The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-08-18
LAv1N1Ns DAUGHrER-1E-LAw.

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When William Higginbottom, Jr.,
electrified his parents with the start
ling announcement of his marriage,
his mother almost tainted, so great
was the shock.
Almost from his cradle, Lavinia
Higginbottom, being disappointed in
the event of son instead of a daugh-
ter, had consoled herself with the
thought of a possible daughter-in-
law; having foreseen by some mys-
terious oracle that her son would be
the first and last Higginbottom Of
their generation, as his father and
grandfather had been before him.
Of course her daughter-in-law
would be dainty in feature and form,
and possible brunette, as her son
was forid blonde of the herculean
type, true to his birth and ancestry.
Besides, Lavinia was small woman,
and entertained no thought of look
ing up to a daughter-in-law she,
Lavinia Higginbottom, alone would
reign queen of her home.
After the first shock was over, La.
vinia hurried to her daughter-in-law's
room-which had been furnished and
in waiting more than ten years, ever
since her son had celebrated the day
of his legal majority-and began
hasty preparations for the reception
of bride and groom.
"Oh, DEAR" she sighed, IF it
could only have been Pinkie Warner !
or Lillian White, or Violet Simp-
son-but he wouldn't listen to me-
just like a Higginbottorn, though
if he'd only took after the Hightowers
he'd saved me lots of trouble.
Martha p she called from the
stairway, "bring up a fresh pitcher
of water" Then Lavinia sat down
for breathing space, and critically
surveyed the little room.
The pink-fowered curtains at the
windows had long since faded, like
her hopes, with the years and the
carpet had grown dingy and dull.
The little old-fashioned bureau-an
antique inheritance-stood up primly
against the wall between the win
dows, looking as calm and composed
as on the day it was stationed there
many years before. Two equally
prim candlesticks stood in the long
accustomed places upon little cro-
cheted mats and the inevitable pow
der-box reposed in the center of the
bureau. Over the oval mirror hung
a stuffy pincushion replete with rusty
pins. On the plain high mantel were
two little Dresden china statuettes,
de6antly facing each other; appa-
rently the distance between them had
engendered cold distain. In the
middle of the mantle stood a green
glass vase filled with crystalized
grasses.
Martha, the maid, came with the
| pitcher of water.
Now, go to the baker's," said
Lavinia, "and get some lady-fngers
and jelly rolls for tea-hurry, quick p
| Lavinia smoothed the coverlet on
the old-fashioned bed, then straight
ened the bolster and replaced the pill
lows with genuine satisfaction. The
feather bed was Lavipia's special
pride, because it was fine, large one,
and was rendered doubly dear and
sacred from the fact that her precious
old grandmother and mother had
taken their earthly flight from this
soft couch it had been summed and
aired, but remained on the bed from
winter to summer, and back to win
ter again. Lavinia then opened the
bureau drawer, and took from an en-
broidered linen case a dainty gown
and nightcap-Lavinia was neat or
nothing.
"The poor little thing'll be tired, I
know" Lavinia mused, coming all
the way from Virginny-that's what
the telegram said-and maybe her
trunk'll not come tonight.
She laid the robe at the foot of the
bed, and hung the little frilled can on
the knob of the bedstead-looking
like thing of life. Then she opened
window to LET in some fresh air, and
looked out.
The wayside was green with Buffalo
clover and in the adjoining vacant
lot tall sunhowers lifted their lofty
heads, all aglow with golden colors.
Lavinia remembered how William,
when a child at home, had admired
their gorgeous hues. She could now
in fancy see his little sunny head
peeping up between the tall, green
staIks-and his was q sunny disposi-
ton, too. The years rolled back for
Lavinia today, and she briefly went
over a mental picture of the past.
Each little childish incident was re-
called and lovingly dwelt upon. And
today he was bringing home his wife |!
But ah, how different from all her
plans this wife was stranger.
eff she'll only let me love her !"
Lavinia thought. William'll be
good to his wife-he was always a
dutiful son. She'll get the best hus-
band in the world-he'll be plum
foolish over her, know William S
that much like his mother-he's an
affectionate disposition. And with
deep sigh Lavinia closed the shut
tiers, glanced hastily around the room,
| 49,. .-,a.,t do,.,,, m cat the fso fable