Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-03-08
NUMBER TW0'S PLAN.

''True, Major Flint is a wealthy man,
and good looking with all, but if you
marry him he viii make you his slave
take my word for it Miss Ather-
ton"
do you think go?'' said the lady ad-
dressed, quietly looking up from her
embroidery.
''Think so? I know it. You can not
have forgotten how his first wife Jared.
So gentle and loving too, as she was,
yet the poor woman never dared TO say
her soul was her oWn-neverl If she
had had a different husband, she would
have been alive to-day"
every likely, Mrs. May"
"And yet, knowing all this, you are
going to take her place.
"Maior Flint will find me q very diff
ferent person from his first wife," said
Miss At erton composedly. "Howev-
er, as I do not want to anticipate sor-
row, we viii, if you please, dismiss the
subject"
This was not the first rem Onstrance
Miss AthertOn had received on this sub
iect of her approaching marriage, but
she had made up her mind it appeared
and was now occupied in making pre-
paratiOns for the wedding.
What had been said respecting Major
Flint and his first wife, was unquestion-
ably true. He was q domestic tyrant,
and holding the female understanding
in very slight esteem, considered that
the wife ought, in all respects, to be
subservient to her husbands will.
His reason for marrying again was
principally from the fact that he found
no housekeeper who would be suffi-
GENTLY subservIent to his whims and
Caprices. Having lost one after anoth-
er, he came to the conclusion that he
needed wife, and soon resolved to
tender his hand to Grace Etherton,
who had been a warm personal friend
of his lost wife. We will not analyze
her motives for accepting his proposal,
though probably regard for Mr.. Flints
two helpless little children, who resem-
bled their mother rather than their
father, influenced her as much SIS any
2tBeT tigg oBR0 Es6E R ebB taRat m ag Rs s
brief journey Miss Atherton returned
as Mrs. Maj1r Flint, to take the place
of mistress of the household.
Hitherto 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 a weeks
warning" he remarked at the break
fast table, the morning after their re-
turn.
Mrs. Burns had been house-keeper
aud maid-of-all-worl1, the entire duties
Of the household devolving upon her.
"And why have you given her
weeks warning ?" said the lady COM
posedly. care you not satisfied with
her ?"
"I5 is not that, madam" said the Ma
jor deliberately.
"Any difficulty about wages % asked
is wife, unconcernedly.
NO" said her husband somewhat
embarrassed. ''The fact is, Mrs. Flint,
there is not very much work to do in
our small household, at least not
more than one pair of hands can
easily do. My first wife always did
her own work, and with ease though
she was not q very strong woman"
'Did she not die very young?" said
wife number two, slipping her coffee qui-
city.
"Why, yes, said the obtuse Mr.. Flint,
little disconnected. 'You know the
young die as we'll as the aged"
$50 [ have heard" returned his
wife.
Major Flint was good deal puzzled
by the matter of fact manner of his
wife. Ii she had stormed, he would
have felt better prepared to meet the
emergency,
Il shall permit my children to remain
where they are, at my mothers, until
you get accustomed to the house a
little. In the course of q week." he
added, you viii 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 arrested by the simple address:
major FintI'
"Well?" said he.
1T appears that you have been max
ing arrangements without consulting
me-"
Major Flint was astonished.
"You, madaml Why should [ con-
suit you about my arrangements"
Because l may not approve OF
them"
"Mrs. Flint" said the Msjor, :" it is
your duty to acquiesce in whatever
plans |, as your husband, see fit to
form"
Indeed, I never took that view of
the MATTER" said Mrs. Flint.
"Tken the sooner you take it the
BETTER was the reply.
do you expect me to perform all
the labor required in this establish
ment?
Exactly so, madam"
q believe you are considered rich
man, Major Flint"
81 am accounted SO, madam" he re-
piled, complacently.
"And you are quite able to hire do
mestic service, are you not?"
eyes, if it were needful."
Suppose I say that is needful."
81 should like the liberty to doubt it,
madam" he replied.
"Very well, MIR. Flint, since you
force it upon me, | may as well tell
you first as last my decision upon this
point. You offer me the position of
wife, not that Of maid servant. On
this understanding accept you. Yet, if
your circumstances ever become such
as to require 1t, shall not hesitate for