The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-11
Stranger Than Fiction.
CHAPTER II--(CoNTINUED.),

TAKE nlm In; Dut sue ulu. lie was VAIN
to an extent, and she PLAYED upon his
vanity. So far as could make out, he
had not many friends, or indeed any
friends, and no one could wonder at it;
for he was ill-bred and conceited, and
selfish and domineering-a person no lady
could have loved, or gentleman chosen
for a companion.
He was not good-tempered either; he
had peeyish fits and sullen fits, and ieal-
Gus fits and angry fts but Mrs. wilkins
bore with him through them all. If she
had been saint she could not have
showed a better nature that she did
when humoring his contrariness. He
was greatly taken with her. He would
have her to live with him and Miss EN-
lily after the marriage, The nice dinners
and little dishes did that, cook said, and
l have no doubt she was right; for /
never saw gentleman so fond of eating,
and who drove such a fuss about it, as
Mr.. Mason.
And he was equally greedy as regards
wine. My mistress bought some very
good and tery expensive, and told him
it was part Of purchase made by her
poor dear husband.
"You know, Mr.. Mason" she said,
emily and l never touch wine" THAT
was quite true, for they could not afford
it); "and 50 we. have only used bottle or
30 now and then, when we have wanted
to give our best to particular friend"
1t suited him very we'll indeed to come
to house where the ladies ate little and
drank nothing. All the more was left
for him; and he used to let himself be
helped to the last scrap of a favorite
dish, and finish the final drop in de-
canter, as if there was no one in all the
world to be considered except Harlesdon
Mason, Esq.
Inever did believe he was very fond
Of Miss Emily; but he was very fond of
her mamma. He could have done, l
fancy, without the young lady, but he
could hot do without the house. He
liked tae easy-chairs and the warm fires,
and the snug meals, and the good wine
and the old brandy, and the flattery, and
the absence of all restraint, and the way
he was made of and welcomed, and cod
died up and fused over.
= Goodness! if only his finger ached, the
doctor had to be sent for Immediately.
Any one might have thought Mrs. Will
kins was his mother, the way she went
ON about his health.
He was not strong (''not likely to be,
always eating and drinking" said cook !,
and the doctor told him he must be very
careful, and avoid exertion, and keep his
mind quiet.
"And l know you couldn't be in better,
hands," finished the doctor, meaning
Mrs. Wilkins hands. .t
The best friends, however, may quar-
rel sometimes, and Mrs. Wilkins and he
had quarrel once, when I thought all
was over, and Miss Emily would be left
in the lurch. ,i l..,'.. -H.....J.
Itwas something about the settlements.
Miss Emily stayed in her room snd cried,
and Mrs. Wilkins temper was SO had,
vowed she would never come into the
house again; and the charwoman was
sent off at minutes notice, and did
not know what to do
However, Mr.. Mason gave in (the
wedding clothes had been bought and
everything arranged, and a day set for
the wedding, before the quarrel; he
signed whatever it was Mrs. Wilkins
lawyers wanted him to sign. I dressed
Miss Emily on the marriage morning;
and when they came back from church
she was Mrs. Mason, and he looked sulky
and she afraid. -" .|..
1t was not happy marriage; it might
nave been unhappier, only Mr.. Mason
took i'll q few months after they returned
from the wedding-tour, and, though
everything was done for him that could
be done, died within year.
No person could have had more atten-
ton or better care. He never seemed to
give up completely till he ceased to rel
ish his food. Before that, it appeared to
us all as if he might lnger on for years;
but quite suddenly he took distaste to
chicken and fish and jelIies and grapes
and beef-tea; then he began to loathe the
sight and smell Of spirits. A little LEM
onade, a small quantity Of bread-and-
milk, these and suchlike were the only
things he would touch. One day the
doctor said something to him about ar
ranging his affairs, but he answered they
we're all settled long before. .@,
"My wife will have everything she can
want during her lifetime," he explained,
"and that is surely enough for any wo-
man, cav saiy4 .N 4t ET l