Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1877-04-28
" ANYTHING FOR PEACE"
BY AMELIA z. BARR.

stephen Thirske was a genuine York
shireman, long-headed, shrewd and
sturdy; serving mammon with all his
might in the great brick factory where
he worked six hundred "hands." There
everything went on 50 promptly and
regularly that it was evident one dom.
inant will ruled.
Butno man is absolute; and if Stephen
ruled his six hundred "hands" like an
autocrat, he shrunk at home into the
obedient slave of one little. petted wo.
man. Mrs. Thirske had been a great
beauty, delicate and gentle. Stephen had
begun his married life by tender submis-
sion to the frailty that was such a con.
trast 20 his own rude health, and now
the little woman he could carry like q
baby, ruled him like a czarina.
1t was impossible to retrace the gradual
steps by which this influence had been
gained. Thirske was man enough to
know that it was fatal to his home-hap-
piness and his family's welfare, and to
make occasional determinations to reform
things; but as yet they had come tn
nothing. He could not bear his pretty
Lydia's tears; and the man who would
not tolerate the slightest opposition from
the world, sacrificed anything and every.
thing in his home for peace.
They had two children, a son and
daughter; and as they reached manhood
and womanhood the evils of a household
under such unnatural control manifested
themselves; for if Mrs. Thirske ruled
her husband, Antony and Ada ruled her.
Ada was a beauty, and had not watched
her mothers tactics in vain.
Il shall rule George Aske - mother
rules father" she said one night to her
brother, in reply to his assertion that
George Aske would make her know her
own mind better"
Don't You be too sure of that, Ada |;
there are men, and men. I knew no
woman could manage me that way"
"How does Mary Hutton manage
you? Antony, you ought to be ashamed
of yourself! A poor governee."
81 am not, though. Why should
not have my way as well Is you and
mother? You are going to marry for po-
aition; my way is to marry the girl 1
love-"
Father will never consent, nor
either"
~ don't propose to ask your consent.
l shall get mother on my side, and then
fathers got to yield. As for you, Ada,
I should not wonder if your own affairs
will very soon keep your hands full
enough"
"It is not very brotherly to be look.
ing for trouble to keep your sisters
hands full.
You are preparing it for yourself,
Ada; any one is who determines to rule
George Aske by petting and sulking. ]
saw his look the other night"
Let him look-he yielded"
He yielded then, but one hundred
TO one he does not yield two weeks
longer"
Keep your opinion, Antony, but
don't bother mother with Mary Hutton
until l am married. 1 don't want her
to be sick till my affairs are settled"
Il am going to AJAX her tonight; if
you don't want her to be sick, you had
better say a good word for Mary"
Ada was wise in her generation, and
went right to Mrs. Thirske.
Mother" she said, Antony is COM
ing to speak to you tonight about Mary
Hutton. Dent worry yourself-it lis
only one of his fancies. Just promise
him all he wants until my wedding is
comfortably over, then you can tell
father and have stop put to his non
sense"
go dear me, Ada! 1t does seem as il
no one minded my feelings. You both
know ! must have peace, and yet l sup
pose / am to be worried into a fever
about this Miss Hutton:
"Well, mother, don't make Antony
angry tonight; say enough to keep
things smooth until next week is over.
/ don't want him to be sulky at my wed.
ding"
So Antony found his mother in one Of
her gentlest moods. She listened patti