The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-01-12

went over a mental picture of the
past. Each little childish incident
was recalled and lovingly dwelt upon.
And today he was bringing home his
wife But ah, how different from
all her plans This wife was a
stranger.
! off she'll only let me love her r.
Lavinia thought. "William'll be
good to his wife-he was always a
good 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,
and then went down to set the tea
table.
Lavinia's husband had come down
to the sitting room and was reading
the daily paper. But Lavinia, nervous
and 6gety, rushed hither and thither,
putting things in order. She watched
the clock closely, and now and then
anxiously and expectantly peeped out
of the window OF 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, until
she had worked herself up to a nerv-
Gus frenzy
"Lavinia, do sit down and be calmP'
impatiently requested her husband,
who though by nature the personi6-
cation of calmness, was at last dis
turbed by her restless movements to
and fro through the room.
"Be calm That's just like you,
Mr.. Higginbottom, to talk about calm
in the midst Of a STORM How can I
be calm and new daughter-in-law
comm that I've never laid eyes on
beforel Oh, dear, after ali my worry
and raisin' of him it's come to this
he never said one word to me when
he comes to marry. Well, do hope
he's got good wife, anyway !"
L.avinia 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
hurried to the kitchen.
Pretty soon there was a low rum
bling 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 Will
liam, with his bride, stepped lightly
into the room.
Father and his arms went round
the old man'sneck then, Father, "
he said, proudly, 81 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 /"
ST 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 a gesture of despair,
for, instead of the dainty, meek little
Dresden like figure SO indelibly stamp
ed upon Der mind all these years,
there loomed up before her distorted
vision a tall, self-possessed blonde of
commanding appearance indeed, she
was almost as tall as William.
So this was the daughter-iu-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 2" and, reaching
up painfully on tip-toe, she pressed
half hearted kiss upon the girls re-
luctant lips. It was an embarrassing
moment, but the gentle old man came
to the rescue, saying in conciliatory
tones
Daughter, Lavinia' S very nervous,
and she's NOT heen well The sud.
den announcement of Williams mar
riage has upset her but Lavinia al
ways wanted a daughter-in-law
ooh, yes" quickly assented La
vinia eve always wanted a daugh-
ter in law. But if I'd only known"
eyes, know" the girl said, SYM
pathetically. "I'm SO sorry-but
William wouldn't come without me"
with a fond glance at her husband.
Mother, said William, ,anxiously,
Harriet is suffering from a head
ache; I think she had better rest" )"
"Oh, I'm SO sorry for you," La
vinia said, as she led the way up
stairs.
uSy WSAS uOW III luS iitlic lOOu,
and Lavinia asked: Have you
mother ~
eyes," 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 Laviuia's shoulder,
she continued, ''for William S mother
shall be my mother, too.''
eyes, mother" Harriet said, affec-
tionately, grasping both Lavinia's
hands. 81 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
profered assistance from William
carried it up to her daughter-in-law's $
room, much to her sons delight and
satisfaction. Harriet thought she had