The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-05-19
TWO MO7HERS-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 rabbit so far into the next
county that he lost himself.
A party to whom he had loaned 5000
went into bankruptcy.
Mrs Lee had toothache.
Baby had collie.
Up to this date it 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 a 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 a circus
next week"
YUM" growled the husband.
will we go?"
Not by 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 | am, and II
is mean of you! Did | cause your
boil?"
Never mind"
But | will mind. | am not going
to be blamed unjustly. | have had
something to try my patience every
hour for days, but | haven't snapped
you up"
Ten minutes later the husband put
on his hat, and without saying 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 | have separated" was
| the announcement she made as heI
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:
Il fear that Nina and | 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'll thought you might blame me.
"Not a single bit, nor does his
mother She says she wonders how
you managed to live with Harry for a
single month"
why, Harry has always been kline
and good" protested the surprised
wife.
Don't seek to excuse him. II any
thing ails you he has no sympathy
Let him have a headache and he must
| play the BOBBY
why, mother, he is never BOBBY
IF he says a 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 1t must end now. Father will
90 with you to lawyer In the morn
ing"
why see :. lawyer"
ITO file bill for divorce, of course
Nina, how soon after marriage die
Harry begin to beat you?"
Mother" she gasped.
How many times has he turned
you outdoors at midnight"
Mother, | can't sit here and hear
you talk about Harry like that. tel
you he is a good husband"
AZ see how 1t is" sighed the
mother. HE has pounded and bull
dozed you until you are afraid to call
your soul your own. You just wal,
until It becomes known how he has
used you and 1t 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 a gallop.
On leaving his mothers house the
hufy husband had taken a long walk
and then gone home. When he found
the house deserted he went back to
his mother to announce the fact
Does 1t look to you as If Nina had
! left for good?" she asked.