Middletown transcript., 1903-05-30
The Head Of the Household.
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BYGRACE WATERFORD
BY GRACE WATERFORD.

and did not feel particularly dis
mayed. She anticipated that b
would attempt to domineer owe
her, but was quite prepared TO
such an emergency.
Having duly weighed all th,
considerations above mentioned
when he waited upon her on th'
day appointed, she graciousl.
acceeded to his proposal, and fix
ed upon an early marriage-day
This was not long in arriving
Four weeks from the date of hel
acceptance, she bade farewell L
the name bequeathed her by hel
first husband, and became Mrs
Marmaduke Mellen the second
For a brief period all wenI
smoothly. He thought it best tc
wait until the close of the honey
moon before he made known tc
his wife the plan of government
which he had adopted for LEI
benefit.
One day, after the usual dinner
hour, Mr.. Mellen returned, to
find his mother-in-law seated
quietly at the dinner table beside
his wife. Now, to mothers-in.
law, he always had special ab.
horrence. He would have been
very glad never to have had one
enter his home. AS, however, a
regard to appearances would not
quite sanction their utter exclu-
sion, he was disposed to have
their visits like those of angels,
(Which he was far enough from
considering them,) few and far
between. Accordingly, the look
which he directed toward the
hapless lady sustaining that char
acter was, by no means, a well
come one.
This was not all. Actually, his
wife had had the audacity to or
der up dinner before he arrived.
To be sure, he was nearly an hour
late, but what Of that? Wasn't
it his wife's duty to wait for him,
even if he were three or four
hours late?
Eating dinner? he exclaimed,
with mingled surprise and asper-
ity, as he entered the room.
Yes, said his wife, carefessly;
you are rather late to-day, and as
mother has had quite a long walk,
and felt hungry, we decided to
have dinner Immediately.
And I suppose, said he, hastily,
I am expectedto eat a cold dinner?
Really, Mr.. Mellen, said his
wife, lifting her eyebrows in some
surprise, one would think you
were angry!
So I am, madam. l am accus-
toned to have dinner wait for me.
However late you return?
Yes; however late return.
There is no objection to that, 1
am sure. You will have your din
ner whenever you choose, of
course; and I suppose I may ex-
ercise the same privilege.
We shall see, madam.
Certainly, we shall see.
Really, Maria, and Mr.. Mellen,
you should not differ, expostu.
lated the mother-in. law.
Oh, don't be troubled, mother,
said her daughter, coolly. 1t is
only a little difference, which will
be speedily arranged. We shall
understand each other better by
and by.
Yes, madam, said Mr.. Mellen,
significantly; your daughter is
quite right. We shall understand
each other better by and by.
You see, mother, there is no
cause for apprehension.
But / am afraid
Will you have another potato?
Yours must be quite cold, inter-
rupted his wife.
Finding further remonstrance
useless, the mother-in-law was
silent.
Mr.. Mellen was somewhat dis
5urbed by this occurrence. He
could not conceal from himself
that his wife, as yet, was far from
being in that state of subordina-
ion which he considered proper
Ind becoming. However, time
will remedy that, thought he to
himself.
The next day, although his
business arrangements were by
10 means urgent, he purposely |
delayed half an hour beyond the |
'egular dinner-hour. When he |
'eturned, he found his wife and |
notherin-law just rising from |
he table.
What does this mean? he ex.
'laimed, angrily.
ONLY that fno &c o,r ,oo.l