The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-13
THAT MoTHER-IN-LAw.
Mrs. Bovser,s Mother Arrives and
Gets a Surprise.

Mrs. Bowser had received letter
from her mother stating that she Wouiu
arrive on certain date and by certain
A train for a brief visit-just long enough
Ito straighten Mr.. Bowser out, and make
him understand who was boss OF tne
roost. Not a word had been said 10 MI
Bowser about the letter On various
occasions, when told that the 1hotn NI,
in-law was to arrive, he has expressed
his opinion of the brand" in language
both forcible and jagged. How ne us
covered that the event was corlills oln
will always be his secret, Dut olsSoNeI
1t he did. Instead of arriving nome
from the office at the usual houI ne
was twenty minutes late, and 10 SlIs-
BoWser's intense surprise he arrlNeu III
a carriage and the mother was Wiz
him. He had been at the depot oAi NeA
arrival to meet her. -. >,
well. mother, I'm glad to see you,
was the saIutation that greeted her as
tonished ears, and she had turned paie
and almost whispered the words;
isis Sarah dead!'
Why of course not, he Iaugheu'
Then what are you here Tor
ITO meet you of course. have a car
riage here at the door for us Iol III
check for your trunk, or dion ~
bring anything but your satchei! Gldu
to see you looking so we'll come rlsii'
along"
The nother-ir-Iaw looked again and
again to see if she was mistaken IN the
man. He was snort mail NJ "09 =
fat man. He was baldheaded man.
Yes, it was Mr.. Bowser. but what SORT
of a game was he playing? AFTER sne
had been riding five minutes suuuen
suspicion came to her and she WneeIeo
on him and said:
Samuel Bowser. don't think you can
drive me off to some lonely spot and
have me murdered III fight Tor my
life to the last gasp"'
Mt. Rowser rOared with laughter, ana
roI~ he .
why. mother what put such an idea
into your head? Instead of wanting to
murder you. 1 want to give you the pest
visit you ever had at my house You
will find chicken pot-pie and all your
favorite dishes for dinner
But you call me mother"
And why shouldn't II"
She didn't know. She knew that ne
old woman" that she-wolf.' and other
things in the past. and that OF a sudden
an awful change must have come over
him 1t was he, but she couloht pc
ueve it was him. Her relief was great
when the carriage stopped at last in
front of the house. To the very last
minute she had expected to De aDuucleu
or blown up Her very first words TO
Mrs Bowser were:
sarah. has Samuel gone crazy or
anything"
why. no. mother What makes you
think such 2 thing"
''He-he met me at the depot
II didn't know that he was going 10,
but am very glad of. it.
"He-he called me mother
Yes
And he-he had a carriage
Just as il should be-"
But it isn't like him, Sarah-it isn't
a bit like him. Think how many times
he has let me come alone on a street
car Think how many times he has
welcomed me here with only a sheer
and a grunt 1t was only the last time
1 waa here that he called me a dodO.
I tell you. Sarah that there is some
thing wrong with the man. He has
either gone crazy or is planning to put
me out of the way"
During the dinner Mr.. Bowser was
solcitous. He was also full of good
cheer and lively conversation Even
Mrs Bowser. who knew his every &C.
centricity. was surprised. The mother
in-law drank her tea and wondered
if it had been slyly poisoned She ate
of the pOt-pie and wondered if she
would be found dead in the morning
Mr.. Bowser told jokes and made her
laugh. but she was on her guard just
the me. When dinner was over he
asked II she wanted to go to the thea
ter. and when she begged to be ex-
Cused he went out and bought her a
fine bouquet. She accepted It with
futterinS heart. and when he meekIv !
sat down to take the curtain lecture