The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-10-30
MiseelIanp.
TIE BEST WIFE IN THE WORLD.


T"Of courss-I dare say responded Mr. Port
Cross, "but what's your exact adea OF stAe best
wife in the world? Jones says he has 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 Gays he's got tbs same
Identical article, bat Jenkins wife hssps all the
money, draws his salary for him, and makes him
live in the back Kitchen because the parlcr is too
good for the family to live in every day"
ooh but Daisy isn't q bit ogreiah-a little,
submissive, soft-volced thing that has not an
idea except what is reflected from me. I tell
you what, old fellow, I'm the master Of my own
house; I come when please, and 60 when
please. Daisy never ventures word of re-
preach"
Then, you ought to DO ashamed Of yourself,
larking around at the clubs as YOU ~ disipated
old bachelor fashion" EFT ~ estEa
"Ashamed What Of ?" .aA&'a " d =
Why, suppose you owe some duties to your
wife
81 where's the harnp My wife doesn't care"
Probably you think 30, because she is quiet
and submissive (; but if she were to object" '4i
"Objoct2 I'd like to hear her try to object"
"Now, look here. Ainscourt, your wife may
be a model wife, but you certainly are not mod
ell husband. People are beginning to talk about
the way You neglect that pretty little blue.eyed
girl" -
''Ill thank people to mind their own business.
Neglect her, indeed! Why, man. I love her as
love.Iny own sonl" UNA WUS
''Then, why don't you treat her as if you
did,"
"Oh; come, Portcross, that question just shows
what regular old bachelor you are Il won:
do to make too much OF your wife, unless you
want to spoil her"
THAT sounds selfish. don't like the ring of
that metal" .r
And he went away leaving Ainscourt to finish
his game of billiards at leisure. sd gq, -q,i. .
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 curley
fa1en hair looking more like grown mp child
than a wife of twenty-one summers.
"Oh !" sighed Daisy, at is 30 dull here, I
wish Herbert would come home. He never
spends any time with me nowadays, and prac.
tice all his favorite songs and read the newspa-
per, 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 sparklss stole into her eyes
for the quick ear had detected her husbands foot
steps on the stairs. The next moment he came
in.
swell, pet, how are you ?" with a playful
pinch on her cheek. "There are some 6O,,-bons
for you. Where are my light gloves3"
"Oh, Herbert you arc going away again"
ing TO drive to High Bridge, and I'm one of the
party. You can go over to my mothers for din
ner, or send for one Of your friends. or some
thing. There, goodbye. puss, I'm in deuce of
hurry" r /
And with one careless kiss pressed on the quiv-
ering damask rose of mouth, that was lifted up
to him, he Was gone. +
And Daisy Ainscourt neither went to her
mother-in-law, nor sent for one of her girl
friends.
She spent tho evening alone, bordering on the
shadow which was fast overgrowing her life.
What shall do ~ thought the little timid,
shrinking wife. "Oh. what shall do ?"
But child as she was, Daisy had strong reso-
lutte woman's heart within her, nor was she long
in coming to a decision. Ut|t
DAISY said her husband to her the next
dsy, ''you haven't any objections to my attending
the Orion Bal Masque?" 7
care maqsued balls nice places. Herbert ?"
"Oh, yes, everybody goes Only thought I'd
pay Won the compliment of asking if you disap.
proved"
"Can 60 with you?"
Notwithstanding very we'll this time, Daisy.
You see, Mrs.. Fenchurch really limited so strong
for me TO take her, that ] couldn't help it,
Very WE'LL" assented Daisy, msekly, and
Herbert repeated within himself the pean of
praises ne had chanted in Mr. Portcross ears:
"The best little wife in the world"
But, Notwithstanding all this, Mr.. Ainscourt
was not exactly pleased when, at the same bal
masgue, during the gay period of unmasking,
he saw his wife's innocent face browning the pic
turealue costume of a Bayarian peasant girl.
"Helloa y he calculated, rather ungraciously,
"you here p
Eyes, lisped Daisy, with girlish smile, "You
said everybody went. And oh, Herbert, isn't it
nice 2"
Mr.. Ainscoart said nothing more but Mrs Fem
church found him very stupid companion for
the remainder of the evening.
He was late at dinner tho next day; but late
as he was he found himself more punctual than
his wife, and the solitary meal was half over be.
fore Mrs. Daisy trippsd in, her cashmere shawl
trailing over hor shoulders, and her dimpled
cheeks all pink with the fresh wind.
"Am behind time? Really, am 80 sorry !
Bnt we have been driving in the park, and"
1--WE! Who are we ?" growled her husband.
Why, Colonel Adair and the Colonel Adair
that you 90 out with so much"
"Now look here, Daisy ~ calculated Mr.. Aims.
court, rising from the table and pushing back his
chair, "Adair isn't exactly the man want you
to drive wth!' R# - (
"But you 20 everywhere with him"
81 dare say-but you and are two different
persons" i-"~
Snow, dear Herbert" interposed Daisy, will.
fully misunderstanding him, 'you know that /
was never a bit proud, and tho associates that
are good enough for my husband arc good enough
Tor me. Let me give YOU few more oysters"
Ainsccurt looked sharply at his wife. Was
She really in earnest. or waa{ hara nv ,,udo,or,