The Osceola times., 1882-10-07
A DOMESTIC DESPOT.

"Ah. dear me, dear mep sighed Mrs.
Copman "What a world of trouble this
is"
Her son-in-law looked up from the
newspaper he was reading. He was a
tall, handsome man of thirty, with soft
dark eyes and here and there silver
streak in his hair.
'1s there any new trial developing it.
self?" he asked, kindly.
"No," said Mrs. Copman, nothing es-
pecial, except that Marion wants the
green parlor for studio. There's such
an excellent north light to it, you know"
"Well," said Henry Charters, "why
not let her have it,"
"But what shall we do for reception
room ?" asked the old lady.
"Take my library" suggested he.
"My dear Henry! And all the books
what is to become of them? But dear,
Marion would be so delighted if only the
plan were practicable"
"Put them in my bedroom" said Mr..
Charteris, absently, "Floyd can easily
knock up few shelves there, 1t is pity
that Marion should be disturbed in the
prosecution of her art"
"You are always so kind and thought
full said Mrs. Copman Frightening up,
as she hurried away to give the necessary
directions.
Floyd, Mr.. Charters faithful Scotch
servitor, stared blankly when the old lady
issued her orders.
"My masters library" he said, "up to
his bedroom? Wherever will put the
books"
ooh, there's plenty of room for a few
Shelves" said Mrs. Copman, briskly.
"And if there should be volume or so
left over, they can easily be put in the
closet under the stairs, which has good
large window looking over the stables"
Floyd whistled under his breath, but
there was nothing for it but to obey.
81 never see such a mother-in-lawed
house as this in all my lilew said he to
the housekeeper, with a groan. Here's
Mr.. Henry crowded into the bedroom in
the north wing and the closet under the
stairs, while Mrs. Copman and her three
Gorgon-hced daughters have usurped the
whole house with their studios and their
music rooms and their boudoirs, and the
mischief knows what al! +"
The housekeeper shook her head.
"Ah, you may well say so,' said she,
"And that amt the worst of it, neither,
Floyd"
"Eh? ?" said the old man.
"How long is it since Mrs. Charteris-
poor lady-died?" mysteriously question
ed Mrs, Akers.
"Sixteen-seventeen months, amt it?''
said Floyd, ''but why ?"
"Ah,' said the housekeeper, when the
two years are up she'll make him marry
one of the three sisters. You see"
But there not one of them under
forty, and as plain as pike-statfs," eiacu-
Jared Floyd, in dismay.
"Youll find as that won't make no diff
ference" said Mrs. Akers, gloomily
"That's what she's got her eye ON, as
true as you're alive, Floyd, and she never
yet failed in what she made up her mind
TO do
While Mrs. Akers and Mr.. Floyd were
engaged in this discussion of family af
fairs, Mrs. Copman herself was cheerfully
bustling about, ordering the maids, tor
menting the footman, suggesting this
that and the other thing to her three
bony, high-cheeked daughters, Marion
Arabella and Melicent, until, suddenly
glancing up. she CHANGED to observe q
light figure, clad in pretty muslin, with
a floating scarf,enter the greenhouse door
across the garden, She rang the bell
energetically.
Floyd" said she, "who is that-tha'
person in the garden?"
ats Miss Jetty Lane, the parsons
daughter" said Floyd; "at least cough.
ing behind his hand. at looked like
her"
"And what is she doing in our green.
house, I'd like TO know" demanded Mrs
Copman, hotly.
"She goes there to get flowers for her
wax-works, maam," said Floyd. MY
master"
"You master would allow himself to
be preyed on 10y every one in the village,
If he hadn't some one to protect him.
said Mrs Copman, severely. Go at once.
Floyd--or stay, ! believe had better 90
myself. This sort of thing must be put a
stop to-
And she hurried out to the greenhouse
where pretty Jetty Lane was culling
sprays OF white stephanoits in an uncon-
sciously graceful attitude, as she reached
up among the glossy. dark green branch
es for the star like blossoms.
"Ohw said Mrs. Copman, stifily, Miss
Lane, believe"
Jesty paused and turned. Only home