Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-10
JOHN RANDML'S TROUBLE.
An ENGLISH STORY.
.. viii you let IRE have it, john"

"No, GeOrgy, / can't"
John Randall uttered his refusal of his wife
request very decidedly, as il he felt the request
was unreasonable; and vet there was an under
current of grieyed Impotence in his voice and
look OF perpleStty and Standardization in
his eyes. He wanted to see his wife rise from
the breakfast-table, and thereby signify her
acquieseeuce in his decision, before he went OF
for his morning walk to the mill
GeOTgy. however, did not rise. Her looks did
not express scquiesceuce. She was a pretty
woman-yery pretty; tall, slight, very fair,
with large, clear. steady eyes and profuse brown
hair Beside her beauty, she h al an air of deli
cate graceful eomPOsuTe rather peculiar, and a
voice that suggested alto flute notes. For all
this, she was simply the wife of a master ma
chlnist in the great Halliburton Print Works of
Millville, and mistress in one of the small
white factory te1ements, Whose long, orderly
rows constituted Melville proper.
But GeOTgy did not belong to the factory ele-
meDt, although she had married into it. She
had been brought NJ by a relative, upon whom
she had been LETT dependent. and whom she
called Aunt ApI Teton.
Aunt Appleton lived at the other end OF Ap-
pletOn-the west end-amOng the Haliburtons,
the DillOways, and the ' erseS.
Perhaps, under the circumstances, Georgy
might have looked 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 gen.
erosity to give her liberal Outtit-her furni-
ture, a complete wardrobe. a nice wedding.
1t had been very agreeable to Georgy to have
these things. she was fastidiOus to the core
She enjoyed advantages of pOsition-her good
clothes, her prestige among the wives of the
other ofieials in the PRINT works. She was tas-
tidous-peThapsa little too tasudious for her
place.
John Randall had reached his last button-a
somewhat shiny button on a somewhat shabby
coat. He had neither time nor pretext for lin
gering. At this moment his wife raised her
eyes, clearly, unfiinchingly, TO his face
Why not?" she asked, in her own sweet
voice.
III l. never pleasant for man to be called to
an account-tO an account about money land
of course it was money Gecrgy wantedl by a
face flushed a little; hot retOrt prieked the
very tip of his tongue, but he did not utter it.
be was patient man, naturally and then he
had that deep, pure love for his wife which over
reached all slight shocks.
have exeeeGed my salary every month
since We we're married, GeOrgy,H he said. "The
hrst Of January will be here in a few weeks,
and shall not be able TO meet all the bills that
are due. don feel that we ought to tribe
away penny Of money. 1 don't believe You
do, either"
- L shall say no more about IL, she returned.
81 ought to wear a new par OF gloves to call on
Pauls bride, but IL you can't give them to me
1 must do wlthOu- them"
John kandall's brain was fine enough TO I'M
derstand that this was not the acquiescence he
wanted. He would like 70 indulge her, but
there was the fac. that, if he began it, he should
This was his fact. Georey had hers also
that she was always TO be denied and disap-
pointed. She didn't mind 80 much wearing the
old gloves on this particular occasion; that
which was Wedgng itself painfully into Der COLI
victiOns, was that she would have to give up all
the little Injuries and eleglncies that she so
craved, that her future Was 10 be plain mat
ter-of- fact routine, deprived of those gratihcd-
tons in whose absence she felt a sort OF moral
starvation.
pointed, Georgy,' said the husband, finally.
81 You know just what my salary Is, and just
how far il will 60. We used to talk about saw
ing something every year, 30 that M chs better
myself one of these days, don't like 10 deny
"Never mind, = she said, rising. -
She vas one Of those women VINO say 100 little
rather than too much.
John went of 10 his work. Bridget, the girl
Of All-wOrk, came in TO clear the table. GeOrgy
busted the paIlOf, and made the pudding, led
the canary, and then placed the sewing ma
chine in the window, facing the dull leaden
Light OF November day, and sat down TO stitch
wristbands. She had been married more than
year, and was making her first shirt for John
She Wa very thoughtful, dogged pain on her
face all the while.
tea" she said to her husband ati the dinner
table. III do you will come for me, won't
yOu?'
He reelected a moment.
Z" told you last night, Georgy, that should
have TO be from home an hour or two this even
ing. There is meeting of the officials OF tht
mill at half past seven should be too tired
TO dress and 60 up to your aunts Afterwards
quietly that he thought she old not care.
When he was gone she went TO her bedroom
To arrange her toilet for the call. She put GU
the best she had, OF course. Sac had genius
for dress; and Gespite the mended gloves, sh
looked a. stylish ss she did pretty.
Just as she approached her aunt's gate, oil
Mrs Halliburton, in her yelvets and steelest o
steeI-colored silks, WAS being handed fror
her carriage by her son. The Haibur
tons were the owners of the mill In which job
Randall was employed. stephen, the onl
SON had Just returned from hve years res
dence abroad. These two facts caused Georg
TO scrutinze the mother and son somewhs
closely; and, doing 50, Stephen Hsiourto
raised his hat 70 her.
"a pretty face - he remarked, carelessly,
his mother. suppose Il is some one 1 haS
known or should know"
Old Mrs. Halliburton with her keen eyes an
beak nose glanced sharply back tOwsrt
Georgy whom she had not perceived, and nos
ded lightly.
It's that yopng person whom James Appl,
ton brought up She Is married now to one
our men believe"
GSorgy found Paul Appleton and his brad
holding q sort Of formal reception The rooms
where her own Wedding had been solemnized
year before-were quite filed with guests.
very dainty and graceful BRIDE was the ne
Ms. Paul IN her Lavender, train and point-la'