The L'Anse sentinel., 1922-09-29
MARRYING MOTHER
BY LOUISE M. ADDISON


tor Pratt.
1T is." admitted his wife, sadly.
"And don't know how we can remedy
1t. If only dear mamma were not
quite so dictatorial I"
"One would think" ruminated the
physician, "that she was the doctor
and the office boy. II she doesn't
like patients looks. or manners, or
expression, she refuses him admit
tance; says I'm out, or sick, or dead !;
anything to make it certain that he
will never call again. And Shepard,
across the street, only too anxious as
he is, to grab my practicew
but what can we do?' walled the
Doctors pretty wife. eve can't deny
her home, can we? Poor mamma !"
"Poor me! Poor you! Poor chill
dren! But cheer up, little one, have
something in view.r
Something In view?" repeated Mrs.
Pratt, uneasily.
Don't worry. It's not murder or
banishment I'm contemplating for your
dear mother. What had in mind
was matrimony."
Mrs. Pratt, who was not wholly
without htlmor| Smiled. "Who is itr'
"Alwyn Pratt, my uncle Since his
wife died, a year ago, he's been very
unhappy for lack Of some one to scrap
with. I'm in hopes that your mother"
Mrs. Pratt laughed in spite Of her
self. Edwin, that's not nice of you.
Mother will never marry-least Of oil
member of your family. You know
her."
II know her. Therefore I'm bring
ing Uncle Alwyn to dinner tonight.
Good-by, dear. Some of the patients
your mother couldn't drive away are
waiting for me to see them"
Mrs. Colwell, Doctor Pratt's mother
in-law, dressed for dinner that eve
ming with the satisfied air of one
whose time has peen well spent, as,
indeed, ii had been.
Mother, dear" Said Mrs. Pratt, tim
Idly breaking In on Mrs. Colwell's
pleasing reflections, II hope you don't
mind If we-if we have company to-
night?"
"CompanyT Mrs. Colwell stared in
credulously. Company, and l not
know it? Who Is comlng?'
"Edwins uncle, Mr. Alwyn Pratt-a
very nice old gentleman, indeed"
The door bell rang sharply. The
dinner guest had arrived.
Mr.. Alwyn Pratt was a handsome
old gentleman, with white hair, and
sharp, black eyes that twinkled mys-
teriously as he shook hands with his
nephew's mother-in-law. His eyes con-
tinued to twinkle, in spite Of the glare
with which Mrs. Cowell favored him.
The dinner was nervous affair.
~ would like" said the uncle, "a lit
tie more pudding, II your gracious
mother would be so kind"
Mrs. Colwell's outraged feelings
could be repressed no longer.
81 am curious" said she, "as to what
a member of the Pratt family knows
about manners, gracious or otherwise"
"Hm!" said Mr. Pratt, with a
ciluckle. "Not much, maybe. Just
enough TO know when they are miss
ing. Sorry you don't like the Pratts,
ma'am. Our people don't show their
feelings so plainly. We proved 1t when
my nephew here married your daugh-
ter. Not that we were disappointed in
the little lady, bless her. She's every
| thing that could be desired. But we
| disapproved of-of her connections"
"Her connections |" Mrs. Colwell
gasped. She was the only living rela-
tive Of her daughter. "Her connec-
tions! Why, considered 1t the disap-
! pointment of my life when my daugh-
ter married Doctor Pratt! Don't you
boast about your family One Of them
Is a rascally barberl"
"Oh, madamel" protested Uncle Al
wyn. "Don't say that! Joe's not a
rascally barber. A more painstaking
| and affectionate man I never saw. He's
shaved me for years, and know. The
soul of honor, Joe Is. I'm not ashamed
of him. 1t might be good deal worse.
For example, he might have been q
horse thiefw
Mrs. Colwell turned deep purple.
Her daughter rose, hastily, but Doctor
Pratt restrained her.
"Don't worry. Everything Is going
fine" he whispered.
Mrs Colwell's furious voice filled
the room. at isn't true that my grand
| father stole horse. He had bought
the horse, and"
"Dear lady," said old Alwyn, bland
ly, "did say your grandfather stole a
horse? Far be 1t from me to make so
vulgar statement. didn't know your
grandfather. ! didn't even know the
horse. Moreover"
"You--you-at least you can't deny
tnat your uncle was one Of the worst
| gamblers in the city. He"
Doctor Pratt seized his wife's hand
and drew her from the room.
"The courtship is in full swing" he
said. 'g
Old Mr.. Pratt spent delightful eve
ming, and called again the following
week. Nor, to her daughters surprise
did Mrs. Colwell object to his coming
In three months they were married
The bride explained. to the satisfac
tion Of all.
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