National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-08-23
JOHN RASDALi'S WIFE.
: VIII you let me have it, John p

"Nil you let me have it, John p
No, Geoggy, can't
John Randall uttered his refusal o. his
w,ic's reque. very decidedly, a. il he lclt
toe request was nIrasouRblc; and yet
there was an undcrcurrcnt OF gricved i'm
patience ii his voice, and look OF pei.
pleyity and sclf dissatisfaction in his eyes
lie wanted 70 see his wife rise from the
breakfast table, and thereby signify hct
acquiescel &c in his decision, before he went
N lvF his morning walk to the mill.
GeoIey, however, did not iisc Her
lOos> di not express acQuiescence. She
was pretty Woman-very pretty "a J.,
slight very fair, with large, clear, steady
eyes and protuse brown hsir. Besides her
beauty, she had mn air Of delicate, graceful
eomp,,urc rather peculiar, AID voice that
suggested alto tute notes. + all this she
WIS simply the wife OF master machinlst
W The great Halliburton Print Works ct
,illvllle, and mistress of one OF the
mall. white factory ten, ments. hose long,
orderly rows constituted Mlllville proper.
But George die not belong TO the fac
terry element, although size had married
nto it. She had been brought up by
relative, upon whom she had been left de-
pendent, and whom she called Aunt Ap-
pleton.
Aunt Appleton lived at the other end OF
Appleton-the west end-among the Hall
burtons, the Dilloways. and the Verses.
Perhaps under the circumstances.
Georgy might have looked little hlgher
than John Randall. But then John was
a. good as sold--strong, steady, manly,
true.
Aunt Appleton had the sense te rejoice
at the reception OF her pretty protege, asd
the genel 0Stv to give her liberal outfit
her furniture, complete wardrobe,
nice wedding.
II had been very agreeable to Georgy to
hgre theee things. She was tastldio0s TO
the core. She enjoyed advantages Of posi-
iion--her good clothes, Der prestige among
the other wives of the other officials in the
print works. She was fasti1ious perhaps
little to fastidious for her place.
John Randall had reached his last but.
ton--a somewhat shiny button on some
what shiny coat He had neither time nor
pretext tor neerng. At tins last mo-
nent bis vile raised her eyes, clearly, en-
Hlnchingly, to his face.
"Why net ~ she asked, in her eNn
sweet voice.
IL is never pleasan. Tor man TO be call
d to an account-about money(and ol
course it was money, and money Only
Georpy wanted) by woman, and tint
woman his wife. Johns face flushed
little; hot ietort pricked the very tip Of
bis tongue, but he did not utter 1t. lie
was very patient man, naturally; and
then be had ttat deep, pure love Tor Bis
pretty wife which oveneaCbes all slleit
shocks:
IL have exceeded my salary every
month stree We were married, Geotcv,"
he said. Tie first Of January viii 6e
here in few weeks, and | shall not be
able to meet all my bills that ere dre.
dent iccl that We ought to trHe away a
penny OF money. don't believe you do,
either
&" ] hall say no more about IT," she re-
turned. :" ought 10 wear a new pair OF
gloves 10 call on Paul's bride, but if you
ant give them 20 me must do without
them"
John Randall's brain was fine enough to
und"rs tapd that this was not the acquies-
cence he wanted. He would like TO IT,
aulge her, but there was the fact that, j
ae begun it, he should be always behindf
hind. always poor.
This was his Tact. Georpy had hers, also
that she was always TO be denied and
disappointed. She didn't mind SO much
wearing tie old gloves on this occasion
mat winch troubled bcr, which was wedg
.ng itself painfully into her convictions, was
,uat she W uld have to give up all the little
,uXhiles and elesanc,es that she SO craved;
,aat her fu'ule was to be plain matter
~ ''act routine, deprived Of those gratif-
oa'nns in whose absence she felt sort OF
moral starvation.
!, 1t don't seem as il yeu ought to be
eesappointed, Georgy," said the husband,
nnaiiy. You know Just what nv salary
:, ana Just how Tar il will go. We used IL
.sik abont saving something every year, SO
snSt sn L might better myself one OF these
4as ! don't like to deny ysu."
Never mind," she said, rising
=. one was one Of those women who say tao
"'ue rsther than to much.
y"hn went oil to bis work. Bridget, the
c-oi'all work, came In to clear the table.
eS'i0 dpstsd the parler, aad made ths