The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-08-18

Gus and fdgety, rushed hither ant
thither, putting the house in order
She watched the clock closely, anC
now and then expectantly peeped out
of the window or went to the door
The nearer the time came for the ar
rival of her son and daughter-in Law
the more anxious she became she
had worked herself up to a nervous
frenzy.
"Lavinia, do sit down and calm
yourself !" impatiently requested hei
husband, who was by nature the per.
soni6cation of calmness, though al
last disturbed by her restless move
ments to and fro through the rooms.
''Be calm That's just like you,
Mr.. Higginbottom, to talk about
calm in the midst of a storm. How
can be calm, and new daughter
in-iaw a-comin' that I've never laid
eyes on before? On, dear, after all
my worry and raising of hint 5
come to this; he never said one word
when he come to marry. Well, I
do hope he'll get a good wife, any
way -
Lavinia resumed her knitting, but
her fingers worked nervously. Sud-
denly she rose, saying:
"I'd better go and see if Martha S
keeping everything hot, and off she
went to the kitchen.
There was a low rumbling sound
of carriage and it halted at the
door. Then a well-known, hasty
step upon the porch. The old man
quickly rose to his feet. The door
was gently opened, and William, with
his bride, stepped lightly into the
room.
Father" and his arms went round
the old mans neck then, Father"
he said, proudly, II have the happi-
ness of presenting to you-my wife. >"
He dwelt lovingly upon the last word,
and the old man noted it, and said:
my dear daughter, this is one of
the happiest moments of my life. We
welcome you home. We've been
looking for a daughter-in law, and
William has rewarded US at last p
"I hope," the girl said, sweetly,
''that shall not disappoint you."
At this moment Lavinia returned
from the kitchen; but she stopped
suddenly in the doorway and threw
up her hands with gesture Of despair,
for, instead of the dainty, meek little
Dresden like figure so indelibly stamp
ed upon her mind all these years,
there loomed up before her distorted
vision tall, self-possessed blonde of
commanding appearance-indeed, she
was almost as tall as William.
So this was the daughterin-law to
whom she had looked forward all
these years; the little darling
whom she was to pet and command,
and who was only to love and obey !
But William, turning just then, be-.
held the pale face of his mother, as
her eyes were fixed upon the stranger.
Mother" he said, tentatively,
"this is Harriet, my-wife, and your
daughter" He smiled joyously.
This brought Lavinia to her senses,
and she said, quietly:
"Oh, yes, my son-your-wife.
How do you do Harriet ?" and,
reaching up painfully on tiptos, she
pressed half hearted kiss upon the
girls reluctant lips. 1t was an en-
barrassing moment, but the gentle
old man came to the rescue, saying
in concilitary tones:
Daughter, Lavinia's very nerv-
Gus, and she's not been well. The
sudden announcement of Williams
marriage has upset her; +; but Lavinia
always wanted a daughter-in-law."
"Oh, yes" quickly assented La
vinia GIVE always wanted-a daugh-
ter-in-law. But if I'd only known
-
eyes, 1 know" the girl said,
sympathetically. sI'm so sorry
but William wouldn't come without
me''-with fond glance at her hus-
band.
Mother" said William, anx-
iously, Harriet is suffering from a
headache think she had better
rest"
"Oh, I'm so sorry for you," La
vinia said, as she led the way up
stairs.
They were now in the little room,
and Lavinia asked: "Have you a
mother -
"Yes," Harriet replied, "I have
the dearest mother in the world, but
now," she added, with a gracious
smile, "I am doubly blessed" Lay
ing her hand on Lavinia's shoulder,
she continued, 'For William S mother
shall be my mother, too."
Tears came into Lavinia's eyes,
and, looking up into Harriet's face,
she said, with an almost childish ap-
peal:
81 do want you to love me, and if
you will I'll do everything 1 can to
make you happy. Everything I've
got belongs to my daughter-in-law,
for William, you know, is our only
child"
eyes, mother" Harriet said, affec-
tionately, grasping both Lavinia' S
hands. "I shall endeavor to be a
real true daughter to you, and want
you to love me, too"
Harriet was too i'll to come down
to the bridal tea, but Lavinia, with
her own busy hands, deity arranged
a tempting little supper, and waving
all proffered assistance from William
carried it up to her daughter-in-
laws room, much to her sons de-