The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1913-06-13
.sThat's sinoDle nonsense"

baud. but | would moi consent to her
seudi,.s amy Of them. | knew that the
mother.in-iaw held the fort, and SO
long as she did the situation would re-
main as it was. Therefore | saw no
object in delivering the letter to the
husband. for whom it had originally
been intended. i persuaded Ethel to
put it away. If Providence decreed
that we were to make use Of it to bring
about the reunion Of Il divided family
we would find it out in time. But |
consented that Ethel should write the
injured wife that should she ever have
occasion to make use Of the letter to
let her know.
After some time Il reply came contain-
ing an apology for the delay in writ
ing. stating that poor, dear mammal"
had been very i'll. and Il fear ! shall
not have her with me long,"
LET us hope" | remarked. that she
may be soon transferred to-
"John!!' exclaimed my wife severely.
Notwithstanding this shock | had
given Ethel | noticed that every morn
ing after that she took up the newspa-
per and carefully scanned the death
notices. Three months passed before
her daily watch was rewarded by see
ing Il notice of the death of Mrs. Stead
man. beloved mother of Mrs. John
Ridgewood." | knew what had happen
ed from the pleased look on EtheFs
face wien she looked up from the pa
--. 81 .. :, I,,>1, .l,> <,n In cain IN
conceal.
That poor woman" she said. has
lost her mother"
Sad. isn't it," | replied.
THE funeral is to take place Oh
Thursday"
"What have we to do with that?"
"Why. In, jllln:.,ng that after it's all
over we might send that letter."
perhaps it won't be necessary. The
brute may see the notice and go home"
II do wish yuu wouldn't be so cyni-
cal. Even if he does see the notice
he may not go home. He may feel too
~antngonistic to his wife"
"Sl,e can write him another letter.
! The old lady having taken her depar-
ture. it will probably get into the mail"
You have no evidence that she in
tentionally prevented the other n
| from getting there. The wife may not
feel in the mood to write another let
ter. I'm going to send the n we have
to the husband-that is. if you can dis
cover his present address.
That's legitimate" | assented.
Holding Il letter addressed to him. you
have a perfect right and good reason
to deliver it to him. think the day
after the funeral would he a good time.
The wife,. having lost her mother, will
probably have a soft spot in her heart
for her husband"
Ethel was so pleased at the idea of
being instrumental in a reconciliation
that she failed this time to reproach
/ me for my cynicism. begging me when
I went to business to look up the adj
| dress of John Ridgwood that we might
have it by the time his mother-in-law's
| remains were. transferred to the ceme-
terry. | had some trouble in finding the
desired address since Mr.. Ridgewood
utl IClllON cu W IL ecu w - AoS@
| did not find it for a week after his
mother-in-law's funeral. AS soon as |
received it I put the letter his wife had
written him into an envelope. ad-
dressed it to him and mailed it. l
feared certain reproaches contained in
it as to his treatment of the old lady
might antagonize him. but since the
cause Of the rupture was now removed
and the rest of the letter. showed deep
affection | hoped for the best.
One evening about a week after the
forwarding of the letter. when my wife
and | We're reading in the library.
there was Il ring at the doorbell and a
card bearing the name of John Ridge
wood was brou, .ht in.
"Show him in here" Ethel said to
the maid. anxious to hear what he had
to say.
Mr.. Ridgewood. instead of showing
that british cast of countenance which
might have been expected of him, was
a benevolent looking. frank spoken
gentleman.
81 have called to thank you" he
said. ''for forwarding to me a mis-
placed letter and to tell you that it
came in the nick of time to restore me
to my wife and children. Ours was a
case off, He hesitated.
"Mother-in-law." l supplied.
Right! So bitter had been the
breach that | doubt If after her moth
er's death my wife would have writ
ten me another such letter. and ! con-
fess | intended to remain away from
her forever unless she did. The letter.
coming Immediately after my wife's
bereavement. turned the scale for both
Of us. am happy to say that l found
my children quite we'll. and"-
"Your mother-in-law in heaven" l
supplied.
poor woman!" my wife added. with
a frown at me.
II dare say" Mr.. Ridgewood went
on, that l should have borne with
more patience, for my wife's sake and
for family reasons If for nc other,