Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1874-11-12
THE wIFE's ALLOWANCE.

There were people enough to envy
Millicent Haughton when she was mar
ried to Ratcliffe Gates. She was only
q district school teacher, ut SO much .
month, without home or parents. He
was . wealthy banker, whs seemed to
have nothing on earth to do but TO in
dulge his whims and caprices to their
utmost bent, and the world in general
it dic3ion that Nillv Haugh@
tom 'thad done uncommoaly ~ fer
herself.
But Milly did not look happy on that
golden July morning, with the sun
shine streaming through the Oriel win
dow Of the great breakfast room at
Gates Place, and scattering little drops
of gold and crimson, and glowing pur-
pie on the massy ground of the stanes
colored carpet.
She was dressed in loose white cam
brio wrapper, looped and buttoned with
blue, and a single pearl arrow upheld
the shining masses of her lovely au-
burn lair. Her eyes were deep, IL
quid, hazel; her complexion as soft and
radiant as the dimpled side of an early
peach; and the little kid-sGppered foot
that patted the velvet ottoman beneath
was as perfect and tapering as sculp-
tor could have wished it.
Mr.. Gates, from his side Of the da-
mask-draped table, eyed her with the
complacent gaze of proprietorship. She
was his wife. He liked her to look
well Just as he wanted his horses pro-
perly groomed and his conservatories
kept in order; and he troubled himself
very little about the shadow on her
brow.
I'm in earnest, Ratcliffe ~ she said,
with emphasis.
$50 supposed, Mrs. Gates" said
the husband, leisurely folding his pa
per-a sign that the news within was
thoroughly exhausted-"so I supposed.
But it isn't at ali worth while to allow
yourself to get excited. When I say q
thing Mrs. Gates. l generally mean it.
And repeat-if you need money for
any sensible and necessary purpose, I
shall be most willing and happy to ac-
commodate you"
Millicent bit her full red lowe. II II
and drummed inpatient
with her ten ress'
And s.n ." come weekly impioring
vor g very fve-cent piece I happen
to want y
Yes. Mrs. Gates you prefer to
put the matter in that light
Radcliffe she coaxed, suddenly
changing her tone, do give me an al
lowance, don't care how little! Don't
subject me to the humiliation Of plead.
ing for little money half dozen times
u day. You are rich
Exactly, nv dear, nodded this Ben
edict; and that's the way I made nv
fortune by looking personally after ev-
cry penny; and l mean to keep it up
But think how l was mortified yes-
terday, when Mrs. Armour came to ask
me if could subscribe fifty cents to-
ward buying a hand-carriage for our
washerwoman's lame child-only fifty
cents-and had to say, I must ask
my husband to give me the money when
he returns from the city for I had
not even fifty cents of my own
All very risht-all very proper = said
Mr.. Gates, playing with the huge rope
Of gold that hung across his chest in
the guise of o watch chain.
Other ladies are not kept penniless =
That rests entirely between them
and their husbands, Mrs. Gates
i will not endure it = cried Miily,
starting to her feet. with cheeks dved
scarlet and indignantly glittering eyes.
Mr.. Gates leaned hack in his chair
with provoking complacently.
i will have money said Milly.
How are YOU going to get it, my
dear 2 retorted her spouse. with m ag-
gravating smile playing around the cor
ners of his mouth. You have moth.
ing of your own-absolutely nothing.
The money is mine and / mean to keep
itr
Milly sat down again, twisting her
pocket handkerchief around and around.
She was not prepared with an immedi.
ate answer.
And now, Mrs. Gates. said the bank
er after moment or two of overwheln-
ing silence, if you'll be good enough to
stitch that button on my glove, I'll SO
down town. have already wasted too
much time
So the verbal passage-at-arms ended.
and Milly felt that, 90 far, she was
She watched Mr.. Gates drive OF in
an slegans open harouche, drawn by
49, lou., &,.l.l .l~~s.,s k~-~ III