Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-24

den and the cause of all my tribulations was
Clarssal When I add the statement that Clar-
issa is a woman and, too, my wife, the serious
ness of my situation will be apparent
adore Clarissa I loved her before marriage, as
man NAV love an angel of loveliness ard mystery, but
afterwards I loved her may love only one
woman, and that his WIFE with the intimate inerde-
pendence Of mutual understanding with the complete
Joy of perfect sympathy do not think that any serious
difficulty in our domestic relations during all the
ten years of our welded life until the period of which
I am about to speak And in this case it was hardly
the fault of Carissa-it certainly wrong on my
part was simply the of fate expounded through
Carissa's relatives.
Judging from the humorous papers and some expert
ences in the homes of friends it is not of occur
renee that man has trouble with his wfe's relatives
Were this any ordinary instance of mother-inlawish
domestic episodes, should not weary you with a re-
hearsa of my woes but is in class apart My wife's
family is throughout to admire, its members are
my friends rather than relatives n-law; they like me
and like them. But I speak of the living. Toward
Clarissas iustrious forebears cherish feeling OF
deep animosy, and it justified The dead but unfor-
gotten sires of C1arssa caused me deep mental
anguish, and only Providence, working through the
friendly Offices of Governor Norton, and the uncon-
scous diversions afforded by Kao, wrought my release
from torment.
For years Clarssa and remained in delightful ignor
ance of the unfortunate gories of her ancestry But
the evil counsels of Mrs Taggety unveiled the facts
and caused disaster For Mrs. Taggety is of the
pervasive women. She has many friends, who do not
know her. Those who know her her enemies. l
always knew her. and always regarded her with GENT
inc disavor that grew into acute dislike and ultimate
abhorrence when Clarissa who knew her not, became
her friend.
Mrs Tagglety belongs to a very large number of
clubs and patriotic organizations for that NATTER she
would belong to as many but for the fact that
through her atrocous methods she the dssou-
ton of most of those to which she becomes attached
And being persuasive she is always seeking and gain
ing recruits 1t was thus that she to Carissa.
"You must be Daughter" she announced to my
unsuspectng wife, And then she went on to point out
to Carissa that the duty of every patriotic Amer
ican woman to produce her family skeletons in the
genealogical court and her devotion to her
trys good by proclaiming pedigree of Colonial inn
portance.
"But I don't know about my ancestors" Carissa
ventured, timid1y
"Then it's time you did" Mrs. Tagglety asserted,
rudely; and added with that plattudnous rrelevance
that often characterized her remarks Time is passing
every dayl"
Unable to refute this forceful declaration Carissa
meeldy yielded.
When C1arissa innocenty informed me that she had
decided to become Daughter" neither shreked
tainted Little knew of the hdeous import in the
words. When she mentioned the fact that Mrs, Tag
glety was responsible for this of action,
perienced no more than the feeling of anpahy which
the naming Of Mrs. Tagglety usually caused. And, in
deed events at the first gave me ground for uneasi
ness. Clarissa entered on the undertaking without
enthusiasm and without undergoing any immediate
moral perversion. She made few perfunctory
sons to the local library and discovered quite
nnocuous that seemed to suffice for the ex
gencies of membership in the Daughters"
Then came the fatal day. On my reaching home an
hour before dinner-time found Clarssa in state Of
high excitement She had been the lookout for me,
and opened the door herself.
oh Arthur" she cried once, her eyes shining and
her cheeks flushed, Uncle James lieutenant"
"Eh, what" I stammered, stupidity.
"Yes, dear, real lieutenant Now, what do you
think of that7"s
paused to rid myself of my hat and stick before
replying, in the hope that my wits might clear sui-
centy to fit the occasion But l quite unable to
understand either Clarssas enthusiasm her words
So I was driven to brutal direcness.
l"Who is Uncle James?" asked gently. I'm afraid
that just for the moment, of course, can't exactly
place him, you know, Oh isn't he the onethe brother
of Uncle Fred-that died when he baby-convul-
sions, wasn't it? knew his name Was he
Uncle u"
The expression on Clarissas face bade me pause.
which I did; and then, in the moment of silence that