Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-01-22
John Randall's Trouble.
A DOMESTIC SKETCH.
" viii you let me have it, John


Will you let me have it, John ?
No, Georgy | can't"
John Randall uttered his refusal Of his
wiie's request very decidedly, as if he felt
the request was very unreasonable and
yet there was an undercurrent Of grieyed
impatience in his voice, and look Of per-
plezity and Standardization in his eyes.
lie waited to see his wife rise from the
aud thereby signify her ae-
qucscence IN his decision, before be went
of for his mornings walk to the mill.
Georgy, however, did not rise. Her
looks did not express acquiescencc. She
was a pretty woman-very pretty; tall,
slight very fair, with large, clear, steady
eyes and profuse brown hair. Besides her
beauty, she had an air Of delicate, graceful
composure rather peculiar, and voice that
suggested alto flute notes. For all this,
she was simply the wife of master ma
chinist in the great Halliburton Print Works
Of Millyille, and mistress in one Of the
small, white factory tenements, whose long.
orderly rows constituted Millyille proper
But Georgy did not belong to the factory
element although she had married into it.
She had been brought up by a relative
upon whom she had been left dependent,
and whom she called Aunt Appleton.
Aunt Appleton lived at the other end Of
Apploton-the west end--amopg the Hall
burtons, the DlloWays, and the Verses.
Perhaps, under the circumstances, Geor-
gy might have looked a little higher than
John Randall. But then John was as good
as gold, strong, steady, manly, true.
Aunt Appleton had the sense TO rejoice
at the perception Of her pretty protege,
and the generosity to give her a liberal
outdt-her furniture, complete wardrobe,
nice wedding.
1t had been very agreeable TO Georpy to
have these things. She was fastidious 10
the core. She eDioyed advantages of posi.
tion-her good clothes her prestipe among
the other wives of the other officials in the
print works. She was astidious--perbap,
little too fastidiops for her place.
John Randall had reached his last but.
ton-a somewhat shiny button on a some.
what shabby coat. He had neither time
nor pretext for lingering At this last
moment bis wife raised her ewes. clearly
unhinchinclv. to his face.
"Why not ?" she asked. in her own
sweet voice.
1t is never pleasant for a man to be call.
ed to an account-to an account about
money land Of course it was money Georcy
wanted) by woman. and that woman his
wife. Johns face flushed little a hot
retort pricked the very tin of his tongue.
but he did not utter il. lie was Il patiept
man, naturally; and then he had that deep,
pure love for his pretty wife which over.
reached all slight shocks.
." | have exceeded nv salary every month
since we were married. Georay.n he said
The first Of January will be here in a
few weeks and | shall not be able TO meet
all the bills that are due. | don't feel that
we ought to triae away penny of money.
| don't believe you do, either"
81 shall say no more about it," she re.
turned. al ought to wear a new pair OF
gloves to call upon Paul's bride. but if YOU
can't give them to me must do without
them"
John Randalrs brain was fine enough to
understand that this was not the acauies.
cence he wanted. He would like TO indulge
her, but there was the fact that if he be.
gun it, he should be always behindhand, al,
ways poor.
This was his fact. Georpy had hers also
that she was always to be denied and
disappointed. She didn't mind so much
wearing the old gloves on this particular
occasion; that which troubled her. which
was wedging itself painfully into her con,
yictions, was that she would have TO civ,
up all the little luxuries and elepancies thai
she so crayed that her future was 10 be ,
plain matter.of.fact routine, deprived Of
those qualifications in whose absence sh,
felt a sort of moral starvation.
at don't seem as if YOU ought to b,
disappointed. Georgy.n said the husband
finally. You know lust what INV salar,
is. and lust how far it will 90. I'VE usec
to talk about saving something every year
so that | might better myself one Of tbes,
days. / don't like to denv you.p
"Never mind" she said, rising.
She was one of those women who So,
too little rather than too much.
John went off to his work. Bridget
the girl.of.all-work came in to clear ia,
table Georey busted the parlor, and mad,
the pudding, fed the canary. and ther
placed the sewing.machine in the window
facing the dull. leaden ligbt of the Noyem
ber day. and sat down 10 stitch vri.tband,
She had been married more than year
and was making her first shirt for John
She was yerv tboupbtful n dopoed main OF
her face all the while.
"Perhaps | shall stay to Aunt Annie
toms to tea she said to her husband a
the dinner.table. "If do you will com,
for me, won't you?p
He reflected moment