Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-10-20
MANAGING A HUSBAND.

''True, MAJOR Flint is a wealthy man,
aud good looking, withal, but if you mar
ry him he will make you his slave-take
my word for it, Miss Atherton.''
DO you think sop said the lady ad-
dressed, quietly looking up from her en-
broidery.
Think SO? l know it. You cannot
have forgotten how his first wife Jared
So gentle and lovely, too, as she was, yet
the poor woman never dared say her soul
was her own-never! If she had had a
different husband, she would undoubtedly
nave been alive to-day"
Very likely, Mrs. May
land yet, knowing all this, you are 60
ing to take her place.
"Major Flint will find me very differ
emit person from his first wife, said Miss
Atherton, comL oSedy. However, as 1
do not wish to anticipate sorrow. we will.
if you please, dismiss the subject.''
! This was not the first remonstrance Miss
Atherton had received on the subject of
er approaching marriage, but she had
made up her mind, it appeared, and was
now occupied in making preparations for
the wedding.
What had been said respecting Major
Flint and his first wife was uEquestionably
rue. He wasa domestic tyrant, and hold
lE!g the female understanding in very slight
.-stet N, considered that the wife Dug ht,
u all respects, to be subservient to the
husband s will.
His reason for marrying again was prin-
cipally from the fact that he found no
n uoekeeper who would be sufficiently sub
e,vient to his whims and caprices. Hav-
ng lost one after another, he came to the
conclusion that he needed wife, and soon
resolved to tender his hand to Grace Ath-
erton, who had been warm personal
friend of his lost wife. We will not anal
we her motives for accepting his proposal,
though probably regard for Mr.. Flint's
two helpless little children, who resembled
their mother rather than Their father, in-
tiuenced her as much as any other motive.
However that might be, the marriage soon
took place, and after brief journey Miss
Atherton returned as Mrs. Major Flint, to
take the place as mistress of the house.
hold.
Heretofore, Major Flint had forborne to
'show his hand" Now, however, that
their married life had fairly begun, he
thought it quite time to do so.
Il have given Mrs. Burns weeks warn
Ing he remarked at the breakfast table,
the morning after their return.
Mrs. Burns had been housekeeper and
maid-of- all-work, the entire duties of the
household devolving upon her.
''And why have you given her weeks
warning?" said the lady, composedly.-
''Are you not satisfied with herr"
sit is not that, madam" said the Major
deliberately
ANY difficulty about wages?" asked his
wife, unconcerDedIy.
"No, "said her husband, feeling somewhat
embarrassed. 1.-The fact is, Mrs. Flint,
there is not very much work to do in our
small household, at least no more than one
pair of hands can easily do. Ny first wife |
always did her own work, and with es Sc.
though she was not very strong woman
''Did she not die very young?" said wife
number two, slipping her coffee composed !
ly.
"Why, yes," said the obtuse Mr.. Flint,
a little Disconnected. "You know the
young die as well as the aged.o
80 have heard" returned his wife.
Major Flint was a great deal puzzled by
the matter-of-fact manner of his new wife,
Her cool self-possession awed him in spite |
of himself. If she had stormed he would |
have felt better prepared to meet the emer-
gency.
Il shall permit my children to remain |
where they are, at my mothers, until you
get accustomed to the house little In |
the course of the week" he added, s'you
will get an idea of the extent of the work |
by observing Mrs. Burns"
Rising from the table, he was about to |
leave the room when his footsteps were ar |
rested by the simple address:
major Flint"
"Well?" said be.
sit appears that you have been making
arrangements without consulting me.''
Major Flint was astonished.
"You, madam! Why should consult