The Russellville Democrat., 1877-04-26
|" ANYTHING FOR PEACE
BY AMELIA E. BARR.

 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 & great beauty, delicate and gentle. Stephen had begun his married life by atender submis- sion to the frailty that was such con- trast to his own rude health, and now the little woman he could carry like a baby, ruled him like a czarina.
 It 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, son and daughter; and as they reached manhood and womanhood the evils of household under such unnatural control manifested themselves; for if Mrs. Thirske ruled her husband, Antony and Ada ruled her. Ada was beauty, and had not watched her mothers tactics in vain.
 (" I shall rule George Aske as mother rules father" she said one night to hel 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 tkere are mon, and men. l know no woman could manage me that way"
 "How does Mary Hutton manage you9 Antony, you ought to be ashamed of yourself A poor governess.
 "I am not, though. Why should l not have my way as well as you and mother? You are going to marry for po- sition; my way is to marry the girl l love-"
 Father will never consent, nor either"
 "I don't propose to ask your conscnt. shall get mother on my side, and then fathers got to yield. As for you, Ada, should not wonder if your own affairs will very soon keep your hands full enough"
 "It is not very brother!y 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 betting and sulking. l saw his look the other night"
 "Let him look-he yieldcd!"
 "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 I am married. l don't want her to be sick till my affairs are settled"
 "I am going to ask her tonight; il you don't want her to be sick, you had better say good word icF 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. Don't worry yourself-it is only one of his fancies. Just promise him all he wants until my wedding is comfortably over, then you can tell father and have a stop put to his non- sense."
 70 dear me, Ada It does seem as if no one minded my feelings. You both know l must have peace, and yet sup pose I 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. I don't want him to be sulky at my wed. ding"
 So Antony found his mother in one oi her gentlest moods. She listened pati. ently to his confession of love for his sis. ter's late govelness, and answered;
 Have l not always wished to make you happy in your own way, Antony If Miss Hutton is necessary to your hap piness, why, I will speak to father about her after Ada's wedding. It won't do be. fore it, indeed it won't"
 Antony was very grateful. Love is always hopeful, and he went to see Mary that night, quite confident in his