The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-09-30
BY AMY RANDOLPH.
1.-THE best little wife in the world!'

WOrld( d ones sayeS ne got the pest
wife In the world, becaus 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 sal
airy for him, and makes him live in
the back kitchen because the parlor
is too good for the family to use"
"Oh! but Daisy isn'ta bit ogTelsh
"a little submissive, soft-volced
thing that hasn't an idea except W hat
is reflected from me. l tell you what,
old fellow, I'm the master of my own
house; I come when please, and go
when please. Daisy never ventures
on a word of reproaeh.
"Then, you ought to be ashamed
Of yourself, larking around at the
clubs as you do, dissipated. bachelor
fashion"
Ashamed what OFF,
why, suppose you owe some
duties to your WifeY"
Where's the harm? My wife
doesn't care"
Probably you think SO because she
is quiet and submissive; but if she
were to Object
Object I'd like to hear her try
it."
Now, look here, Ainscourt, your
wife may be a model wife, but you
certainly are not a model husband.
People are beginning to talk about
the way you neglect that pretty little
blue eyed girl.
iii thank people to mind their
own business. Neglect her, indeed !
Why, man, love her as | love my
own soul"
Then, why don't you treat her as
if you did2"
"Oh, come, Portcross, that question
just shows what regular old bache-
lor you are. 1t won't do to make too
much of your wife, unless you want
to spoil her"
Mr.. Porteross shook his head.
THAT sounds selfish. l don't like
the ring Of that metal.
And he went away, leaving Mr..
Ainscourt to finish his game of bill
lizards at leisure.
What a regular old fuss-budget
Portcross is" laughed the latter.
Always poking his nose into some
body else's business. There's 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 delicate
little apple blossom of woman, with
blue, wistful eyes and curly haxen
hair, looking more like a groWn-up
child than a wife of tWenty-one
summers.
"Oh dear" sighed Daisy. 1t as
so dull here. / wish Herbert would
come home. He never spends any
time with me ow-a-days, and prac-
tice all his favorite songs, aud read
the newspaper, so can talk about
the things he's interested in. and try
so hard to be entertaining. It's very
strange"
And then her oval face frightened
into sudden brilliance, and the spark
les stole into her eyes; for the quick
ear had detected her husbands foot
steps on the stairs. The next mo-
ment he came in.
well, pet, how are youP with a
playful pinch of her cheek. There
are some boR-bons for you. Where are
my light gloVes2"
20 Herbertl you are not going away
again?"
Il must, Daisy. There are lot of
fellows going to drive to High Bridge,
aud I'm one of the party. You can
go over to my mothers for dinner, or
send for one of your friends, or some
thing. There, good-b bye ,spuss. I'm in
a deuce of hurry"
And with one careless kiss pressed
on the quivering damask rose of a
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 even
ing all alone, bordering on the shadow
which was fast overgrowing her life.
What shall 1 do?' thought the
little timid, shrinking wife. "Oh,
what shall do?"
But, child as she was, Daisy had a
strong, resolute woman's heart within
her, nor was she long in coming to a
decision.
Daisy" said her husband to her
the next day, you haven't any OBJ
jections to my attending the Orion Bal
Masque?"
Are masked balls nice places,
Herbert?"
"Oh yes, everybody goes; only
thought I'd pay you the compliment
of asking whether you disapproVed or
not"
Can go with your"
"Well-ahem-nOt very we'll, this
time, Daisy You see, Mrs. Fenehurch
really limited so strongly for me to take
her. that | couldn't help it.
Very well" assented Daisy, meek
~ and Herbert repeated within him
self the paan of praises he had chant
ed In Mr.. Portoross' cars: The best
little wife in the world"
But, Notwithstanding all this, Mr..
Ainseourt was not exactly please ],
when, at the selfsame Bal Masque.
during the gay period of unmasklng,
he saw his wife's innocent face crown
ing the picturesque costume o Ba.
Varian peasant girl.
"Hallo!' he CALCULATED, rather un
graciously, you here"
Yes" hsped Daisy, with a girlist
smile. You said everybody went
And oh, Herbert, isn't it nice?"
Mr.. Ainscourt said nothing more
but Mrs. Fenchureh found him ;
very stupid companion for the re
mainder of the evening.
He was late at dinner the next day
but, late as he was, he found him
self more punctual than his wife, ant
the solitary meal was half over before
Mrs. Daisy tripped in, her cashmere
shawl trailing over her shoulders
and her dimpled cheeks all pink Will
the fresh wind.
Am ! behind time? Really, | am
so sorry But we have been driving
in the park, and"
"Wel Who are .ge2" growled hel