Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1870-08-26
nubial sky. But women have longer
memories. and Nora, though she did not
"dather her bows, like gathering storm,
Nursing her wrath 10 keep II warm"

like Mary of old. Even after they had re-
tired to their own room and their bed, and
her liege lord lay beside her, making the
night hideous with his unearthly snores,
Nora lay long awake, keeping up most
industrious thinking, II haply she might
invent some way to bring that rebellious
Harry to her own idea of order and fitness,
and, in short, take him on his matrimonial
education, without intsrrupting the peace
and harmony of their quiet home.
Woman's wit, having will, seldom fails
to find a way. Before little Mrs. Allison
shut her brown eyes for the night, she had
hit upon plan to her satisfaction, and had
resolved to compass by managements what
she could not attain as an act Of justice.
And propose to tell you how her plan
succeeded. ~
NThe next morning, when Harry drew on
his boots to go down town, he flung his
slippers, as usual, under tho sofa, and said
to his wife in a tone of decision
Now, Nora, child, want you to let my
slippers alone today, so they will be handy
when como home tonight
But, Harry, why not put them in the
| closet?' demonstrated Nora, making last
effort to carry the field by open warfare.
Too much trouble replied Mr.. Harry.
"A mans home isn't home if he can't do
as he pleases with his things
But, they don't look nice. They spoil
the looks of the room, said Nora, gently.
Yes, they do NO, they DON'T said
Mr.. Harry, mixing up his answer with
mans customary clearness. you just let
it be, Nora: thing looks as well in one
place as another
Does it?' asked Nora, demurely. But
as she held up her face for good-bye kiss,
if Harry had been quite as sharp as he
might have been, he would have noticed q
peculiar little smile dimpling the corners
of her mouth, and set himself to work to
study its meaning.
He, however, saw nothing unusual, and
took himself off, feeling highly elated with
the consciousness of possessing such
meek, submissive little wife, so ready to
obey his orders.
All, Master Harry lord of creation, be-
fore your day, men have found themselves
under woman's control when and where
they least expected it.
Little Mrs. Nora employed herself with
her morning duties like an indus trious lit
tie housewife, as she was. Everything
else was put in perfect order, but the unfor-
tunate slippers were left untouched, in
plain sight under the sofa. As the clock
struck el even, she went out to the kitchen
to give some assistance in the matter of
dinner, to the stout Irish girl who was
Of ba nd k Tbia dnna
she hastened up to her own room to change
her dress before dinner.
But before she took off her wrapper she
opened closet, and from a peg within,
re aehed down a skeleton hoop skirt and
surveyed 1t moment in her hand.
L hate to do it, she said to herself, but
know Harry too well to quarrel with him,
and he L nows what is right. SEQ no way
| for me but to adopt his own ruleA'a thing
| 10 oks as well in one place another So
here goes.
And Mrs. Nora marched defiantly down
stairs, and hung her hoop skirt on peg Of
the hat rack in the hall, directly opposite
the front door,
Then she went back to her room and be-
gan to dress. She pinned her pretty collar,
and gave the last touch to her brown hair,
and, before going down stairs, glanced out
of the window to see that Harry was com
ing, but not alone; for he was accompanied
| by gentleman whom Nora recognized as
one of his most intimate bachelor friends
one who had been comrade all through
the war-and whom Harry greatly loved.
He was very fastidious, too, and Nora
| nJ tn ha tip-tOn of order and
neatness when he came.
For the dinner she was not worried.
Though simple, she knew everything
would be nice and we'll prepared but she
tho ught with dismay OF the skeleton form
\ suspended in full view in the hall. Her
first impulse was to rush to the rescue, but
their rapidly nearing footsteps warned her
that II was already too late for that, and
the ext instant she had decided not to do
it in any case.
1T will only make the lesson more COM
that Harry might not have an opportunity
to remove the skirt himself, she ran down
and met them at the door. The Mortified
expression of Harry's face, when he saw
the sight prepared for him, was almost too
much for Nora's gravity. Butshe restrain
ed it with an effort, and greeted her guest
with an easy grace which set him at rest
Immediately.
After they were seated in the parlor, and
had begun pleasant hum OF conversation,
in vain did Harry by sundry glances and
restless movements, endeavor to attract
Nora's attention and give her hint to
alter arrangements in the hall. That OBJ
du rate little matron remained most pro-
vo okipgly insensible to all his manouvres.
At length, just before dinner, Nora saw the
SIX eleton had disappeared.
When Harry and his friend had gone
down, town again she instituted search
for her property, and found ii ignominious-
ly tucked into q closet under the stairs.
She had good laugh all to herself as she
carried 1t up stairs to its proper place.
IT'S a poor rule that won't work two
ways she said now We'll see what he has
to say for himself
, Harry came home to supper u trife more
thoughtful than common. Nora watched
| him closely when he went to get his slip.
pers, and fancied that the expression of his
face was decidedly sheepish. But he said
not word until they came up from supper
. and were disposing themselves for the eve.
ming.
Then, in Misunderstanding tone he began
I Nora, did you enjoy Lawrence's visit to-
D dayf'
'Yes-didn't your asked Nora innocent
0 ly.
q 'Well-yes-pretty well. But was wor
Q ried little, returned Harry, slowly.
: Were your What was it about?' asket
/ Nora, with the same sweet innocence.
y Il wanted Lawrence TO think my littl
A wife model housekeeper, said Harry, sig
d nifcantly.
$ We'll, was anything out of order
|. Wasn't the dinner goodf' asked Nora, de
r termined not to commit herself
o The dinner was well enough, reptile,
J. Harry, but, o, Nora, that hideous thing il
, the hall 4