Middletown transcript., 1903-05-30

gloomy silence.
Meanwhile, his wife CONTINUES
to chatin lively strain with he
mother, ndtheir frequent laugh
ter Jared very discordantly o.
his nerves.
| Shortly after dinner he con
trived to see Bridget without hi
wife's knowledge.
| Bridget, said he, I find that, fo
two days past, dinner has beel
served up before I came home
Hereafter, you must wait until
return before doing SO.
But the misthress told me? sait
Bridget.
l know that, said he; but yor
are bound to obey me rather thar
her.
Sir? said the bewildered Bird
get, who did not comprehend al
all.
l will tell you what I expect
you to do, said her master. To,
morrow, for example, l shall moi
be at home till four o clock. Four,
remember. On no account must
you serve up dinner before that
time.
But what shall say to the mis-
thress, when she tells me? asked
Bridget, with her eyes wide open
in astonishment.
Say? You must tell her that I
forbade your doing it. And you
may tell her, also, that I threat,
ened to dismiss you Immediately
if you failed to comply with my
directions. Will you remember
that?
I'll try, answered Bridget,
whose faculties, neververy bright
were completely thrown into con-
fusion by her antagonistic duties,
and the idea she had got to dis.
obey her mistress by her masters
positive command.
Och, what will I do? she said
to herself. However, she wisely
determined not to think of it at
all till the time came.
There, thought he, with a smile
of satisfaction, I think that will
set matters right. Madam will
find that I am not so easily
thwarted. No, Marmaduke Mel.
len is not one to be frightened by
a woman's vapouring, or inclined
to submit tamely to petticoat
government. l would give some
thing, he thought, chuckling in
wardly, to see how she will take
it when Bridget refuses to obey
her, by my direction. She will
begin to find out whom she has
to deal with, then! She doesn't
know me yet!
The next day, Mrs. Mellen, at
the usual time, directed Bridget
to serve up dinner.
I can't, ma am, said the per-
picked handmaiden.
Can't? repeated her mistress,
in some surprise. What do you
mean, Bridget?
It's my directions of master,
she replied.
Then he has forbidden you to
follow my directions?
Yes, ma'am, He told me he
should not be home until four,
and he would send me away if l
took up dinner before that time.
Indeed! said she, coolly; he is
interfering beyond his province.
However, you are to obey me, not
him. You must take up the din
ner now.
He will send me away if I do,
said Bridget.
And I will send you away if you
don't, said her mistress. Better
obey me. If he sends you away |
you shall be back in week; but |
if 1 turn you away, it will be for
good.
1t did not take long for Bridget |
to see on which side her bread
was buttered, and, at the usual
hour, dinner was served.
At four, when the master re-
turned, nothing was to be seen
of dinner. Looking triumphant
ly at his wife: You may order up
dinner, Mrs. Mellen.
Dinner! exclaimed his wife. Is
it possible that you haven't eaten
dinner?
Have you eaten dinner? in
4uired Mr.. Mellen.
Certainly, said his wife, coolly.
continuing the work upon which
she was engaged. The table was
cleared two hours since.
And may I inquire if Bridget
served up the dinner? asked he.
To be sure, she did. You don't
suppose did it?