Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-10-03
THE WIFE'S ALLOWANCE.

Thore1 we're people enough to envy Millicent
uaughton when she was married to Radcliffe
Gates. She was only district school tea her
at so much month, without home Or parents.
lie was wealthy banker, who seemed 10 have
nothing on earth to do but to indulge his whims
and caprices to their uttermost bent and the
world in general announced it's diction that Mil
y Haughton chad done uncommonly well for
herself"
But Milly did not look happy upon that golden
July morning, with the sunshine streaming
through the oriel window of the greet breakfast
room at Gates Palace, aud scattering little drops
of gold and crimson, and glowing purple on the
mossy ground of the stone coloied carpet.
She was dressed in loose white cambi.c
wrapper, looped and buttoned with blue, and
single pearl arrow upheld the shining masses of
her lovely auburn hair. Her eyes were deer,
liaud hazel her complexion as soft aud radiant
as the dimpled side OF an ealy peach and the
little Fid-slippered foot that patted The velvet
ottoman beneath was as perfect aud tapering as
sculptor could have wished it.
Mr. Gates, from his side OF the damask-
drsped table, eyed her with the compl¢ gaze
of proprietorsbip. She was his wife. He liked
her to look just AZ well as he wanted his horses
properly groomed and his conse.vai OF eH kept in
order apd he doubled himself very little about
the shadow on her biow.
phesis.
80 supposed, Mrs. Gates, said The husband,
lesurely folding his papel-a sign that the news
Within was thoroughly exhausset,-"so suppos-
ed But it isn't at all worth whde 10 allow your
self to get excited When l say thug, Mrs.
Gates, l generally mean it. Aud 'epeat you
need money foc any sensible and necessary pu,-
pose, shall be most wcg and happy to accom-
date yod"
Miiicent bit her full red lower lip, and um-
med mpai ently on the table with iier tea lest
less fn;es. Sand en- to come meekly mpor-
ing yod for every five ceut piece l happen to
wantr
ayes, Mrs. Gatos--if you prefer to put the
matte 10 That light"
..Radc ife" she coaxed, suddenly changing
her tone, "do give me an allowance Il dont care
how little Don't subject me % he humiliation
of pleading foc III lie money half dozen times
day. You are rich"
"fxactly, my dear nodded this Benedict ;
''and thats The way made my fortune. by look
ing personally after every perry, aud meau to
keep 1t up."
sButthink how was mortified yes erday, when
Mrs Armour came to ask me il could Subscribe
hi V cents towards buying ha ud ca ago for
our washer WON'T MS lame child--oplv fifty cents
aud l had 10 say, i must ask my hrsoaod 10
give me money when he returns ON the city
for had not even fifty cents of nv own"
"Ail ve,g rsLi all very plopet !" said Mr..
Gates, pl-y,lg with the huge rome OF gold that
hung across bs chest in tue gu'se OF ws.ch
chsip.
"Other ladies' are not kept penniless.
"That rests eu'irely between them ADD the'r
husbands, Ms. Ga es"
II will not epdu' Q it," c,ied M,llv, STA ! 'ng 10
lie feet with cieeks died sea let add u spautly
glitteriug eyes.
Mr. Go on aOed back in his clair with pto-
vokiry complacency.
II ,5;p have money r. spid Mirv defif nt,v.
''How are you going TO eet il, my deof = re-
to.ted her spouse, with all aeg lsat l3 smile
aror nd the corners OF bis mon Al. ''You have
nothing OF your wp-?bsolutey no.h'cg. The
money is I'll niue 20 keep it !"
Mlllv sat down a37'n, N,s iug her pocket
handkerchief orrd eud s'ound. Size was not
prep1 ed with PA mmed aye fhswe1.
'Aud now, Mrs. Ga, es, said he banker, aftet
moment or two OF overwhelming silence, "iI
youll be good enough 10 stitch iI!t button on
my glove, I'll go down town. hsve al ei dy
wasted too much tine"
So TIE verbal passage at aims ended, and Mil
ly felt that, 10 i1g, she was woieted.
sne watched NJ. Gaves i've OF / a. elegant
open barouche, 4 avn bv Two lory {? led
ches, nut horses, all gli ice wi plated ha iess
AID Ia ned away almos6 wi71,n5 ql?t she we.
M hceut Haus buOu once aga n. bel nd her desl
in he little red school house.
She looked around at ,he inlaid fr 1iture
Aubusson ca, pets and satin wiodow diapeies
aud thought with pa aIs'opate par5, how llttl'
all this availed her.
''It's 80 provoking OF Radcliffe = size mu' mur
cd ~ We half miud 20 go out to service, o
dressmakug or somethiDg,-ior l must hav
money Of my own, aud will !! -,
just then servsnt Knocked at the door viii
basket and note.
IAN old lady in Shaker bornet aud a on
horse wagon. left it, sad he ghl with scarce
ly disguised tltter. She wou'dn,t come ~
though invited her,"
Mrs. Gates opened the note. 1t ran in a st
a1l fna al ali 4at,l,u
unwonted implement in tue writer's hand
DEAR MuLy The strawberries in the sout
medder lot are juste ripe, " here you used TO PIC
EN- when you were little gal 30 PeneloI
picked lot and we made bold to send Them
you, for the sake of old times, as anut Ar2mini
is going TO tue ctv tomorrow. We hope yo
will like them. AGeckonatev your f'lend,
MIaIA ANN PEAL oDY.
The tears sparkled in the bide's ewes. For q
instart it seemed to her as ii she were merl
child again, picking Strawberries IN the golut
rain OF July sunshine, with the scent OF WI
roses on the alraud the gurgle of the III tie tro
stream close by. And as she lifted the I'd OF u
great basket of crimson, luscious fruit, Pud
hailed the delicious Perfume sudden idea car
ed into her head,
Now will have money of my own !" 81
cried out" Money that will earn myself, al
thus be independent y
Half an hour afterwards Mrs. Gates came doy
stairs to tue iufnite amazement OF hacnel, u
ShhulDoiHia.u anu tho p"tANN
brown gingham dress, white pique sun Donh'
and basket on her arm.
"Won't you have the carriage, ma'am ask
the later, as Mrs. Gates beckoned to passi
omnibus
"No, wont !" said the bankers's lady.
And within the city limits she al'ghted a
began wo,k iu good earnest.
Strawberries who'll buy my wild strGwp
ries T. rang out her clear, shri'l voice. as
walked along. Lightly balancing the weight
her arm, and enjoying the impromptu masq'
rade as only spirited young woman can.
Mrs. Fowler bought four quarts for p-ese
ing, at twenty five cents per quart. -, -,
'Wild berries has such flavor !! sa'd
old lady, refectively. "Aud taint otteu
get eem here in the city. sposee you 90
come round regular, young woman Z
"No, dom, maam? =
because you might get some good Gus
mers," said Mrs. Fowler.
Mrs. Senintha Hall, who keeps boarders,
chased two quarts Mrs. Captain Carba'y t'
one and then Millicent jumped on the cars
rode YEARLY down town.
I've got a dollar aud seyenty-hve centS
my own now, at all evelts." she tad TO
self.
Strawberries Nice, ripe, Wild strawoefh
buy my strawberries !"
Her sweet voice resounded through the