The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-02-09
MISCELLANY.
Widowed and Poor.
BY T. S. ARTHUR.

viii you talk SO to me, us if l were nnreason'
able and extravagant?'
Mrs. Drayton looked hurt and offended.
81 didn't say you were unreasonable aud
extravagant, Jane"
"You might as well have said it, was re-
torted In a voice far from amiable.
81 think not" Mr.. Drayton spoke in de
pressed way and rather TO himself than 70 his
wife.
"Why then did you say If must have it ~
asked Mrs. Drayton in an imperative man.
rer.
Now, of all things in the world, Mr.. Drayton
most dreaded what are known rs family jars
and he was always ready to make concessions
for peace. He could meet outside troubles
and stand up bravely, even with odds against
him, In the life battle, but at home he wanted
rest and peace. And to secure these, he too
often Yielded things that should have been
held firmly. II came to be understood with
Mrs Drayton and her eldest daughters that
whatever they desired should be yielded, il
the right degree Of pressure were brought to
bear upon husband and father. The case now
ct partial issue involved a new parlor carpet
the English Brussels, which had been on the
A)or for five years, not being considered by
m my degrees elegant enough for exhibitions
On the occasion of fashionable party, to be
given in two weeks.
Mr.. Drayton did not respond to his wfe's
sharp Interrogation. He never entered into
word encounters on the field OF home.
at Is as much for your credit as mine"
ided the lady, seeing 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answer; Brussels went out of date years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 by
the side oil ours, has put down tapestry velvet I;
and SO has Mrs. George and Mrs. Toner. No
body that pretends 70 any sort OF style has
Br6ssels now"
"What will you have to pay fornew carpets"
asked Mr.. Drayton, consent in his voice.
1.-TWO dollars yard"
.How many yards will 1t require?"
r "About flfty.n
'sOne hundred dotisr,,p sAid Mr. Drayton
That's all. Only hundred dollars
Every we'll. You had better see about 1t
ct once. Go to 0rne's.'
"And there is another thing we should
have" said Mrs Drayton.
.What?"
A kind of patient acquiescence was in the
speakers voice; and rs one who suffered, yet
yelled the signs.
aCurtains."
Mr.. Drayton eyinced no surprise.
"Pve always set my heart on curtains, as
you know. It's one of my weaknesses"
Mr.. Drayton sighed family, SO family that
1t was not perceived.
kUC5S Tie tdi pct Will w INV, uC uiadC
answer, forcing a ligbtness of manner which
he did not feel. And taking up his hat, he
hurried off TO his store,
swell have the curtains" said Etfie, the
Oldest daughter, In gleeful tone, as her Ia
fher shut the street door.
"Of course we WILL" replied the vain ex-
travagant mother. "Silk, damask and lace"
Effie struck her hands together, exclaiming
splendid. oh, / do so admire curtains :
They give room such an elegant appearance
We mnst get them before the party"
Yes, mean that"
"And ma" said Elite, her manner changing
"don't you think we ought to have new sofa
and set of chairs. Hair cloth has such a
poor look"
Mrs. Drayton shook her head. "Your father
will say No to that"
Just look at them, MAJ! !" and Effe took
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 to accord. This would IL
you-could way of doing things despise."
= Just my feelings answered the weak
foolish mother. "But, Ellie, you know how
hard 1t is to do anything with your father
We must manage the best we can, and gel
things by degrees, the curtains and carpet
will do for this time. There viii be crowd
In the room, and no one will observe the fur.
niture."
But Efie was not satisfied. She argued fol
the new chairs and sofa, and argued SO con-
clusively 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 ono at three dollars, the
contrast of quality and appearance was sc
great that the costler one was chosen.
From Orne's they went to Carryl's and aftel
an hours examination of curtains, selected a
Z set for three windows, at one hundred dollar,
each; a set to be put up on the morning of the
day on which the party was to be given.
"Shall we call at White's?" said Effie a.
mother and daughter emerged on the street.
ave can't go any further in this direction, ,
was the answer, in tone from which all iif,
had departed.
"Why not?''
Mrs. Drayton shook her head and closed hel
lips tightly.
"Why not?" repeated Effle.
"Because we have gone far enough. You
father didn't say we might get the curtains,
and don't know what he'll think of it, Tn
almost sorry ordered them. He'll be angry
when the bill comes in"
ut will soon be over" returned Fife lightly
I'm not afraid of it."
THE cartains and the carpet must SUFFICE
says Mrs. Drayton firmly.
1Anyhow," persevered Efie, "we can drol
In at Whites as we go up street, and look a
furniture. We needn't buy you know"
So they dropped in, and 1t turned out a
Efie anticipated. A set Of half a bozen broca
telle chairs, at ten dollars each, and small
sofa at forty dollars, were ordered to be sen
on the day the curtains were to go up.
Mrs Drayton went home in more sobe
mood than she went out. Her husband ha'
not consented with anything like pleasure h
the expenditure off hundred dollars for car
pets, she mentally added up the prices of car
pets, curtains and furniture, the stated agre
gate ofsix hundred and forty dollars locke
her In the face Mrs. Drayton was unusual,
quiet all the rest of the day for she could nc
help looking forward with a vague feeling {
anxiety TO the time when her husban
should know what had been done. Purpose
ly she had directed that the curtains be pu
up, and the furniture sent home on the day
the party; and her hope was that in the ca
liberation and social delight of the occasion
her husbands displeasure, If any were fell,
would be absorbed.
Bot something more than parlor ornament
was to grace the occasion. These made onl
part Of the expenses. There must be ne
dresses, and some costly If not snowy, orn,
ments, benitting the hostess and her daugl
tiers, who were considerably vexed and ano,
cd at the preversity Of Mr.. Drayton in refu
ing TO order new suit of clothes from h
tailor.
Let us sum up briefly the cost of this part
to the giving of which Mr.. Drayton had o.
posed arguments, not the least earnest
them being, we cannot afford it. Add to til
six hundred and forty dollars already note