Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-04-17
. = = 80 = = = = . 4
A Mother-in-Iaw's
. Experiment.

-
husband he had never before had an
infant in bis arms and had never real
~ seen above a dozen Of the nuiaances
at close range. but he felt that he need
ed no advice from grandma. When
he set out with spoon and castor oil TO
doctor the kid for dozen things at
once the mOtheF-ln-iaw had to make a
| few FemaTks-she just had to.
There were occasions when the IA
Their would carry the signalling young.
ster about head up. head down. over
his shoulder and under his arm and
pay no heed to the protests Of his
wife or the looks Of the mother ln-law.
There were other occasions when he
would ding IL into the lap Of the old
lady and expect her TO walk the floor
with 1t for half the night, In return
she would visit the druggist next day.
walking into the store with an iron
jaw, but somehow she could never ask
for arsenic or strychnine. The words
always stuck, and she ended of by
asking for soda water with sarsapa-
Filla strip. There were happy hours
however. There were hours when the
mOther-in-law and son-in-law sat down
and told each other that It surely must
have been the work OF Providence to
bring them together. They almost
held hands over II. They felt Just
pride in realizing that they were the
only mothef-in-law and son-in-law on
the face Of the wide earth that ever
lived In the same house and loved each
other.
A crisis must eventually come In the
happiest family. One came In this.
II came one day after the motber-in-
law had carried in ton Of coal and
beaten two carpets. On the same day
the son-in-law had discovered that the
old lady was in the habit of coming
downstairs at midnight and cooking
herself a late supper. There were no
words over either circumstance. On
the contrary. they sat and smiled at
each other and purred like two kittens
She was Informed that but for her
presence In the house life would have
held little or nothing for the man be-
fore her, and she reciprocated by say
ing that she never knew what that
complaeency and contentment meant
until she made her home with him.
II was a feeling hour. The fountains
OF the deep were broken up, and
neither felt ashamed Of the tears in
their eyes nor their quivering lips.
Next morning both were missing. On
q stand In his bedroom aud ON the
bureau In her bedroom the distracted
wife found eplstles. The one from the
husband read;
II invited my mOther-in-law to pass
the rest of her days with me and con-
tribute to our happiness. had always
held to the theory that the wlfe's
mother, particularly II she had an iron
Jaw and a mind Of her own, could rem.
der the little woodbine cottage OF her
son-in-law a paradise on earth. Men
argued with me in vain. When the
opportunity came l tried II. There
was to be no betting in on the other
side. 1t was to be one long. happy |
day. II has been. go 70 my reward |
simply because / can't send her to |
hers. Ever since her FIRST week In the
said woodbine l have never for an
hour been clear of thoughts Of MUIR /
der. They have always been thoughts
or numbering q mother-in-law. In i'm.
agination l have given her nine DIFF
ferent poisons; Ave times have dis.
membered her with the ak; eight times
have I stolen upstairs at midnight to
choke her to death with my strong
HnRARW II hmVA nku /
try to run over her. and | have re-
moved the steps from the cellar stairs
In hopes to preclpitate her to the ce-
ment and break her back.
IN conclusion let ME say" the state
ment went ON. las she refuses to die
FOR me I have decided to die for her
We have grown to be too happy. The
deadly monotony has come. and
haven't the strength to endure Il. NY
>old body will be found hanging In the
wood shed. Love to you and the kid
md any number of best regards TO the
lear old lady. know she win mourn
me-"
The letter OF the mother was equally
when you read this. my dear daugh.
err" she began. "the body OF your
mother win be found at the bottom of
trays mill pond. have been think.
ms OF taking this step for long time.
have been too happy with my son-ln-
aw. That happiness has begun to
All. Think Of having a son.in.law
md yet be bound by the most solemn
'romise not to call him a brute. a vii.
ain and a wretch dozen times a day.
RINK OF how have had TO keep my
'ands on him when I fairly ached to
rash them In his blood! Think OF the
leepless hours I have spent In Grin.
ling and hanging and numbering
im in imagination believe that
ouid i've with my son,in-law aud feel
hat was living In the suburbs OF
eaven itself. II has been a grand sue,
esS but only up TO a certain point
he element OF murder has been lack