Middletown transcript., 1903-05-30


Enter tanning,
as he did, the idea that woman
was vastly inferior, intellect
ually, he felt that he had reason
to be. Perhaps, if he had had
sisters, his sentiments might
have been modified, but Marina
duke was an only child, and the
indulgence which was lavished
upon him in consequence, doubt
less led him to think himself OF
more consequence than, perhaps,
others might consider rightfully
his due.
Marmaduke married at a suit
able age. His wife was a mild,
inoffensive sort Of woman, who
would as soon have thought OF
chopping her own head off, as Of
disregardirg a command OF her
liege lord. Her submissiveness
strengthened in Marmaduke the
idea of mans superiority to wo-
man. Accustomed to have his
slightest wish regarded as a law,
he unconsciously acquired a GER
tain degree of imperiousness,
which, beside striking awe into
the heart of his unfortunate wife,
had the effect of making him
generally unpopular, and caused
him to be regarded, in surround
ing households, as sort of mod
ern Bluebeard.
All things have an end, and SO
it was with the life of Mrs. Mar
maduke Mellen. Poor woman!
her life had been far from a
happy one. Meekly and uncom-
plainingly she had gone through
life, yielding in all things to the
strong will of her despotic hus-
band. Ungrudgingly she had
devoted herself to his service.
She now took the liberty to die
the only thing, it may be said,
during the whole course of her
welded life, which she had ven-
tured to do without his permis-
sion.
Mr.. Mellen missed his wife.
1t would have been strange if he
had not. He began to feel that
she had been far more necessary
to his comfort than he supposed.
He hired a housekeeper, but
found that she was far from sup
plying the place of his deceased
wife. Beside, being house
keeper, he did not feel at liberty
to order her about as authorita-
lively as if she were his wife.
Under these circumstances, it
wss not strange that Mr.. Mellen
should think of taking to himself
a second partner. He pondered
for a long time on the important
question. On whom, Of all the
manageable ladies of his ac-
quaintance, should he bestow
the honor of his hand?
This was a weighty question,
and he felt it to be-so. He pom
dered long and anxiously. His
anxiety. however, did not tproceed
from any apprehension of rejec-
ton, in whatever quarter he
might pay his advances. That
idea never crossed his mind. It
was rather that of one, who, hav-
ing a variety of articles presented
for his acceptance, is puzzled to
decide of which to make choice.
At length he decided upon ad-
dressing Mrs. Kent, a widow who
had lately moved into the neigh
borhood.. Of Mrs. Kent, person
ally, he knew little, except that
she had q moderate property left
her by her husband.
Having once made up his mind
he proceeded, with promptness
worthy of Napoleon, to put his
plan into execution.
With the air of one comforting
a favor, he laid his proposal be-
fore the fortunate lady whom he
had selected as the recipient Of
his addresses.
Mrs. Kent took the matter very |
coolly. She requested time for
consideration.
Mr.. Marmaduke Mellen was
somewhat surprised that lady |
should require time to consider
such a brilliant proposal. How
ever, as he felt quite easy about
the ultimate answer, he merely
bowed acquiscence, informingthe
lady that he would wait upon her
that day week.
Mrs. Kent was not ignorant of |
Marmaduke's imperious charac-
ter. She could not help hearing
of what was topic of general
remark. She well knew that the
death of the first Mrs. Mellen was
generally attributed to a long
course of tyranny on the part of