Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1913-07-11


injured wife that should she ever have
occasion to make use Of the letter to
let her know.
After some time reply came contain
ing an apology for the delay In writ
ing, stating that poor. dear mamma"
had been very III. and Il fear shall
not have her with me long"
Let US hope.r 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 pissed before
her daily watch was rewarded by see
ing notice Of the death of Mrs. Stead
man. beloved mother Of Mrs. John
Ridgewood knew what had happen
ed from the pleased look on Ethers
face when she looked up from the pa
per at me-a look she strove In vain to
conceal
''That poor woman" she said. has
lost her mother"
"Sad. isn't lt7'' replied.
"The funeral is to take place on
Thursday"
"What have we to do with thatf'
"why. I'm thinking 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 you wouldn't be so cyni-
cal. Even II he does see the notice
he may not 20 home He may feel too
antagonistic to his wife"
"she can write him another letter
The old Indy having taken her depar-
ture, it will probably get into the mail =
"You have no evidence that she in
tentionally prevented the other one
from getting there The wife may not
feel in the mood to write another let.
ter I'm going to send the one we have
to the husband-that is. if you can dis
cover his present address.
THAT'S legitimate" | assented.
Holding letter addressed to him, you
have perfect right and good reason
to deliver II to him. think the day
after the funeral would be 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 cynicisn. begging me wheIl
| went to business to look up the ad
dress of John Ridgwood that we might
have 1t 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
had removed to a nearby city Indeed.
/ did not find it for a week after his
mother-in-law's funeral. As soon as /
received It put the letter his wife had
written him into an envelope, ad
dressed It to him and mailed It, !
feared certain reproaches contained in
1t 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 week after the
forwarding of the letter, when my wife
and were reading In the library
there was 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
benevolent looking. frank spoken
gentleman.
Il have called to thank you" be
said. for forwarding to me a mis-
placed letter and to tell you that Il
came in the nick of time to restore me
to my wife and children Ours was a
case or He hesitated.
'Nfother-in-law." supplied.
Right So bitter had been the
breach that doubt if after her moth
ers 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 found
my children quite well. and
"Your mother-in-law In heaven"
supplied
Poor womanr my wife added. with
a frown at me.
Il dare say" Mr. Ridgewood went
on, that should have borne with
more patience. for my wife's sake and
for family reasons If for no other
those little frictions which are liable
to arise in any family"
Where there Is an element Of dis
cord in an outsider" supplied again
Since ] did not this time specialize. my
wife refrained from attempting to
fiown me down
Please tell your wife how deeply }
sympathize with her in her bereave
ment," said Ethel to the caller.
"With pleasure" replied Mr. Ridge
wood MY wife Joins me in thanks
TO you. madam. for having brought
about our reunion. She tells me that
she requested you to burn the letter.
With that the gentleman took his de
parture. and we saw him no more
Ethel says that II had not interfered
with her forwarding the letter when
we found it the matter might have
been settled long before, That's ali
the thanks get for keeping her out rs
a fiery furnace.
49, - G