The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-07-07
A DOMESTIC TYRANT.
The Influence of Determined Woman
BY cARoLINE LATHoRPE.

dressed, quietly, looking up from the hand
kerchIef she was hemming.
"Think so? l know it. Don't you re-
member how his first wife Jared? If there
was ever anybody pitied, she was that one.
Poor thingl she didn't dare say her soul was
her own If she had had a different hus-
band she would have lived till this time
"Very likely"
'And yet. knowing all this, you are going
to take her p ace"
"Maior Hunter will find me very differ
ent person from his first wife," said Miss
Amorr, composedly. "However, as L don't
wish to anticipate trouble, we will, if you
please dismiss the subject"
This was not the first remonstrance which
Miss Amory had received on the subject of
her approaching marriage; but her mind APP
peared to be made up. and she was now oc-
-cupied in making preparations for the we'd
ding.
What had been said of Major Hunter and
his first wife was quite true. He was a do
mestic tyrant; and, holding the female un-
derstanding in very slight esteem, consider
ed that the wife ought in all respects, TO be
subservient to her husbands will
His reason for marrying again was partly
this, that he found no housekeeper who
would be sufficiently subservient to his
whims and caprices. Having lost one after
another, he came TO the conclusion that he
needed a wife, and soon resolved to tender
his hand to Miss Amorv. We will not an
alyze ner motives for accepting his proposal.
Probably, however, aregard for Mr.. Hunters
three children who resem bled their mother
rather than their father, weighed with her
quite as much ss any other motive. But,
however that might be, the marriage took
place; and after brief journey, Miss Amory
returned as Mrs. Major Hunter, to take the
place as mistress of his household.
Hitherto. Major Hunter had forborne
SHOWING his hand" Now, however, that
their married life had fairly begun, he
thought 1t high time to do so.
81 have given Mrs. Hodges weeks warn
ing" he remarked, at the breakfast table,
the morning after their return.
Mrs Hodges had been housekeeper, and
maid-of-all-wo the entire duties of the es-
Enlistment having devolved upon her.
ssFor what reason2" asked his wife, COM
posedly. ''Don't you feel satisged with
herr
at is not that" said the Major deliber-
ately.
"Any difficulty about wages2" asked his
wife unconcernedly.
no" said her husband, feeling a little
embarrassed. .'Th0 fact is, Mts. Hunter,
there is not very much work to do in our
. small households no more, in fact, than one
pair of hands can easily do. My first wife
did her own work
'Did She indeed?" said number two, sip
ping her coffee"
"Yes, that with ease, although she was not
a very strong woman"
''She died young, didn't she?" inquired her
successor, TRANQUILITY.
IL Il
betraying little embarrassment. "Youkn
life Is uncertain"
$50 have heard, /" returned his wife
Major Hunter was considerably puzzled
by the matter-of-fact manner of his wife.
Her cool self-possession awed him q little. If
she had only stormed. he would have felt
better prepared 10 meet that emergency.
ain the course of the week" he proceeded,
"you will undoabtedly get an idea of the
course of the work, by observing Mrs. Hold
ges"
81 dare say I might" said Mrs. Hunter.
s'Then / need say no more. This day week
she leaves. and will resign the duties of the
household into your hands,"
Major Hunter took his hat, and was about
to leave the room, when he was arrested by
the simple address.
''Mr Hunter
"Well?" said he, turning back.
ait appears that you have been making
arrangements without consulting me-"
without consulting your"
Eyes
Major Hunter was astonished at his wife's
Stemerity.
"Why should l consult your"
because may not approve ofthem."
''Mrs Hunter said her husband, warmly,
cit is your duty to acquiesce in whatever
plans l, as your husband, may see fit to
form"
.'Indeed, I never took that view of the
matter"
-aThen the sooner you take it the better"
s.Do understand that you expect me to
do all the work of your establishment"
AYES, madam"
81 believe you area rich man, Major Hun
ter; is it not so."?
Il am accounted So" said her husband,
'conplacently.
"And are able to hire domestic asistancs?"
'.Yes, if it were needful."
.SuppOse I tell you that it is needful2'
II should take the liberty to doubt it."
"yery well, Major Hunter since it has
been forced upon me, / might as well tell
YOU, first as last, my decision on this point.
You offered me the position of wife, not
that of maid servant. On that understand
ing accepted you Yet if your circum-
tances ever become such as to require it.
shall not hesitate for moment to conform
myself to them. l only object to assuming
a burden which, from your own account, APP
pear to quite needless / am quite willing to
superintend the household arrangements,
considering that duty which my position
devolves upon me-"
81 have listened to your statements, Mrs.
Hunter" said her husband, somewhat excit-
ed. "and they are weak. They can't weigh
with me-"
ait is to be reg 'eited." said Mrs. Hunter
eomposedly. I,
ss1ne first Mrs. Hunter, better understood
her duties as a wife. She never ventured to
oppose my will / met with q great loss
when lost her"
"What was your loss was her GAIN" said
number two, with rather curiors express
sion.
The rather 0bt9ss Major Hunter did not