Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-07-20
DOMESTIC DEsPOI,

Mrs. Copman. What world Of trou-
ble this isi''-rr,z--.- ~ .i-rs -'.l-.l'....
cHsrsourinrlaF, looked up from the
newspaper he was reading. de was a
tan, handsome man OF 80 With sofl
dark eyssrspdI bse md thpFsa silver
streak in his hair.
"Is there any aisw rtfial developing
ltself?" be asked kindly.
"No," said Mrs, oGQpWAP; nothing
especial, Except that Marion wants
the green parlor for q studio. THERE'S
such an excellent north light 70 i. you
know" -.--... .....-..-.-s.... ;tfTra
& 3 ,ssWell,- > said Henry Charteris Why
mot let her have it2'.' -...-. s,sel
& .iBut what shall we do for tasSrecep,
sstion room2" said the old lady, -, =, ~ 4
y l"Take my hbrary;A suggested Sbe;ss
se HMy dear Henrvl And eli the
;books--what -is-to become Of them2
But dear Marion would be so delighted
il fonly the plan were practicable. 's1,.si 'is 1
E "Put them.ia my bedroom said
Mr.. Charters, abssptfg. ,ssEl9yd can
easily knock up, q. few shelves there.
It is Q pity. that Marion should be dis
turbed In the prosecution Of her art.n'
q "You are always so kind'0 and
thoughtful" said Mrs. Copman, bright
ening up, as she hurried away to give
the necessary directions s.eliI .lIaS
3 Floyd, Mr.. Charteris' faithf6l Scotch
servitor, stared blankly when the old
lady issued her orders. ....ss,s e ANA
"My masters library" he said, cup
to his bedroom? Wherever 4will I
put the books?'', -. esaS S.sii ". \
"Oh there's plenty Of room, for a
few Shelves said Mrs. Copman,
briskly. Sand if there should be a
volume or SO left over, they can easily
be put in the closet under The stairs
which has agood large window, looking
over the stables.,'o sTa TnI b ks,e{ u {
Floyd whistled under his Breath,
but there was nothing for it but to
obey. ass 4ea,tiitel8
Y ~ never see such mother-in; ;isWed
house as this in all my lifel" 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-faced
daughters ahave 9usurped the whole
house, with their, studios, and their
music-rooms, and their boudoirs, and
the mischief knows what all!' y Iai iS''s' %
The housekeeper shook her head,
4Ah, you may Well say sol' said
she. "And that aih't che worst of it,
neither, Floyd.N ,ae ii n at.4fSsa
aEh?, said the old man. '.1 "
,"How long isiit since Mrs Charteris1
-7-poor lady--died2Y q mysterionsly
questioned Mrs. Akers, v x s " 4
"l6-lTaamonths. amt it?' said
Floyd. sBIt twhy2" u = ass
'Ah, said the housekeeper, "when
the two years are up she'll make him
marry pne fthe three sistersl You
seein 81 7arFq iixia ;t saant 'nttiafg
aBut they'renot one 81 a'em under
40, and as plain as pike staffsiv ejacu-
lated Floyd, in dismay. 9 re ssa
you'll find as that won't make, no
difference" 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 upI
her mind to do. ,,lg 's's s
While Mrs. Akers and Mr. Floyed
were engaged in this discussion of
family affairs Mrs. Copman herself
was cheerfully bustling about, order.
ing the maids, tormenting the foot
man, suggesting this, that and the 9th.
er thing to her three bony, hIgh-
checked daughters, Marion, Arabella
and Melicent-until, suddenly CLAN
cling up, she chanced to observe a lighti
figure clad in q pretty pink muslin,
with a floating scarf, enter the green
house door, across the garden. She
rang the bell energetically.
Floyd said she "who is that
that person in theagarden?' Il sios
It's Miss Jetty Lane, the parson s
daughter" said Floyd-aat least"
coughing behind his hand, ''it looked
like her. Z
"And what is she doing lin our
greenhouse, I'd like to know" de-
Mrs. Copman hotly.
AShe goes there to get flowers for
her wax-works, maiam," said Floyd.
s;My master -' st sgla ,ss i9i
aaYour master would allow himself |
to be preyed on by every dne in the
village if he hadn't some one to pro-
tect him. said Mrs. Copman, severely. |
: Go at once, Floyd or stay. 1 bel
lieve I had better go myself This
sort of Thing must be put p stop to.
And she hurried out to fhe green
house, where pretty Jetty Lane was
culling sprays Of white stephanotis in
an unconsciously graceful attitude, az
she reached up among the glossy, dark.
green branches for the star-like bios
SONS. 8E9A S3I asa aifS
"Ohl" said Mrs. Copman, stifflE
tMiss Lane, believer Ii TIA
Jetty paused and turned. Only
home from boarding-school three
she had never met Mrs. Cop
man face to face before. VI
sits the terrible mother-in-law,o I
she said to herself, and she answered
aloud: