Certain hints as to this he dropped
from time to time did not improve
matters, and there grew up between
the couple an estrangement.
One day when the husband returned
from business he found that the blow
he had begun to dread had fallen. His
wife did not meet him at the door as
she had done always before this mat
ter had come between them, and, 60
ing into the house, there was an omi-
no answer. Mounting to their bed
room, he found a note on the dresser
announcing that, since he considered
his Wife's mother not worthy to live
with them, his wife did not consider
that she ought to live with him.
A week passed-a long, lonely, mis-
cradle week. He was at times tempt
ed to go after his wife and bring both
her and her mother back with him, but
invariably decided that If his wife
would not live with him unless he re-
ceived into the house that which would
make his life still more miserable he
had better accept the lesser evil. Be-
sides, he considered that Mrs. Engle-
hart had made all the trouble, and with
each day his antagonism to her grew
more bitter. He finally made up his
mind to go and make an effort to In
duce Bertha to return ~ without her
mother-and, if he failed, to give her
up entirely.
It was at the beginning Of the second
week Of Bertha's desertion that he took
a train and rode a hundred miles to
Mrs. Englehart's home. One evening
he was admitted to the house, to find
mother and daughter sitting together,
the mother reading, the daughter do
ing fancy work The former looked at
him with surprise which, to his as
tonishment, was accompanied by a
pleasant smile. The latter, on seeing
who the visitor was, bent her head low
over her work, but he saw the color
vanish from her face and her bosom
heave unanimously.
"Why, Frank" said Mrs. Englehart,
Bertha didn't tell me you were COM
ing. My children have got up sur
prise for me-" Then, noticing that
Bertha did not rise to greet her hus-
band, she added, ''It's Frank, Bertha u
But, since Bertha maintained her posi-
ton without even noticing her hus-
band, the mother added further, 'What
does this mean?"
ut MEANS" said Frank, "that can't
live alone as l am now doing any
longer. If Bertha prefers to remain
here with you must close the house
and go into bachelor quarters"
"Bertha," said Mrs. Englehart, Eek
plain"
Bertha still hung her head
"You didn't tell me there was trouble
between you and Frank" said he1
mother.
"She didn't?" exclaimed Frank, as
tonished.
"No. She told me she had come t
make me visit"
Notified toward the supposed enemy
Frank related the bare circumstance:
preceding his wife's departure.
"Bertha!' said her mother in thu
| same tone she would have reprove<
her daughter when child.
HE didn't act with proper consid
GRAFTON toward you, MOTHER" said Ber
tina, land I wouldn't stand it,"
"Whom did he marry-you or me?"
"Me, suppose"
Bertha, / am astonished. I an
ashamed of you. Why have you don
this?'
II wanted you, mother, and though
that if came to you he would"-
'Be weak enough to yield to you?"
To this there was no answer.
! "Frank," said the mother-in-lav
ogre, ''go upstairs and get the dust of
Then come down, and l will have som
supper ready for you"
Never was dank, heavy atmOs
phere more quickly cleared ava
than Frank Frost's antagonism tt
ward the supposed cause Of his tror
BILE. Stepping forward, he folded Mrs
Englehart in his arms and gave he
hearty kiss; then, without noticin
his wife, he left the room. He wa
standing before a mirror, brushing hi
She was standing in the door, a pic
ture Of contrition. Turning, he caugl
her in his arms
II suppose I've been very wicked,
she said in a voice so faint that ha
his cheek not been against hers b
would not have heard her.
''Never mind, sweetheart I've bee
fool. I've been inwardly abusing til
best woman In the world. Hereafte
I must have her always at hand t
help me manage lovely but waywar
wife,"
"She won't come. knew how sh
would feel about living with us, and
wanted the invitation to come fro1
you"
There was call from below, and th
two went downstairs hand in hand.
Mrs. Englehart," said the beamin
husband, II came here to bring yor
da,1rhtor hack 1zifhouf roa1 Nou