The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1874-09-05
2Hiscellaneous.
1Ae Wife'S AtLOaU0nce.


was wealthy banker, who seemed t. have
nothing to do but to indulge his whims and ca
prices to their uttermost bent, and the world in
general announced its dlctum that Milly Haugh.
ton chad done uncommonly well for herself
But Milly did not look happy upon that gold
en- June morning, with the sunshine streaming
through the oriel window of the great breakfast
room at Gates Place, and scattering little drops
of gold and crimson, and glowing purple, on the
messy ground Of the stone c0lored carpet
She was dressed in a loose white cambric
wrapper looped and buttoned with blue, and a
single pearl arrow upheld the shining masses
OF her lovely auburn hair. Her eyes were deep
liquid hazel; her omplexion as soft and radi
ant as the dimpled side of an early peach; and
the little kid-slippered foot that patted the
velvet ottoman beneath was as perfect and Ia
pering as sculptor could have wished
Mr.. Gates, from his side of the damask draped
table eyed her with the complacent gaze OF
propretorship. She his wife. He liked
her to look we'll, just as he wanted his horses
properly groomed aud his conservatories kept
in order; and he troubled himself very little
about the shadow on her brow.
"Im in earnest, Radcliffe she said, With
emphasis
$50 supposed, Mrs Gates said the husband
leisurely folding his paper-a sign that the
news within was thoroughly exhausted $50
supposed. But it isn't at al worth while to al
low yourself to get excited. When | say a
thing, Mrs. Gates, generally mean it. And
repeat-if you need money for any sensible
and necessary purpose, shall be most happy
and willing to accommodate you"
Milicent bit her full red lower lip, and drum
med mpatently on the table with her ten rest.
less fingers.
"And l am to come weekly imploring you for
every five-cent piece | happen to want?''
Eyes, Mrs. Gates-if you prefer to put the
matter in that light"
"Radclffe," she coaxed, suddenly changing
her tone, "do give me an allowance, don't care
how little! Don't subject me to the humiliation
of pleading for little money half dozen times
day. You are rich"
"Exactly, my DEAR" nodded this Benedict
''and that's the way | made my fortune, by
looking personally after every penny; and 1
mean to keep it up
"But think how | was mortified yesterday,
when Mrs. Armour came to ask me if | could
subscribe fifty cents towards buying hand
carriage for our washer-woman's lame child
only fifty cents-and had to say, Il must ask
my husband to give me the money when he re-
turns from the city for l had not even fifty
cents of my own"
GAIL very right-all very proper !" said Mr..
Gates, playing with the huge rope of gold that
hung across his chest, in the guse of a watch
chain.
"Other ladies are not kept pennless p
"That rests entirely between them and their
II will not endure it!'' cried Milly, starting
to her feet with cheeks dyed scarlet, and in
dignantly glitterng eyes.
Mr. Gates leaned back in his chair with pro
voking complacency.
81 aciH have money!" said Milly.
"How are you going to get it, my dear?" re-
torted her spouse, with an aggravatlng smile
- Of
have nothing of your own absolutely nothing.
The money is mine and mean to keep it,"
Milly sat down again, twisting her pocket
handkerchief around and around. She was not
prepared with an immediate answer.
"And now, Mrs. Gates, . said the banker, after
a moment or two Of overwhelming silence, "if
you'll be good enough to stitch that button on
my glove, I'll go down. have already wasted
too much time"
So the verbal passage alarms ended, and
Milly felt that, so far she was worsted.
She watched Mr.. Gates drive off in an ele-
CANT open barouche, drawn by two long tailed
chestnut horses, all a-glitter with plated har-
ness, and turned away almost wishing that she
was Millicent Haughton once again, behind
her desk in the little red school house.
She looked around at the inlaid furniture,
Aubusson carpets and satin window draperies,
and thought, with passionate pang, how little
all this availed her.
at is so provoking of Radcliffe" she mur-
INJURED. "I've half mind to go out to service,
or dressmakng, or something, for l must have
money of my own and l willW
Just then a servant knocked at the door, with
basket and q note.
Gan old lady, in a shaker bonnet, and one
horse wagon, left it," said the girl, with scarce
ly disguised litter. "She wouldn't come in, al
though l asked her."
Mrs. Gates opened the note.
1t ran, in a stiff, old-fashioned caligraphy, as
if the pen were an unwonted implement in the
writer's hand:
"DEAR MILLY The strawberries in the south
medder lot are just ripe, where you used to pick
'em when you were little gal so Penelope
picked lot, and we make bold to send them to
you for the sake of old times, as Aunt Aramin-
ia is going to the city tomorrow. We hope you
will like them. Affectionately your friend,
MARIA ANN PEABODY"
The tears sparkled in the brides eyes. For
an instant it seemed to her as if she were q
merry child again. picking strawberries in the
golden rain of July sunshine, with the scent Of
wild roses on the air, and the gurgle of the lit
tie trout stream close bv.
And as she lifted the lid of the great basket
of crimson, luscious fruit, and inhaled the de-
licious perfume, sudden idea darted into her
head.
"Now | will have money Of my own" she
cried out-"money that will earn myself, anG
thus be independent"
Half an hour afterwards, Mrs. Gates came
down stairs, to the infinite amazement of Rachel
the chambermad, and Louisa, the parlor maid
in q brown gingham dress, a white pique sun
bonnet and basket on her arm.
"Won't you have the carriage, ma'am," asked
the latter, as Mrs. Gates beckoned to passing
omnibus.
"No, won't" said the bankers lady.
And within the city limits she alighted, ant
began work in good earnest
"Strawberres who'll buy my wild straw
berries ?" rang out her clear shrill voice, as sht
walked along, lightly balancing the weight or
her arm, and enjoying the impromptu mas
querade as only spirited young woman can
Mrs. Fowler bought four quarts for preserv
ing at twenty-five cents quart
"Wild berries has such favor" said tn,
old lady, refectively. Sand faint often yol
get 'em here in the city. 1 s'pose you dom
come round reg'lar, my young woman"
"No, don't, ma'am."
"Bccause you might get some good custom
ers," said Mrs. Fowler.
Miss Sinthia Hall, who kept boarders, pur
chased two quarts; Mrs. Captain Carbary tool
one; and then Milicent got on the cars ant
rode wearily down town.
''I've got dollar and seventy-fve cents o
my own now at all events" said she to herself
"StraWberrleS Nice, ripe, Wlld sIraWDerrles
Buy my strawberries !"
Her sweet voice resounded through the hall
of the great marble building on whose first foo
the bank was situated.
1t chanced to be dull interval of bushes!
Just them and the cashier looked up with ;
yawn.
"I say, Bill James," said he to the youngees
clerk, 81 have an idea that few strawberrie
wouldn't go badly. Call in the woman"
Billy, nothing, 10th, slipped off his stool, will
pen behind each ear, and scampered out int
the hall.
So Milly sold another quart.
AS she was giving change for the cashier
dollar bill, the president himself came in bust
ling and brisk as usual.
"Eh? What? Howl" barked out Mr.. Rad
cliffe Gates. "Strawberries? Well, don't car
if take few myself Here, young woman
how do you sell them?'
Milly pushed back her sun-bonnet, and exc
cuted sweeping courtesy.
"Twenty five cents quart, sir, if you please,
purred she with much humility.
The president dropped his paper of straw
berries on the marble floor.