The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-03-25
Mrs. Haven's Plot.

~ away ana bno uJble slIoiB-io0A WV
very bright and cheerful in the yellow flood
of the April sunshine. There were pots of
purple-blossomed violets in the window
seat, and blue-ribboned guitar lying ON
the sofa, and books piled on the table, and
close by the fire Mrs. Haven had seated
herself at her desk to write some letters.
She was trim, compact little woman,
with bright brown hair, and eyes to match.
and resolute mouth that somehow carried
out the expression of nose that our
French neighbors phrase "retrousse."
Mary Haven had character, that you might
see at distance.
AS she sat there selecting her pen, and
unscrewing the silver top of her inkstand,
the door opened very softly, and round
full-moon face appeared.
"Mrs. Haven, mem, if you please"
"Yes," said Mary Haven, deserving at
once by the infallible barometer Of wo-
mans ear the rising thunder storm in the
domestic atmosphere below. What is it
cook ?''
"It's not that you are not a kind mis-
tress men," said the cook, twisting the
hem of her checked apron, "and the wa
ges is good not to say company allowed
once week, and Sunday evenings always
ours, but there are something's flesh and
blood can't stand, no more they can'tmem,
a months warnin'--'
"Why, cook, what is the matter?"
"Some can abide meddlin' with, mem,
and some can't; and if the barrel O. mack
erel sets in the wrong corner, an, the su-
gar boxes amt kept covered proper, it's
the mistress should tell me Of it, and not
the master an if Mr.. Haven wants to be
cook, mem, well and good; but Iwon't stay
in the same kitchenw
And cook founced out, maltreating her
apron, having had her say.
Mrs. Haven flushed scarlet. She arose,
went down stairs to the cellar where her
husband minus his coat, was endeavoring
to move huge washing machine.
"You see, Bridget" he called out, ''this
is the worst possible place the thing could
stand in, and--why, Mary, is it you?'
"Yes, it is l." said Mary Haven. 81
thought you had gone to your Office
Henry?"
"I'm going presently" said Mr.. Haven.
"But you see, Mary everything down here
is by skies and sevens. It's well come
down occasionally. Cook has no more
economy than wild savage, and Bridget
puts everything where it shouldn't be. My
dear, have you looked over the grocer's bill
for the past month";"
"No l haven't" said Mrs. Haven.
"Well, it's quite alarming There must
be a leak somewhere; and that reminds me
the molasses key is dripping at the rate
of a half pint day."
81 will see to it, she said.
"But you don't see to it, my dear
found box of stale eggs, on the top shell
eggs, my dear, that are completely was.
ted, when eggs are five cents apiece %
Mrs. Haven turned and went up stairs
again, with round, red spot glowing OF
either cheek signal pennons of the distur
bance within. She was not a faultless an
gel any more than other woman are, anG
she was very much out of temper, as she
walked up and down the room with hel
hands behind her. and her brown eyes gilt
tering with an ominous sparkle.
"Mary, have you seen my memorandum
book ?' asked her husband, pulling on hi
gloves.
"No, have not. Probably you will flnt
it on the pantry Shelf or under Bridget
machine" answered Mary, shortly.
"Now, puss, you are out of temper,
said Mr.. Haven, good humoredly, "anC
how very unreasonable that is Of YOU"
"Henry," said Mrs. Haven, laying on,
hand appealingly on his shoulder, and look
ing up in his face, "you don't know hov
it mortifes and annoys me to have yol
interfere in my domestic affairs"
"Aren't we firm, Henry Haven {
Wife ?" he asked, coolly, "and are not on
interests identicalP"
"Yes; but Henry Haven has his depart
ment and his wife ought to have hers"
"That's all nonsense, my love-"
"Henry, you will oblige me by leayin
these domestic concerns to my own man
agementP'
"I would do much to oblige you, IN
dear Mary, but shall not concede tina
point" he said, as he took his departure
leaving Mrs. Haven very indignant an'
and meditative.
Bridget's voice broke with Celtic acceI