The Van Buren press., 1874-12-15
MISCELLANY.
CoNQUERING A HUSBAND.
How One Wife Got an Allowance

There were people enough to envy
Millcent Houghton when she was mar
red to Radclif Gates. She was only a
district school teacher, at so mnch
a month, without home or parents lie
was wealthy banker. who seemed to
have nothing on earth to do but to in
dnlge his whms and caprices to their ut
: most bent, and the world in general an
nouneeG its diction that Milly Houghton
r 4" had done uncommonly well for her
self"
But Milly did not look happy on that
golden July morning, with the sunshine
streaming through the orie window OF
the great breakfast room of Gates pal
nee, and scattering little drops of gold
and crimson and glowing purple on the
mossy ground of the stone.colored car.
pet
She was dressed in loose white cam
brio wrapper, loopcd and buttoned with
blue, and single pearl arrow upheld the
shining mass of her lovely auburn hair
Her eyes were deep, liquid hazel, her
complexion as soft and radiant as the
dimpled side Of an early peach, and the
little kid-slippered foot that patted the
velvet ottoman beneath, was as perfect
and tapering as sculptor could have
wished it.
Mr. Gates from his side of the damask
draped table eyed her with the compla
cent gaze Of ownership. She was his
wife. lie liked her to look well, just as
he wanted his horses properly groomed,
and bis conservatories kept in proper or
der, and he troubled himself very little
about the shadow on her brow.
:" I'm in earnest, Radcliffe" she said,
with emphasis.
$50 l supposed, Mrs. Gates" said
the husband, leisurcly folding his paper,
a sign that the news. within was thor
oughly exhausted" so | supposed Bat
it isn't at all worth while to allow your
self to get excited When say q thing,
Mrs. Gates, ] generally mean it. And. !
repeat-if you need money for any sen
sible or necessary purpose, shall be
happy and wiling to accommodate You "
Aily bit her full, red lower lip, and
drummed impatiently on the table with
her ten restless fingers And ] am to
come, meekly imploring you for every
five cent piece may happen to wantT
Yes. Mrs. Gates, If 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 a little money half dozen times
II day. You arc rich"
Exactly, my dear" nodded this Ben.
edict, and that's the way made my for
tune, by looking personally after every
penny, and mean to keep it up"
"But, think how | was mortified, yes
terday, when Mrs. Armour came to ask
me if could subscribe fifty cents to.
wards buying a hand carriage for our
washerwoman' lame child-only fifty
cents-and had to say must ask my
husband to give me money when he re-
turns from the city-for had not even
fifty cents Of my own"
"All very right, all very proper" said
Mr. Gates, playing with the huge rope Of
gold that hung across his chest in the
guise of watch chain.
"Other ladies are not kept pennilesss." "
That rests entirely between them
and their husbands, Mis-. Gates"
II will not endure it," cried Milly,
starting to her feet, with cheeks dyed
scarlet and Indignantly glowing eyes.
Mr.. Gates leaned back in his chair with
provoking complacency.
g will have money" said Milly, def
antly
"How are you going to get it, my
dear ~ retorted her spouse, with most
aggravating smile playing round the cor
ners of his mouth.
"You have nothing Of your own-ab-
soutely nothing The money Is all
mine, and mean to keep it
Mily sat down again, twisting her
pocket handkerchief around and around.
She wos not prepared with an immediate
answer.
"And now, Mrs. Gates" said the
banker, after moment or two Of over
whelming silence, il you'll be good en-
ough to stitch that button on my glove,
I'll go down town. ! have already wasted
too much valuable time
SO the verbal passage at arms ended,
and Mily felt that so far she was wors'
ted
She watched Mr.. Gates drive off in an
elegant open barouche, drawn by two
long. tailed chestnut horses, all glitter
with plated harness, and turned away, al
most wishing she was Millicent Hough.
ton once again, behind her desk in the
little rcd school house.
She looked around at the inlaid rurni-
ture Aubusson carpets and satin window
drapcries, and thought, with a passionate
pang, how little all this availed her.
alt is so provol>ingof Radcliffe" she
murmured. I've half Il mind to go out
to service, or dressmaking, or something
for must have money ofm own, and
| will"
Jus, then servant knocked at the
door with basket and a note.
"An old lady, in a Shaker bonnet, and
one horse wagon left it, said the girl
with scarcely disguised litter. " She
wouldn't come in, although l invited
her"
Mrs Gates opened the note. ltran in
a stiff, old-fashened calligraphy, as il the
pen were an unwonted instrument in the
writer's hand.
DEAR MIiLY: The Strawberries IN
H. an,tl, ,,ofJor lnt n r,. rinp whore yOu