The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-07-07
God Bless You.
MISCELLANY.
From Peterson's Magazine.
WIDOWED, AND POOR.

From Peterson's Magazine.
WIODWED, AND POOR.
BY r. s. ARTHUR.
'1If you must have it, Jane"
There's no must in the case, Harry. Why
will you talk so to me, as il / were unreasona-
BILE and extravaganza
Mrs. Drayton looked hurt, and offended.
Il didn't say you were unreasonable and ex-
travagant, Jane"
"You might as well have said it." was retort-
ed, in a tone Of voice far from amiable.
II think not" Mr. Dayton spoke in a de-
pressed way, and rather to himself than to his
wife.
aWhy, then, did you say II must have it ?"
asked Mrs Drayton, In an imperative manner.
Now of all things in the world. Mr.. Drayton
most dreaded what are known as family jars;
and he was always ready to make concessions
for peace. He could meet outside trouble. and
stand up, bravely, even with odds against him,
in the lfe-battle; but, at home, he wanted rest
and peace. And to secure these, he too often
yielded things that should have been held firm
ly. Thence, it came to be understood, with
Mrs. Drayton and her elder daughters, that
whatever they desired would be yielded, if
the right kind of pressure were brought to
bear on husband and father The case now
at partial issue involved a new parlor carpet;
the English Brussels, which had been on the
floor for nearly five years, not being considered
by many degrees elegant enough for exhibition
on the occasion OF a fashionable party to be
given in two weeks.
Mr.. Drayton did not respond to his wifes
sharp interrogation. He never entered into
word-encounters on the field Of home.
ut is as much for your credit as mine,n add
ed the lady. seeing that her husband did not
answer brussels went out of date years ago;
and, besides, ours is faded and shabby. Mrs.
Langdon, whose carpet looked new alongside
of ours, has put down tapestry velvet: and SO
have Mrs. George and Mrs. Toner. Nobody
that pretends to any sort ofstyle has Brussels
now.n
"What will you have to pay for new car
pets?' asked Mr.. Drayton, consent in his
voice.
1.-TWO dollars yard"
"How many yards will be required?"
about fifty"
.One hundred dollars" said Mr.. Drayton.
"That's all. Only a hundred dollars"
every well. You'd better see about it at
once. Go to Orne's.n
"And there's another thing we should have,r
said Mrs. Drayton.
"What?p
A kind of patient acquiescence was in the
speakers voice, as of one who suffered, yet
yelled the signs.
Curtains
Mr.. Drayton evinccd no surprise.
"Tve always set my heart on curtains, as
you know. 1t is one of my weaknesses"
Mr.. Drayton sighed faintly-so family that
it was not perceived
Il guess the carpet will do now, !" he made
answer, forcing lightness of manner which he
did not feel. And, taking up his hat, he hur-
ried off to his store.
A. -. -
est daughter, in gleeful tone, as her father
shut the street door.
"Of course we will" replied the vain, extra
VACANT mother. silk damask, and lace"
Efiie struck her hands together, exclaiming
splendid O, ] do SO admire curtains! They
give TO a room such an elegant appearance
We must get them before the party"
yes. mean that
"And, ma" said Effie, her manner changing,
S"don't you think we ought to have a new sofa,
and set of chairs? Hair cloth has such
poor look"
Mrs. Drayton shook her head. "Your father
will say No to that"
"Just look at them, map And Effie caught
hold of chair and turned it to the light. "All
the freshness has gone. They are dull and
mean. After the new carpet is down, and the
curtains at the windows, we'll be ashamed of
the sofa and chairs. For my part, I'd rather
not have elegant curtains, unless other things
are in accord. This 'would-if-you-could' way
of doing things despise."
Just my feeling answered the weak, fool
ish mother. "But, Ellie, you know how hard it
is to do anything with your father. We must
manage the best we can, and get things by de-
grees. The curtains and carpet will do for
this time There will be crowd in the ROOM
and no one will observe the furniture"
But Ellie was not satisfied. She argued for
the new chairs and sofa, and argued SO con-
clusiyely, that her mother came over to her
side. Soon after breakfast they started out to
select the carpet. Between one at two dollars
: yard, and one at three dollars, the contrast of
quality and appearance was so great that the
costliest was chosen.
From 0rne's they went to Carryl's, and, af-
ter an hours examination of curtains, selected
set for three windows at one hundred dollars
set, to be put up on the morning of the day
on which the party was to be given.
"Shall we call at Whites p said Efie, as
mother and daughter emerged upon the street.
"We can't go any farther in this direction
was the answer, in tone from which all life
had departed.
"Why not?"
lips tightly.
why not?" repeated Ellie.
Because we have gone far enough. Your
father didn't say we night get the curtains and
] don't know what he'll think of it. I'm al
most sorry, now, that | ordered them. He'll
be angry when the bill comes in.'
ut will soon be over,n returned Effie, light
ly. Fathers anger isn't very terrible at any
time. I'm not afraid of it,
"The curtains and the carpet must suffice.
said Mrs. Drayton, firmly.
anyhow" persevered EISe, "we can drop
In at Whites, as VIC go up sheet, and look at
his furniture. We needn't buy, you knew
So they dropped in; and it turned out as Eff
file had anticipated. A set of half dozen bro
catelle chairs at ten dollars each, sofa to
match at seventy-tve, three reception chairs
at five dollars each, and small sofa at forty
dollars, were ordered to be sent on the day the
curtains were to 60 up.
Mrs. Drayton returned home i'm n soberer
mood than when she went out. Her husband
had not consented, with anything like pleasure
to the expenditure of hundred dollars for
carpets; and now, as she mentally added up
the price of carpet, curtains, and furniture, the
startling aggregate of six hundred and forty
dollars looked her rebukingly in the face Mrs
Drayton was unusually quiet for all the rest of
that day, for she could not help looking for
ward, with vague feeling OF anxiety, to the
time when her husband would know what had
been done. Purposey she had directed that
the curtains be put up and the furniture sent
home on the day of the party: and her hope
was, that in the exhilaration and social delight
of the occasion, her husbands dspleasure, if
any were felt, would be absorbed.
IL a.