Weekly Trinity journal., 1870-02-26
The Best wife In the World.


The best little wife in the world p said Her.
bert Ainscourt.
"Of course-I dare say" responded Mr.. Port
cross. " But what is your exact idea of the
best wife in the world2 Jones says he's got the
best wife in the world, because she keeps bis
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 too good for the family use"
"Oh but Daisy isn't a bit ogreish--a little,
submissive, soft-voiced thing that hasn't an idea
except what is reflected from me- | tell you
what, old fellow, Im the master of my own
house. | come when | please and go when /
please. Daisy never ventures on word of re-
proach. 4"
"Then you ought to be ashamed of yourself,
lurking around all the clubs as you do, dissi-
pated bachelor fashion"
Ashamed what of2''
"Why, | suppose you owe some duties to
your wifeP'
"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 model wife, but you certainly are not
model husband. People are beginning to talk
about the way you neglect that pretty little blue
eyed girl.'
"l'll thank people to mind their own bust
nese. Neglect her, indeed Why, man love
her as love my own soul"
"Then, why don't you treat her as If you
didg
"Oh, come, Portcross, that question just
shows what regular old bachelor 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. | don't like the ring
of that metal"
And he went away, leaving Mr.. Ainscourt to
finish his game OF billiards at leisure.
What regular old fuss budget Porcross
is, ;" laughed the latter. Always poking his
nose into somebody else's business. There's
one comfort-l never pay any attention to what
he says"
Meanwhile Mrs. Ainscourt was sitting in her
draw ing-room, her two little white bands
tightly locked in another, aud her fair head
slightly drooping-a delicate little apple bios
som with blue, wistful eyes and curly faxen
hair, looking more like grown up child than
wife OF twenty-one summers.
90, dear ~ sighed Daisy. at Is SO dull
here. | wish Herbert would come home. He
never spends any time with me nowadays, and
practice all his favorite songs, and read the
newspapers, so can talk about the things he is
interested in, and try SO hard to be entertaining.
1t is very strange"
And then her oval face frightened into sud-
den brilliance, aud the sparkles shown into her
eyes for the quick ear had detected her hus-
bands footsteps upon the stairs. The next mo-
ment he came in.
{" Well, pet, how are your with playful
pinch OF her cheek "There are some bon-bons
for you. Where are my light gloves p
80, Herbert, you are not going away again p
MI thaea Lat ~ Eel
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 your friends, or some
thing. There, good bye, puss, I'm in a 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 semi for
one of her girl-friends. She spent the evening
all alone, pondering over the shadow which was
fast overgrowing her life.
/" What shall do 2" thought the little shrink
ing wife, {" Oh, what shall do2"
But, child as she was, Daisy had a strong res
olute woman's heart within her, nor was she
long in coming to decision.
Daisy" said her husband TO her next day,
"you haven't any objections to my attending
the Orion bal masque ~
"Are masked balls nice places, Herbert2'
80 yes, everybody goes only thought I'd
pay you the compliment of asking whether you
disapprove or not"
"Can go with your
WelI-ahem-not very well this time, Daisy
You see, Mrs. Fenehurch really hinted so
strongly for me to take her, that couldn't help
it,
"very WE'LL" assented Daisy, meeky, and
Herbert repeated within himself, the paean
of praises In Mr.. Portcross' ears; "The best
little wife in the world"
But, notwithstanding all this, Mr.. Ainscourt
was not exactly pleased, when, at the selfsame
bal masque during the gay period Of unmasking,
he saw his wife's innocent face GROWING the
picturesque costume of peasant girl.