The National tribune., 1882-09-16
A DOMESTIC DESPOT.
The Overthrow of a MOther-in-Law
and the Return of Peace.

paper he was reading. He was tall hand
some man of thirty, with soft, dark eyes, and
here and there silver streak in his hair.
as there any new trial developing itself?"
he asked, kindly.
"No," said Mrs. Copman, nothing espe-
cial except that Marion wants the green
parlor for a studio. There's such an excel
lent north light to it, you know" well" ="
said Henry Charters, "why not let her have
it t?n- co. --..
But what shall we do for a 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 Ma
rion, 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 thoughtful, u
said Mrs. Copman, Frightening up, as she
hurried away to give the necessary direc-
tions
Floyd, Mr.. Charteris's faithful Scotch SER
vitor, stared blankly when the old lady issued
her orders.
Ny masters library" he said, cup to his
bedroom? Wherever will put the boobs?' u
"Oh, there's plenty of room for few
Shelves" said Mrs. Copman, briskly. "And
if there should be volume OF 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.
"Inever saw such mother-in- -lawed house
as this in all my life!" said he to the house
keeper, with 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 Gordon-faced daugh.
ters, have usurped the whole house with
their studios and their music rooms and
their boudoirs, and the mischief knows what
ALL"
"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 questioned
Mrs. Akers.
"Sixteen-seventeen months, amt it p
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 they're not one of them under
forty, and as plain as pike-staffs," calculated
Floyd, in dismay.
you'll find as that won't make no differ.
enee," said Mrs. Akers, gloomily. That's
what she's got her eyes 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 en-.
gagged in this discussion of family affairs
Mrs. Copman herself was cheerfully bust
ling about, ordering the maids, tormenting
the footman, suggesting this, that and the
other thing to her three bony, high
checked daughters, Marion, Arabells, and
Melicent, until suddenly glancing up, she
CHANGED to observe light figure, clad in a
pretty muslin, with a floating scarf, enter
the greenhouse door, across the garden
She rang the bell, energetically.
Floyd" said she, "who is that-that
person in the garden?"
"Its Miss Jetty Lane, the parsons daugh.
ter" said Floyd; "at least" coughing behind
his hand, I" it 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 heI
wax-work, ma'am," said Floyd. "My mas
ter"
"Your master would allow himself to be
preyed on by every one in the village, if he
hadn't some one to protect him." said Mrs
Copman, severely. $50 at once, Floyd-ol
stay, 1 believe L had better 60 myself
This sort of thing must be put stop to-"
And she hurried out to the greenhouse
where pretty Jetty Lane was culling sprays
of white stephanotis in an unconsciously
graceful attitude, as she reached up among
the glossy, dark-green branches for the star.
like blossoms.
"Oh!" said Mrs. Copman, stifdy, "Mis
Lane l believe"
Jetty paused and turned. Only hom'
from boarding-school three months, she hat
never met Mrs. Copman face to face before
ats the terrible mother-in-law," she sai(
to herself, and she answered aloud:
ayes; am getting few flowers to mode
in wax, and
"Ah!" said Mrs. Copman, "but perhaps
you hadn't better get any more. The flower
don't bloom very profusely and my daughter
like them for their hair Besides, Mr.. Char
teris don't approve of the whole neighbor
hood running riot through his grounds"
Jetty's deep blue eyes flashed.
Madam" said she, "did Mr.. Charteri
tell you to say this?"
"N-not exactly" faultered the sour-visaget
widow; I" but"
"Then," said Jetty, you have been guilty
of very rude and inhospitable action"
And, finging her white buds and blossoms
on the floor of the greenhouse, she walked
out like princess.
"Well, l never!" said Mrs. Copman
scarcely knowing whether to be indignan
or surprised at this imperial conduct.
Jetty Lane hurried on, never stopping tt
wipe away the tears which seemed to scale
her eyelids until she was safe in the lit
tie hazel copse; and, once there under the
nonl oE tha treal sha hnr