Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-12-21

marriage to her. Indeed, the idce is rid
iculous But you have lived in your mis-
tress's service 80 long that she regards
you as friend and adviser, and under
the circumstances I think it only right to
mention the matter to You. word from
you, Mr.. Numb, might prove very use
full"
"very likely, said Mr.. Numb, in an
oracular tone.
"Well, now, come, Mr.. Numb just
consider | am not foolish and extrava-
giant man who would play ducks and
brakes with your mistress's money. On
the contrary, am careful man, and not
poor one either. think we should live
n little better, Numb, if | we're paymas-
ter here your wages might be raised
nd-and-wcll. Numb, on my wedding
day dare say might give you five
pound note. What do you say to that ?"
Mr.. Fliutshire spoke in his most earn
est and persuasive tone, but failed to
move muscle of Mr.. Numbs stolid
face.
"Or-or ten. Shall we say ten, Numb p
said Mr.. Flintshire, eagerly.
Make 1t fifty, said the butler, with a
perfectly impassive countenance.
"Fifty Bless my soul Ahem It's
a very large sum" gasped Mr.. Flintshire.
Cant we split the difference and meet
half way-say twenty or twenty-five q
Fifty" repeated Numb, stubbornly.
"Well, well fifty, then," said Mr..
Flintshiie, with resignation. at is n
large sum, but. However, say fifty"
The butler said fifty, apparently rather
to oblige Mr.. Flintshire than from any
interest he felt in the discussion-judg-
ing, at least, from his tone and manner.
Nothing more passed at this remarkable
Interview, but the next day Mr.. Flint
shire proposed to Mrs. Mumblewood and
was Immediately accepted.
After this matters went smoothly
enough, and though Mr.. Flintshire fret
ted good deal about the fifty pounds he
had promised to Numb, he did not con-
slider the money thrown away. The alac-
rity with which Mrs. Mumblewood had
accepted him plainly revealed that he
owed his success to the butlers interfer-
ence. When once he was married he fiat
tered himself that Mr. Numb's dominion
would soon come to an end. Meanwhile
it was prudent to be polite to him, for,
since he acted as the Old lady's condden-
tial adviser, he might make himself dis
agreeable by suggesting settlements and
other undesirable complications.
Nothing of the kind occurred however,
and the marriage WIS performed in n
neighboring church without fuss or cere-
mony. Mr., Numb received his fifty
pounds, together with promise of rise
in his wages, which Mr. Flintshire intend
ed in his own mind as a preliminary to
dismissing him. The wedding banquet
and the auspicious event in no way dis
turbed the even tenor of the household
The only change that occurred was that
from henceforth Mr., Flintshire was pro-
noted to the dignity OF raymaster of the
establishment, the widow stopping all
supplies with promp.tule the moment
she had changed her name.
Mr.. Fl,ntshlre did not trouble to an
nounce his wedding in the papers. There
was nothing to be gained by doing So and
his wife did not appear to desire it. He
settled down readily enough to his new
state of life, and devoted himself to min
istering to his wifc's comfort in very
laudable manner. The chief aim he had
in view was to prevent her from making
a will. He strongly suspected that she
had made one before her marriage, in
which the name of Mr.. Numb figured
ccnspicuously ; but that document was
now null and void by operation of law.
If his wife, therefore. did not make a
fresh one, he would, at her death, inherit
everything as her husband, and he was,
accordingly quite content to leave matters
where they we've at present.
If Mr.. Flintshire deserved domestic
happiness as n reward for his persever-
ance, he certainly did not attain that de-
sirable consummation. 70 begin with,
his wife was crotchety and fractions, as
old people generally are, but, in addition
Ia thesa ftilings, she possessed n remark
ably Vigorous temper. Mr.. Flintshire,
to serve his own purppec stayed by her
side from morning till night, and she
made perfect slave Of him. Being NOR
bidly fearful of Offending her, lie dared
not venture to retaliate, ana never was an
unhappy husband more henpecked than
|, he. Another acnrce of annoyance was
that the whole household seemed to be III
, league to plumber him. The simple do
mcstic arrangements which had sufliced
when the old lady held the purse were no
/ longer sufficient. His wife was the first
| to propose a more liberal table, and Mr.
Numb manifested q perfectly fendish in
genuity in suggesting costly little dishes
/ for her. In II word, the housekeeping ex-
, penses Increased 10 an enormous extent,
: and oil attempts Mt introducing economy
5 proved uua7r'ling'
, The last, but not the least, of the
: bridegroom's troubles was the presence
in the house Of Numb, the butler. So
long as this nan remained, Mr.. Flintshire
felt that he was only the nominal head of
the establishment. Mr.. Numb did pre-
ciselv as he pleased, and his influence
Q with his mistress showed IN signs of di,
. mnishing. Yet Mr.. Flintshlro did not
, soc his way to getting rid of him. If he
{ attcmp,rd To- exercise his authority, his
4 wife might be dhyen to take some dcs-
$ prrate course He ventured "n one occa-
t sion to hint that Numb's services might
g with advantage be dispensed with, but
1 tnr tuggestion called forth such torrent
p Of rcrroaches and invectiyes, that Mr..
, Flintshire trembled at his tenaeity.
= Numb STAYED on, and haunted him like n
o yeritable Old Mnu of the Sen, drawing
, high wages, increasing the weekly bills,
Il and, what was far worse, enjoying the
Il larger share of his wifes confidence.
o The one bright spot in the midst Of
u Mr. Flntshires trbulation was that his
q wife evinced NJ desire to make will. He
e therefore felt tclerahly secure about the
It future, which was great consolation to
y him. Nevertheless year Of this anxious
l. life so undermined his constitution, thai
o in all probability another twelvemontt
4 would have either killed him or rendered
If him hopelessly imheciie. Fortunately fol
4 him, these dreadful contingencies wer'
al averted by the sudden death of the OLE
1t lady, who expired in her sleep withou
5. having given the slightest indication o
re her approaching end.
er The sad event had much the same effec
ID upon the bereaved husband as summee
shower has upon parched garden. !
v. revived him instantly and called forth a
- lis former ennrrY nnn YitAlitv. His iirs