The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1857-02-26
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
From Or. Bartlett's Anglo-Saxon.
The Head of the Household.

70 WuS u IHfI. III I'LL a. UC UIIs NC u IIII
woman was vastly inferior, intellectually, he felt that
he had reason to be so. Perhaps, if he had had Sis
tiers, his sentiments might have been modified, but
Marmaduke was an only child, and the Indulgence
which was lavished upon him in consequence, doubt
less led him to think himself of more consequence
than, perhaps, others might consider r~ightfully his
due.
Marmaduke married at a suitable age. His wife
was a mild, inofensive sort of woman, who would as
soon have thought of %chopping her own head off, as
Of disregarding Il command of her liege lord. Her
submissiveness strengthened in Marmaduke the idea
of mans superiority to woman. Accustomed to have
his slightest wish regarded as a law, he unconsciOusly
acquired q certain degree of imperiOuSnesS, which,
besides striking into the heart of his unfortunate wife,
had the effect of making him generally unpopular.
and caused him to be regarded, in surrounding house
holds, as a sort Of modern Blue Beard.
All things have an end, and so it was with the life
of Mrs. Marmaduke Mellen. Poor woman her
life had been far from a happy one. Meekly and I'M
complainingly she had walked through life, yielding
in all things to the strong will of her despotic hus-
band. Ungrudgingly she had devoted herself to his
service. She now took the liberty to die-the only
thing, it may be said, during the whole course of her
welded life, which she had ventured to do without
his permission.
Mr.. Mellen missed his wife. 1t would have been
strange if he had not. He began to feel that she had
been far more necessary to his comfort than he sup
posed. He hired a hOusekeeper, but found tnat she
was far from supplying the place of his deceased wife.
Besides, being a housekeeper, he did not feel at lib
erty to order her about as authoritatlvely as II she
were his wife.
Under these circumstances, it was not strange that
Mr.. Mellen should think of taking to himself a second
partner. He pondered for a long time on the impor-
tant question. On whom, of all the marriageable
ladies' of his acquaintance, should he bestoW the
honor of his hand
This was a weighty question, and he felt it to be
so. He pondered long and anxiously. His anxiety,
however, did not proceed from any apprehension of
rejection, in whatever quarter he might pay his adj
dresses. That idea never crossed his mind. 1t was
rather that of one who, having a variety of articles
presented for his acceptance, is puzzled to decide of
which to make choice.
At length he decided upon addressing Mrs. Kent,
a widow who had lately moved into the neighborhood.
Of Mrs. Kent, personally, he knew little, except that
she had a moderate property left her by her husband.
Having once made up his mind, he prOceeded, with
a promptness worthy Of Napoleon, to put his plan
into execution.
With the air of one comforting a favor, he laid his
proposal before the fortunate lady whom he had
selected as the recipient of his addresses.
Mrs. Kent took the matter very coolly. She re-
quested time for consideration.
Mr.. Marmaduke Mellen was somewhat surprised
that any lady should require time to consider such a
brilliant proposal. However, as he felt quite easy
about the ultimate answer, he merely bowed acqui-
escence, informing the lady that he would wait upon
her that day week.
Mrs. Kent was not ignorant of Marmaduke's i'm
perious character. She could not help hearing of
what was a topic of general remark. She well knew
that the death of the first Mrs. Mellen was generally
attributed to a long course of tyranny on the part of
her husband.
Did not all this lead her to reject his suit summa-
rily?
It did not. Mrs. Kent was aware that, whatever
might be Mr.. Mellen's peculiarities Of temper, he was
a man of wealth and position. Of course, as his wife,
she would share in these advantages. As to the
drawback limited above, she was a woman Of strong
will, and did not feel particularly d~ismayed. She
anticipated that Mr.. Mellen would attempt to domi-
neer over her, but was quite prepared for such an
emergency
Having duly weighed all the considerations above
mentioned, when Marmaduke waited upon her on the
day appointed, she graciously acceded to his proposal,
and fixed upon an early marriage day. This was not
long in arriving. Four weeks from the date of her
acceptance, Mrs. Kent babe farewell to the name be-
queathed her by her first husband, and became Mrs.
Marmaduke Mellen the second.
For a brief period all went smoothly. Mr.. Mellen
thought it best to wait until the close Of the honey
moon before he had made known to his wife the plan
of government which he had adopted for her bene-
fit.
returned, to find his mother-in-law seated quietly al
the dinner-table beside his wife. Now, to mothers
in-law, Mr.. Mellen had a special adherence. He
would have been very glad never to have lad one
enter his home. As, however, a regard to appear
ances would not quite sanction their utter exclusion.
he was disposed to have their visits like those Of
angels (Which he was far enough from considering
them), few and far between. Accordingly, the look
which he directed towards the hapless lady sustaining
that character was by no means a welcome one.
This was not all. Actually, his wife had had the
audaclty to order up dinner before he arrived. 10 b(
sure he was nearly an hour late, but what of that
Wasn't it his wie's duty to wait for him, even if he
were three or four hours late?
Eating dinner - he exclaimed, with mingled
surprise and asperity, as he entered the room.
eyes, said Mrs. Mellen, carelessly, * you are
rather late to-day, and as mother had quite a long
walk, and [ felt hungry. we decided to have dinner
Immediately
"And 1 suppose said Mr.. Mellen, hastily, 81 an
expected to eat a cold dinner 20
"Really, Mr.. Mellen,' said his wife, lifting hel
eyebrows in some surprise, 8 one would think you
were angry?"
$50 [ am, madam. I am accustomed to have din.
ner wait for me-
!" However late you return ?"
eyes, however late [ return"
sThere is no objection to that, 1 am sure. Yor
will have your dinner whenever you choose, of course
and l suppose 1 may exercise the same privilege
eve shall see, madam"
Sc Certainly, we shall see.'
Really, Maria, and Mr.. Mellen, you should no
differ expostulated the mother-inlaw.
ooh, dom be troubled, mother, . said the daughter
coolly, g it is only a little difference which will b.
speedily arranged. We shall understand each othe
l better by-and-by.'''
Yes, madam said Mr.. Mellen, significantly
ssyour daughter is quite right. We shall under
stand each other better by-and-by."