The Lamar register., 1919-09-03
THE BETTER PART
BY VICTOR REDcLIFFE.

yes"
Cora is a fine girl" declared Myron
Blair. I'D ought to know. for she Is
my sister-in-law. She will make you
a good wife, Only-one piece Of advice.
cut out the mother-in-law."
II hardly understand you" spoke
Wallace Brill, with manifest resent
ment.
you will when you get farther
along in your experience. See here.
as relatives prospective by courtesy.
can be plain with you. II one princi-
pie was instilled into my nature by
prejudice and observation It was the
mother-in-law problem. When I mar
fed Bella Mayne I made up my mind
to run no risks OF having fussy. med
dlesome old lady on my hands. OF
course i said nothing to Bella. OF
course I treated Mrs. Mayne with all
due respect. Firmly. persistently.
though. I adopted a policy of proceed
ure that set up the bars against any
mother-in-law invasion. I settled down
In a house at the farther end Of the
village on purpose, 80 Mrs. Mayne
wouldn't find II convenient to run in
on us every day. When the two chill
dren came along I saw to II that they
didn't come under her rule and infiu-
ence In any why. No. sirl tell You.
Brill. the man who wants a well-or-
dered household must keep the mother
in-law at a distance Hello There's
a man want to see on business" and
the volubls speaker darted OF.
Wallace was glad. In another mo-
ment he would have been unable b
control his indignation. To him the
mother Of his bride eIpectant was A.
most a part of herself. and 4 person
for whom he felt dutiful and respect
full consideration. Then, again. Wal
lace knew something Of ''the system"
of Myron Blair and It's results. II had
not worked. except for the selfish bsne-
at Of shallow. sslf-opinionated Blair.
A Wallace was well aware II had
brought misery and unhappiness 10
others-victims who made no con-
plant, but silently experienced their
wretchedness because they were Of Q
noble. self-sacrincing nature. When
two miles away. Mrs. Mayne expert
enced . loneliness that might have been
easily avoided. When Blair jealously
restricted the children to only occa-
sional formal visits to their grand
mother, Il almost broke her heart. Ths
absence Of her mother at critical juno
lures In her life meant suffering and
Q broken constitution for Bella, and
the boastful, insensate Blair fanc1ed
that a. q model disciplinarian he was
q decided success.
Wallace Brill had not known q
mothers care from early childhood.
When hs began to pay attention to
Cora Mayne 1t seemed a. though her
mother came to fll q precious plaes IN
his life.
Very careful was Mrs. Mayns
to refrain from intruding her Per
sonality or her views upon this
new prospective son-in-law. but she
bestowed many a grateful look upon
him and her old. wearied heart warm
cd toward him, As he clearly
showed that he not only desired. but
cherished her Interest and counsel In
the problems that confronted Cora and
himself on the threshold of their mat
rimonial venture.
Wallace was doing well In q bust
ness way. He had been thrifty and
had accumulated sufficient to enable
him to start out In life with a home
Of his own. When he nrst spoke to
Cora of this It was in the presence of
her mother.
swell. I settled about a lot today"
he announced In his brisk. pleasant
way. 81 say. mother. there's one dis
appointment. I have tried to get as
near as possible to the old homestead
here. but the only vacant lot that fitted
to my money requirements was two
squares down the street"
-That-that is not far. is It. Wal
iaceT spoke the old lady. Her tones
were tremulous.
'If you will put on your spectacles,
mother" went on Wallace, "we'n all
draw up to the table and look over
some plans for a new house got from
the architect today. There" as he
settled her In the most comfortable
chair and directly at his side. with
such counsellors as you precious two.
TIL warrant well have a regular little
palace"
With his pencil Wallace went over
the plans-parlor. dining room. kitch-
en-, bedrooms. closets. and then he In