Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-08-03
A DOMESTIC DESPOT.


bic this is y
Her son-in law looked up from the
newspaper he was reading. He was
tall. handsome man of thirty, with soft,
dark eyes, here and there a silver
streak in his hair.
as there any new trial developing
itself?" he asked, kindly.
"No," said Mrs. Copman; nothing
especial. 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 recep-
ton room ?" said 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.. Charters, absently. "Floyd can
easily knock up a few shelves there. 1t
is pity that Marion should be disturb
ed in the prosecution of her art"
"You are always so kind ard thought
ful," said Mrs. Copman, Frightening up,
as she hurried away to give the neces-
sary directions.
Floyd, Mr.. Charters faithful Scotch
servitor, stared blankly when the old
lady issued her orders.
"My masters library" said he, "up
to his BEDROOM Wherever will put
the books?"
"Oh, there's plenty of room for a few
Shelves" said Mrs. Copman, briskly.
''And if there should be a volume or so
left over, they can easily be put in the
closet under the stairs, which has a
good large window looking out over the
stables"
Floyd whistled under his breath,
but there was nothing for 1t but to
obey.
al never see such a mother n-lawed
house as this in all my lifel" said he to
the housekeeper, with groan. "Here's
Nh. Harry, crowded into the bedroom
in the north wing, and the closet under
the stairs, while Mrs. Copman and her
three Gorgonfaced daughters have
usurped the whole house, with their
studios, and their mushrooms, and
their boudoirs, and the mischief only
knows what all"
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.
allow long is it since Mrs. Charters
poor lady!-died?" mysteriously
questioned Mrs. Akers.
"Sixteen-s seventeen months, amt it?
said Floyd. "But why?'
"Ah," said the housekeeper, "when
the two years IRE up she'll make him
marry one of the three sisters! You'll
see."
"Rut they're not one Of them under
forty, and as plain as pike-staffs,' ejac-
ulated Floyd, in dismay.
"You'll find as that wont 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 vet failed in what she made up
her mind to do"
While Mrs. Akers and Mr.. Floyd
we're engaged in discussion of family
affairs, Mrs. Copman herself was cheer
fully busting about, ordering the maid,
tormenting the footman, suggesting this
that and the other thing to her three
bony, high-cheeked daughters, Marion,
Arabella and Melcent-until, suddenly
glanceing up, she CHANGED to observe a
light figure, clad in pretty pink mus
lin, with floating white scarf, enter
the greenhouse door, across the garden.
She rang the bell, theoretically.
Floyd said she, who is that-that
person in the garden?"
'It's Miss Jetty Lane, the parsons
daughter" said Floyd. "At least"
coughing behiud his hand, at looked
like her."
"And what is she doing in our green
house, I'd like to know?' demanded
Mrs. Copmau, holly.
''She goes there to get flowers for her
wax-works, ma'am," said Floyd. "My
master"
"Your master would allow himself
to be preyed on by every one in the
village, if he hadn't some one to pro-
tect him." said Mrs. Coprlan, severely.
go at once Floyd--or stay l believe
I had better go myself. This sort of
thing must be put a stop to-
And she hurried out to the green
mouse, where pretty Jetty Lane vas
cuiling sprays of white stephanotis, in
an unconsciously graceful attitude, as
4 she reached up among the glossy, dark
green branches for the star-like bios
SONS.
"Oh," said Mrs. Copman, stiffly;
Miss Lane, ! believe.
Jetty paused and turned. Only home
from boarding school three months, she
mad never met Mrs. Copman face TO
face before.
cts the terrible mother-in.l awl''
she said to herself; and she answered
aloud:
Eyes, am getting few flowers to
model in wax, and"
"Ah,' said Mrs. Copman. "But per-
maps you hadn't better get any more.
The flowers don't bloom very pro.
fusely, and my daughters like them
for their hair. Besides, Mr.. Charters