The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-11-09
The Best Wife in the World.
By AMY RANDOLPH.

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Jones says he's got the best wife in the
world, because she keeps his stockings
darned, takes him to church three times
of a Sunday, and never lets him have al
idea of his own. Jenkins says he's got
the same identical article, but Jenkins
wife keeps all the money, draws his sal
ary for him, and makes him live in the
back kitchen because the parlor is too
good for the family to use
oh but Daisy isnta bit ogreish-s
little submissive, soft-voiced thing tnat
hasn't an idea except Whist is reflected
from me- l tell you what, old fellow,
! I'm the master of my OVID house Il come
when l please, and go when please
Daisy never ventures on word of re-
proach." ;"
Then, you ought to be ashamed OF
yourself, larking around at the clubs as
you do, dissipated- bachelor fashion"
ASHAMED! what Of"
"Why, l suppose you owe some du-
ties to your wife,"
"Where's the harm? My wife dosen'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 y
"Now, look here, Ainscourt, your wife
may be a model wife, but you certainly
are not q model husband. People are
beginning to talk about the way you
neglect that pretty little blue-eyed girl, y
I'll thank people to mind their own
business. Neglect her, indeed! Why,
man, / love her as love my own soul. y
"Then, why don't you treat her as if
you did ?"
"Oh, come, Portcross, that question
just shows what a regular old bachelor
you are. 1t won't do to make too much
of your wife, unless you want to spoil
her."
Mr.. Portcross shook his head.
s'That sounds selfish l don't like the
ring of that metal"
And he went away, leaving Mr.. Aims
court to finish his game of Billiards at
leisure.
"What regular old fuss budget Port
cross is" laughed the latter. "Always
poking his nose into somebody else's
business. There's one comfort 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 anoth
er, and her fair head Slightly dropping
"a delicate little apple blossom of a
woman, with blue, wistful eyes and curly
faxen hair, looking more like grown
up child than wife of twenty one sum-
mers.
20 DEAR sighed Daisy "It is so dull
here. l wish Herbert would come home
He never spends any time with me now
a-days, and | practice all his favorte
songs, and read the newspapers, 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 in
to sudden brilliance, and the sparkles
stole into her eyes; for the quick ear had
detected her husbands footstep ps on the
stairs The next moment he came in.
swell, pet, how are you p with play
full pinch of her cheek. There are
some bonbons for you. Where are my
light gloves p ......
80 Herbert! You are not going away
again?' ---....-
Il must, Daisy There are lot Of
fellows going to drive to High Bridge,
and I'm one of the party You can go
over to my mothers for dinner, or send
for one of You friends, or something
There, goodbye, puss, I'm in deuce of
a hurry. -.-.-...--..
And with one carless kiss pressed on
the quivering damask rose Of q 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 l-friends. She spent the evening all
alone, pondering on the shadow which
was fast overgrowing her life.
"What shall do p thought the little
timid, shrinking wife. "Oh, what shall
do?' ....-..
But, child as she was, Daisy had q
strong, resolute woman's heart within
her, nor was she long in coming to de-
cision. .s...e.....
DAISY" said her husband to her the
next day, "you haven't any objections
to my attending the Orion Bal Masque ?"
"Are masked balls nice places, Her
bert p
20 yes, s,everybody goes ;only I thought
I'd pay you the compliment of asking
whether you disapproved or not"
"Can go with you?"
"Well-ahem-notvery vel, this time,
Daisy. You see, Mrs. Fenchchurch re
ally limited so strongly for me to take
her, that 1 couldn't help it."
Every WELL" assen;cd Daisy, meekly,
and Herbert repeated within himself the
pecan of praises he had chanted in Mr..
Portcross' ears: "Thc bes: little wife in
the world"
But, Notwithstanding all this, Mr..
Ainscourt was not exactly pleased, when,
at the self same Bal Masque, during the
gay period of unmasking, he saw his
wife's innocen. face crowning the pic
turesque costume of Bavarian peasant
girl.
"Hallor' he calculated, rather ungra
ciously, "you here!n'
eyes" lisped Daisy, with a giilish
smile "You said everybody went! And
oh. Herbert, isn't it nice ?"
Mr.. Ainscorrt said nothing more, but
Mrs Fenchurch found him a 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 punctual than his wife, and the
S oliary meal was half over before Mrs
Daisy tripped in, her Cashmere shawl
trailing off her shoulders, and her dimp-
led checks all pink with fresh wind.
Am behind time? Really, I am so
sorry! But we have been driving in
The. park, and"
I'VE! Who are we?" growled her
husband
sWhy, Colonel Adair and 1.-The Col
onel Adair that you 60 out with 60
much"
r. So @ ..-- 's' 4...E