Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1890-12-12
HIS SECOND WIFE.

She was the village talloress; resolute,
bright eyed woman of seven or eight and
twenty.
II wouldn't have believed it. unless you
had told me with your own lips, said Miss
dolefully.
''Why mott" said Agatha.
'Its just selling yourself-that's all, y
shifted Miss Peggerell.
''No. it's not" said Agatha Simplex,
brusquely. "He's a very nice man"
"He's twenty years older than you are. +"
We'll said Miss Simplex, "and what
difference does that maker I'm solitary
and alone in the world-and Mr.. Mixsell
is willing to give me home, and respect
him very highly-and I've no doubt we
shall be very happy together
"Humphy commented Miss Peggerell
Agatha turned sharply around.
"What does that meang" said she.
Nothing" said Miss Peggerell. "only
he bullicd his first wife into her grave"
"He1l not bully me into mine" shrewd-
ly remarked Miss Simplex.
"I'm not sure Of that
'I am"
''WeH, at all events" added Miss Peg
gerell, ''you can't say you've not been
fairly warned"
'No, l won't" said Agatha Simplex,
and she married Mr. Moses Mixsell before
the moon was fortnight older.
''Mr Mixsell was very worthy member
of society, bald-headed, double-chinned
and rather spoiled, in consequence of a.
ways having had his own way The late
Mrs. Mixsell had been one Of those meek,
retiring little persons who never seem
quite certain whether their souls belong to
or to somebody else and
there were those who, like Miss Peggerell,
did not hesitate boldly to assert that her
brief space of life had been shortened by
the domineering will and stern discipline
of oses, her lord and master.
But all these reports Mrs. Mixsell the
second neither needed nor believed.
my DEAR" said she to her husband,
after they had been married about three
weeks" "the Hutchison family is going to
give concert here on Wednesday eve
ming"
Are they7" said Moses; "wen what OF
that9"
II should like to GO, SAID Mrs. Mixsell.
'I shouldn't" said Mr.. Mixsell.
'I mean to CO." said Mrs. Mixsell.
"And l mean you sha'n't." said Mr..
Mixsell.
Agatha's checks crimsoned; her eyes
sparkled with ominous luster.
"Why not, Mosesi' said she.
'1 don't approve of concerts" said Mr..
Mixsell 'It's my opinion that married
woman is better off at home darning heI
husbands stocks, than gadding off to pub
lie places"
81 don't say but that you do" admitted
the bridegroom. "But don't mean to
encourage this fancy of yours for running
to every wild-beast show and public ex-
hibition in town. And, not to mince mat
tiers, intend to put it down." with great
emphasis on the last three words.
~ shall got said Agatha.
"You shall notp' said Moses.
Glow will you prevent itf" said Mrs
Mixsell Unless, indeed, you lock me il
my roomw with little laugh.
'1 shall do that, if it proves necessary,
said Mr. Mixsell. "And keep you there OF
bread and water, my fine madam"
'fYou dare not" said Agatha.
'eYou shall see,' said Mr.. Mixsell.
And so the married couple came to higl
words within the month.
Agatha was putting on her bonnet an'
shawl in her own room on the Wednesday
evening, when Mr.. Mixsell came to th'
door, and eyed her with extreme severity
"You are determined to make a fool O
yourself, eh7" said he.
"I am determ ined TO go to the concert
retorted she that was Agatha Simplex.
"Then it's my duty to enforce ny mar
ital authority" said Mr.. Mixsell. And h
locked the door and PIT the key in hi
pocket.
''Here you shall remain, madam" salt
he, 'until you break that stubborn will O
yours. At six o'clock tomorrow morning
| shall put in loaf Of bread and pitche
of water"
Mrs. Mixsell made no reply, and he
husband began to fear that the task of re
ducing her to subsection was not going t
be as easy as he had anticipated.
He stalked off, and spent the evenin
comfortably by the fire.
The next morning Ebenezer Hillgrove
who was going to lay half dozen yard
of stone wall for the Mixsells, came, brigh
and early, to breakfast Mr.. Mixsell wa
frying ham and eggs over the kitchen fire
where's your wife7" demanded Eber
ezer
"She hasn't left her room yet" said Nj
Mixsell, adhering to the letter Of the trutf
if not to its spirit.
"She was up pretty late at the coneel
last night, chr" said Ebenezer.
"At the-concertl" said Mr. Mlxsell, foi
getting in his surprise to turn the last sliC
of ham which lay frizzling in the pan.
Il saw her there, " said Ebenezer, "in
black silk gown and hat with blu
feathers onto it! Laughed awful at ii
comic parts, and cried at the "Farewe
Hymn"
Mr.. Mixseli, with last CLEAN of pre-
ence Of mind, rescued the ham from i
fiery ordeal, and put il on the plato.
"Sit down and eat, Ebenezer," said b
"while | go and see after Mrs. Mixsell.'
And off he trudged, with his square 10
of bread and pitcher of water
Arriving at the door, he unlocked it al
pecped in.
There, leaning against the window sil
with its back to him, was the well know
figure in the black dress and scarlet shaw
with white worsted scarf half concealir
| its face.
"Mrs Mixsell, said he.
No answer was returned.
"Sulking, chr said Mr.. Mixsell.
Still no reply was vouchsaied
"Well, you can have it out at yo
leisure" grimly commented her lord al
master Heres your breakfast -
And he went his way, firmly believir
that Ebenezer Hillgrove had been mistake
l
concert.
But no sooner was the morning me
| concluded than in walked Miss PeggereI