Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1913-05-01

est, coolest smile. Panic seized the girl.
"How shall ever get through the even
ingP she thought. Taking her mother
in-law'S bonnet, and putting il safely on
the top shelf OF the wardrobe, she mur-
INJURED some excuse about seeing TO the
supper, and leaving Mrs. Hardy seated
on the front porch, fled TO the kitchen.
While she watched her flaky biscuits
brown, Jesamine remembered, with dis
may, that she had not removed the pot
of tuberoses from the porch flower-stand.
Mrs. Hardy had not been able to endure
tuberoses since the death of her little
girl, ten years ago, for the child had loved
the flowers. The day after the funeral
Mrs. Hardy had sent away her half-doz-
en- handsome plants. 81 know the even
ing's going to be wretched failure !"
thought JeSamine.
The meal was silent one. Richards
mother seemed unappreciative alike OF
the flaky biscuits, the ruddy-gold ounce
preserve, the delicious fried chicken.
Iesamine washed the dishes in bitter
mood; it was too much that she should
have to endure her mother-in-law' So
ciety on this evening Of all others, when
she needed the balm OF her husbands
love for the hurt of her sacrifice. When
she had put away the last cup, JeSamlne
looked at the clock. "OnlY eight
o'clockp" she sighed. "A whole hour
before can expect Dick!
Then she bathed her hot cheeks, and
went out to face her unpleasant task as
best she could. In the dusk the two
women sat silent Although Jesamine
could not see the face Of her mother-in-
law, she felt that she knew just how hard
and set il was. When she could no
longer bear the strain Of silence, she be-
gan TO talk with forced brightness.
Suddenly out of the darkness Mrs.
Hardy spoke:
you've learned TO be houSekeeper.
That chicken and those biscuit were al
most perfect, and yopr ounce preserve
| won't have TO stand over the hot stove
next August to make it so as to keep The
blue ribbon in the family. You can take
my place"
Jesamine felt a strange tightening in
her throat. Mrs. Hardy went on:
81 was disappointed when Richard
married city girl with no knowledge OF
housekeeping, because | knew boy
raised as Dick had been, with the home
feeling ingrained, as you might say,
would never be happy with wife who
lacked that knowledge. thought the
thing over, and it came to me that the
only way you'd ever learn quick was
through your pride being raised. So !
made up plan: never TO praise always
to criticize. The plan worked. Every
time you were criticized you'd get your
pride up, and dig like beaver. Now
the digging'S all behind, and you've
learned, and | ought to feel satisfied.
But, child, I'm not. Sitting here in the
dark tonight, somehow I've come 10 feel
as did before Lucy died. know now
| was too hard. | ought TO have put love
in my teaching, even if il took years
longer. II wasn't that didn't want TO
love you, but my heart was frozen up
tight; couldn't open if and take you in.
But it's open now, child. Maybe il was
smelling the tuberoses thought ! couldn't
bear, and finding myself liking the smell
maybe it's just time that has healed the
hurt at last. But anyhow, l've taken
you in, and it's too late. ! can't expect
you to fill Lucy'S place now, remember
ing how hard I've been"
With single movement of her slim
young body, Jesamiue knelt and laid her
tear-wet face in the hard, shiny black
silk lap. "Mother !" she breathed.
At nine o'clock, Richard, coming up
the graveled walk, with the sleeping phlox
and petunaS on each side, found his wife
seated on the porch step beside his moth
er, who was pouring out tender reminis-
cence OF bygone years, and holding in
her fingers spray OF tuberoSe.
A.