The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-10-05
Mrs. Flint. and they are weak. They do

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not weigh with me, madam"
1t is to be regretted"
| "The first Mrs. Flint better understood
her duties as wife," he returned ex-
citedly. but it is quite useless to dis
cuss the point with you, madam. How
ever, this day week Mrs. Burns leaves
us. and I expect you to assume her
duties"
Mrs. Flint smiled. Major Flint
frowned. Then, taking his hat and cane,
he excitedly went from the room.
"There's nothing like beginning
right" he said mentally, planting his
cane firmly down upon the pavement.
eff Mrs. Flint married me with the
idea of squandering my money in silks.
furbelows, and things, she'll find it diff
ficult in my establishment. 1 don't in
tend to encourage female insubordina-
ton. 1 believe the husband was born to
govern-the wife to obey. II more hus-
bands had my firmness, my tact in gov
erning, things would be different at the
present day"
Mrs. Flint, left at home, summoned
the housekeeper.
II learn that my husband has given
you weeks warming" she said.
Eyes, ma am"
"Is it your wish to leave us?"
"Oh, no, Mrs. Flint, for don't know
where could find another place, and !
have to pay my little girls board out OF
my wages"
III believe there is considerable work
to be done here?"
Eyes, Mrs. Flint, great deal. Then
Mr.. Flint is so peculiar-he wants every
thing done just 30. Aud that's why I'm
sorry to 60 just as you come, l know You
are easy to please"
"How do you know"
by your FACET looks so good-na-
tured. Major Flint says, ma'am," she
continued, hesitatingly, THAT am to
show you some about the work. But if
you try to do it alone. unused to hard
work as you are, it will make you sick. :"
81 think very likely it would, Mrs.
Burns. But I have not the slightest
idea of doing the work. At all
events. you must not secure another
situation until you hear from me again.
am very confident" she added, smil-
ing, "that if Mr. Flint sends you away,
Mrs. Burns, he will be glad to take you
back"
The week passed quickly.
"Mrs. Burns leaves tom orrow." said
the major, at the tea. table.
'Theh you have quite decided upon
it,"
"Yee; believe announced the fact
to you some days ago.
81 thought it possible that my objec-
tions might have weighed with you and
induced you to change your mind"
| II never change my mind" said her
husband, loftily.
"But warn you that have little ex-
| perience as q cook"
'You can learn"
perhaps may not cook to suit your
taste, she persisted.
That is my affair"
| Had he been aware of the plot forming
! in the lady's fertile brain, he might not
have felt 80 confident in regard to the
quality of bis bread and butter; and he
retired for the night all unconscious of
the discipline TO be melted out to him.
So the following morning Mrs. Burns
received her wages and was sent off. At
ten o'clock the marketing was brought
home. At the usual dinner hour Major
Flint made his appearance. The table
was laid with more than its usual neat
ness. Major Flint congratulated him.
self on this fact as personal triumph
on his part. But he badly felt SO COM
placent when the dinner came up. The
beef was ten ribiy overdone; the vegeta-
bles, on the contrary, we're not half
cooked. In short, there was nothing on
the table fit to eat. This Major Flint
rather angrily remarked.
II dare say, am not very good
cook, said his wife.
With his appetite only half satisfied,
he rose from the table.
The following morning breakfast was
delayed more than half an hour; and
when it was ready, it was scarcely eata-
BILE Major Flint was quite out of hu-
NOR; but in reply his remonstrances his
wife said:
ST warned you that might not cook
to suit your taste"
And to matters deteriorated rather
than improved. The tea and coffee pre-
pared by his wife were nauseating. to
him, while the bread was not only sour,
but hard and clsmmy, requiring consid.
cradle effort to mAsticate it. And what
rendered it all the more exasperating
WAS that, no matter how inferior in quail
ity. or distasteful to himself his wife pro-
fessed her inability TO discover any fault
in what was prepared for the table, pro-
testing that & just suited her taste.
The following day Major Flint seated
himself Il the dinner table, his mind
filed with various emotions. He was
growing thin. he felt sure; not decent