Smyrna times., 1874-01-28
.MiSceIIUas 70 e o as.
John Randall's Trouble.
"Will you let me have it John 2"
AN ENGLISH STORY.

"No, Georgy, | can't"
John Randall uttered his refusal Of his wife's
request very decidedly, as if he felt the request
was unreasonable and yet there was an under
current of grieved impatience in his voice, aud
u look OF perplexlty and Standardization in
his eyes. He wanted to see his wife rise from
the breakfast table, and thereby signify her ac-
Quiesence 10 his decision, before he went off for
his morning walk 10 the mill
Gecrgy, however, did DOT rise. Her looks
did not express acquiescencs. She was pretty
woman, very pretty tall, slight, very fair, with
large, clear, steady eyes, and protuss brown
hair. Besides her beauty, she had an air of
delicate graceful composure rather peculiar,
aud voice that suggested alto flute notes. For
all this, she was simply the wife of master
machinlSt in the great Halliburton Print w Works
of MilIvile, and mistress in one Of the smal,
white factory tenements, whose long, orderly
rows constituted Mlllville proper.
But GeOrgy did not belong to the factory
element, although she had married intoit. She
had been brought up by relative, upon whom
she had been left dep sndent, and whom she
Called Aunt Appleton.
Aunt Appleton lived at the other end of Ap-
plston-ths west end-among the Hahburtons,
the Dilloways, aud the Verses.
Psrhrps, under, the circumstances, Georgy
might have lOoked o little higher than John
Randall. But then John was a. good as gold,
atrong, ateady, manly, true.
Aunt Appleton had the sense to rejoice al
the PERCEPTION OF her pretty portege, aud the
generosity to give her a liberal out6t-her fur
nilure, q complete wardrobe, nice wedding
Ii had bsen worry agreeable to Georgy TO have
thest. things. She was fastidious to the core.
She enjoyed advantages of position-hsr good
clothes, her prestige among the wives OF the
other oficisls in the print works. She wal
fastIdiOus-perhaps q little too fastldlOus To-
her place.
John Randall had reached his last button,
somewhat shiny button on q somewhat shabby
coat He had neither time nor pretext TO
lingering. At this moment his wife raised he
eyes clearly, unaIncinGy, to his face.
Why nOtY" she asked, in her own swee
voice.
Itis never pleasant for q man to be called Il
an account-to an account about money lam
OF course it was money Georgy wantsdJ by
woman, aud that woman his wife. John 8 fac
flushed little a hot retOrt pricked the very ii
OF his tongue, but he did not utter it. lie wa
patient man. naturally; and then he ha
that deep, pure love for his wife which ovel
reached all slight shocks.
Il have exceeded my salary every mont
since we were married, Georgy," he saiC
q The first of January will be here in ie
weeks, and | shall not be able to meet all th
bills that are DUE | don't feel that we Ougt
TO trAe away penny Of money. don't b.
heve you do either.
AZ shallsay no more about it," she returned
al ought to wear a new pair of gloves to ca
on Paus bride, but if you can't give them
me [ must do without them.
John Randall's brain was fue enough to VI
derstand that this was not the acquiescence
wanted. He would like to indulge hsr, bl
there was the fact thai il he began it he shou
be alwaps poor.
This was his fact Georgy had hers also
that she was always to be denied and dlsa
pointed. She didn't mind SO much wearlE
the old gloves on this particular occasion tn
which was wedging itself painfully into
convictions was that she would have to give
all the little luxuries and eleganciss that she
crased; that her future was to be a plain ms
ter-of.fact routine, deprived OF those grati6c
tions in whose obssnce she fslt sort OF mol
starvation.
1T don't seem as if you ought to be disa
pointed, Georgy," said the husband, finally.
"You know just what my salary is, and il
how far it will go. We used to talk about sa
ter myself one of these days. i don't like
deny you" :,
She was one of those women who say too
tie rather than too much.
John went of to his work. Bridget,
girl Of.all- work.. came IN t0clear the tar
Georgy busted the parlors and made the p'
ing machine in the window, facing the d
lesden light of November day, and sat do
to stitch wristbands. She had been MARI
more than year., and was making her.
shirt for John. She was very thoughtful
logged pain on on her face all the while:
"Perhaps | shall stay at Aunt Appleto
TO tea,'' she said TO her husband at the DIM
table. "IfI do you viii come for me, VIC
you?"
He reflected a moment.
- told you last night, Georgy, that sho
have D be from home an hour or two
evening. There isa meeting of the offic
ofths mill at half past seven. should
too tired to dress and go up to your sunt's
terward."
Il had forgotten, said she, quietly
auietly that he thought she did not care.
When he was gone she went to her bedrc