Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1914-06-05
TWO MOTHERS-IN-LAW
BY M. J. PORTER.

The friends of the happy couple
were pleased.
They will get along like two turtle
doves" was the general verdict.
They had been married just two
years, and their baby was ten months
old, when the following things hap
pened:
A boil made its appearance on Lees
leg and began to ache.
Some one stole his six leghorn
chickens.
His collie dog was fool enough to
chase a rabbit 50 far into the next
county that he lost himself.
A party to whom he had loaned $500
went into bankruptcy.
Mrs. Lee had toothache.
Baby had collie.
Up to this date 1t had been fair
weather with the Lees. Nothing had
occurred to provoke dissension.
Young Mr.. Lee came home fairly
longing to kick the dog. His wife had
been wishing for an hour past that
she could kick cat.
1t was the wife who touched the
match. They were at the table and
had been rather shy of conversation,
when she observed:
81 see that we are to have circus
next week"
YUM" growled the husband.
"Will we go?"
mot by a darned sight! Haven't
we had enough circus right here at
home the past week to last us for the
next five years?'
And who's to blame for it," asked
the wife.
"I'm not saying"
THAT means you think I am, and 1t
is mean of you! Did l cause your
boil?"
Never mind"
But l will mind. I am not going
to be blamed unjustly. I have had
something to try my patience every
hour for days, but l haven't snapped
you up"
Ten minutes later the husband put
on his hat, and without saying a word
he walked off.
We'll see who gets the best of
that!" said the wife as she looked
after him.
Twenty minutes later, without hav-
ing cleared off the table, she was en-
route for her fathers house.
Harry and l have separated" was
the announcement she made as her
mother met her at the door.
Harry had gone direct to his wild
owed mothers home, and in response
to her anxious inquiries as to why he
looked so broken up, he said:
"I fear that Nina AMI l must part!"
But why?"
"She has no care for my feelings"
He told his story, but the mother
said little. When he had departed she
sent word to Nina's mother to come
over, and then learned that the wife
had left her house. Then the two
mothers sat down to talk and plan.
They were mothers-in-law worth
having. Nina's mother went home
and said to the weeping bride-wife:
"My dear, you have done just right"
"I-I thought you might blame me-"
"Not a single bit, nor does his
i mother. She says she wonders how
you managed to live with Harry for a
single month"
"Why, Harry has always been kind
and good" protested the surprised
wife
Don't seek to excuse him. If any
thing ais you he has no sympathy.
Let him have headache and he must
play the BOBBY"
"Why, mother, he is never BOBBY"
IF he says thing Is SO he won't
allow you to dispute him"
But he has often given in to me. "
"You poor child, how sacrificing you
are, but il must end now. Father will
go with you to lawyer in the morn
| ing"
Why see lawyer?
ITO file bill for divorce, Of course.
| Nina, how 1oon after marriage did
Harry begin to beat you?"
Mother" she gasped.
How many times has he turned
you outdoors at midnight"
Mother, l can't sit here and hear
you talk about Harry like that. / tell
l. -, hnc no nd
II see how 1t Isl" sighed the
! mother. "He has pounded and bull
dozed you until you are afraid to call
your soul your own. You just wait
until 1t becomes known how he has
used you and it may result in coat
Of tar and feathers for him!"
The excited wife got on her hat,
grabbed the baby and the perambu-
lator, and started for her own home
at gallop.
On leaving his mothers house the
huffy husband had taken long walk
and then gone home. When he found
the house deserted he went back to
his mother to announce the fact.
Does it look to you as II Nina had
left for good?" she asked.
yes"
81 am glad Of it,"
"But, mother"
Harry, don't seek to palliate her
faults and crimes. Now that you have
found her out, go to a lawyer at once
and file your BILL"
The son got up and left the house