The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1883-12-07

&14iA2 1919 44gIl pure IfsIHiEiftp
Before long, Mr.. Fiintsnire got into the
habit OF calling nearly every day. and
th5ugh the hospitality he received was
of a very meagre kind, he could nothelp
nd miring the strict economy which the
widow practiced in her domestic arrange
ments.
1t was only natural, however, that the
old Dr0Fer6 about the course Of true love
never running s nooth should have been
exempli6ed in Mr.. Flintshire's case. If
the widow received his attentions with
compiaceucy: he was much less favora-
bly, regarded by another member of ths
household. de perceived that he had
an enemy IN the butler from the first
moment that ancient retail Ter opened the
door to him, This individual was a sur
ly, not oyercleau individual of sixty, or
Whereabouts, whose chief duties appeared
to be to keep off intruders from his mis-
tress, since he apparently discharged no
other functions. 1t was perfectly obvious
that old Numb was jealous of every n
who entered the house, and, probably,
had an eye on his mistress's fortune.
He was never polite to Mr.. Flintshire,
who did not intend to be refused when
he made his proposal OF marriage, real
lied that he must not leave Mr.. Numb
out of his calculations. The consequence
was that. after mature deliUeration. he
n day asked the butler TO give him a
few wordsin private, and thus delivered
himself
"Mr. Numb,,' he said mysteriously,
"has the possibility of your mistress
marrying again aver occurred to your"
"No. it hain't" ,saidt he man, shortly.
"Well, Mr.. Numb" perhaps not,
though you hardly have imagined that [
could see SO much of that excellent lady
as | have done lately without cOnceiving
a very great regard for her. Now, sup
posing" said Mr.. FIintsbIre, quite jocose-
ly ,''supposing | were to aspire to gain
your mistress's hand, what would O
sayP"
"I should say, don't you wish you
may get it," returned Numb, calmly.
II TN quite Serious said Mr.. Flint
shire frownIng a little. "Of course, I
know it is not usual for a gentleman to
consult a lady's butler before proposing
marriage to her. Indeed, the idea is
ridiculous. But you have lived in your
mistress's service 80 long that she re-
CARDS YOU as a friend and adviser, and
under the circumstances l think it only
right to mention the matter to you.
A word from you, Mr.. Numb, might
prove very useful"
every likely" said Mr.. Numb, and in
oracuIar tone.
"Well now, come, Mr.. Numb. Just
consider. | am not a foolish and ex-
~travagant man who would play ducks
and brakes 18th your mistress's money.
On the contrary, | am a careful man,
and not a poor one either. [ think we
should like a little better, Numb, if |
were master here; yo1r wages might be
raised; and-and-well Numb, on nay
wedding day | dare say | might give
you a five pound note. What do you
say to that?"
Mr.. FIintshire spoke in his most earn
est and persuasive tone, but failed to
move a muscle of Mr.. Numb's stolid face.
"Or-ort ten. Shall we say tel Numbp"
said Mr.. Flintshire, eagerly.
make il fifty" said the butler with
a perfectly impassive c~ountenance:
FIFTY! Bless my soul. Ahem! It's a
,ery large sum-" gaspei MI. Flintshire,
Cant we split the d ference and meet
half way-say twenty or twenty:fver"
'Fitty," repeated Numb stubbornly.
"Well, Well! fifty them" said Mr..
Flintshire with resignation. ut Is q
large sum-. but. However say fifty"
The butler said fifty, apparently rath-
er to oDlige Mr.. Flintshire than from
any interest he felt in the discussion
Judging at least from his tone and man
ner. Nothing more passed at this re-
markahle interview, but the next day
Mr.. Flintshire proposed TO Mrs. Mum
blewocd and was Immediately accepted.
After this matters went smoothly
enough, and though Mr.. Flintshire fret
ted a great deal about the fifty pounds
ne had promised Numb, he did not con-
slider the M ney thrown away. The
alacrity with which Mrs. Mumblewood
had accepted him plainly revealed that
he owed his success to the buffers in
reference. When orce he was married
he flattered himself that Mr.. Numb's
dominion would soon come to IN end.
Meanwhile it was prudent to be polite
to him, for, since he acted as the old
lady's confidential adviser, he might
make hims If disagreeable by suggest
ing settlements and other undesirable
complications.
Nothing of the kind occurred, howev-
er, and the marriage was performedin q
~neighboring church without fuss or GER
emony. Mr.. Numb received his fifty
pounds, together with a promise of q
rise in his wages, which NJ. Flint
shire intended in his own mind as a pre-
liminary to dismissing him. The we'd
ding banquet and the suspicious event
in no way disturbed the even tenor OF
The household. The only change that
occurred was that from henceforth Mr..
FliD,shire WAS promoted to the dignity
OF paymaster of the establishment, the
widow stopping all supplies with promp-
titude the moment she had changed her
name.
Mr.. Flintshire did not trouble to an
nounce his wedding in the papers.
There was nothing to be gained by do
ing so, and his wife did not appear to
desire it. He settled down readily
enough to his new state Of life, and de-
voted himself 10 ministeriEg to bis wife's
comfort in a very laudible manner. The
chief aim he had ia view was to prevent