Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-08-26
The Storg Teller.
THE BEST WIFE IN THE WORLD

vi course--l uare say, responded MT.
Portcross. "But what's your exact idea of
the best wife in the world2 Jones says he s
got the best wife in the world, because she
keeps his stockings darned, takes him to
church three times of Sunday, and never
lets him have an idea of his own. Jenkins
says he's got the same identical article, but
Jenkins wife keeps all the money, draws
his salary for him, and makes him live in
the back kitchen because the parlor is to
good for the family to usc."
"Oh! but Daisy isn't a big ogrcish- a
little, submissive, soft-voiced thing, that
hasn't an idea except what is reflected from
me. tell you what, old fellow, I'm the
master of my own house; come when l
please, and go when please. Daisy never
ventures on word of reproach.
"Then you ought to be ashamed of your
self, larking around at the clubs as you do,
dissipated bachelor fashion,"
ASHAMED! what OFF,
why, l suppose you owe some duties to
you. wife!"
"Wheres the harm ? My wife doesn't
care"
Probably you think so, because she is
quiet and submissive but if she were to OBJ
jet"
"Objcct? Id like to hear her try IT,"
Now, look here, Anscourt, your wife
may be model wife, but you certainly are
not model husband. People are beginning
to talk about the way you neglect that pref
ty little blue-eyed girl
"Tll thank people to mind their own busi-
hess. Neglect her, indeed! Why, man, 1
love her ms loye my own soul.'
"Then, why don't you treat her as if you
did2"
"Oh, come, Portcross, that question Just
shows what regular old bachelor you are.
1t won't do to make so much of your wife,
unless you want to spoil her"
"Thas sound selfish. l don't like the ring
of that metal
And he went away, leaving Ainscourt to
finish his game of billiards at leisure.
"What Il regular old fuss-budget Portcross
is, laughed the latter. Always poking his
| hooO INV oothHbouJ CIoC UuoiutsS.
one cOmfort-I never pay any attention to
what he says"
Meanwhile Mrs. Ainscourt was sitting
alone in her drawing room, her two little
white hands tightly locked in one another,
and her fair head slightly drooping-a deli
cate little apple blossom of a woman, with
blue, wistful eyes and curly tlaxen hair,
looking more like grown-up child than a
wife OF twenty one summers.
"Oh !" sighed Daisy, sit is so dull here
| wish Herbert would come home. He
never spends any Time with me now days,
and practice all his favorile songs, and
read the newspaper, SO l can talk about the
things he's interested in, and try so hard t.
be entertaining. It's very strange"
And then her oval face frightened into
sudden brilliance, and the sparkcs stole into
her eyes for the quick ear had detected her
husbands footsteps on the stairs. The next
moment be came in.
Well, pet, how are you?" with playful
pinch on her cheek. 'Thcre are some bon
6ons for you Where are my light gloves2"
"Oh, Herbert you are not going away
again?
6 l must, Daisy. There are some fellows
going to drive to High Bridge, and I'm one
Of the party. You can go over to my moth
er's for dinner, or send for one of your
friends, or something. There, goodbye,
puss, I'm in deuce of hurry"
And with one careless kiss pressed on the
quivering damask rose of mouth that was
lifted up to him, he was gone.
Daisy Ainscourt neither went to her
mother-in-law, nor sent for one of her girl
friends. She spent the evening alone, pom
dering on the shadow which was fast over
growing her life.
"What shall l dor" thought the little,
timid, shrinking wife. "Oh, what shall
/ do?"
But child as she was, Daisy had strong,
resolute womans heart within her, nor was
she long in coming to decision.
" Daisy" said her husband to her the next
day, "you haven't any objections to my at
tending the Orion Ball Masque?"
"Are masked balls nice places Herbert p
go yes, everybody goes only thought
Id pay you the compliment of asking
whether you dsapproved or not"
Scan go with your
Well-ahem-no very well, this time
Daisy. You see Mrs. Frenchurch really
limited so strongly for me to take her, that
couldn't help it,"
"Very well, assented Daisy, meekly, and
Herbert repeated within himself the ppan
of praises he had chanted in Mr.. Portcross,
ears: "The best little wife in the world!'
But, Notwithstanding all this, Mr.. Aims
court was not exactly pleased, when, at the
selfsame Bal Masque, during the gay period
of unmasking he saw his wife's innocent
face crowning the picturesque costume of a
Bavarian peasant girl.
"HellO!" he calculated rather ungra-
ciously, "you here!"
eyes, lisped Daisy, with girlish smile.
"You said everybody went And, oh,
Herbert, isn't 1t nice2"
Mr.. Ainscourt said nothing more, but
Mrs. Frenchurch found him very stupid
companion for the remainder of the evening.
He was late at dinner the next day; but,
late as he was, he found himself more pune
tual than his wife, and the solitary meal
was half over before Mrs. Daisy tripped in,
her cashmere shawl trailing over her shoul-
ders, and her dimpled cheeks all pink with
the fresh wind.
"Am l behind time? Really, am so
sorry! But we have been driving in the
park, and"
"We! Who are ,0e ?" growled her hus-
band.
"Why, Colonel Adair and 1.-The Colonel
Adair that you go with SO much"
"Now, look here, Daisy" calculated Mr..
Ainscourt, rising from the table and push
ing back his chair, "Adair isn't exactly the
man l want you to drive With"
"But you go everywhere with him!"
81 dare say-but you and l are two diff