South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1874-11-27
THE BANKERS WHIM:
OR,
how HIS WIFE SECURED AN ALLOWANCE.
By hLLES FOREST GRAVES.

There wero people enough to envy MIL
LIcENT HAUGHroN when she was married
to RADCLIFFE GATES. She was only dis.
trio. school teacher, at so much a month.
without home or parents. HI was a veal.
thy banker, who seemed TO have nothing on
earth TO do but TO indulge bis whims and
capr'ces to their utmost bent, ard the world
In general announced its dic,ion that MIL
LY HAUGnToN had done uncommon well
| for herself
Bat MILLY did not look happy on that
golden July morning, with tho sunshine
streaming 10 through the oriel widow of the
/ great breakfas, room at GATES Place, and
scattering little drops of gold aud crimson,
aud glowing purple, on the messy ground
of the stone-colored carpet.
Sac was dressed in loose white cambria
wrapper, Topped and buttoned with blue,
and n simple pearl arrow upheld the shin
ing masses Of her lovely auburn hair. Tier
eyes were deep, liquid, hazel Der complex.
ion as soft and radiant as the dimpled side
of an early peach and the id.slippered
foot that patted the velvet ottoman beneath
was as perfect aud ,aperiDg as a sculptor
could have wished it.
Mr.. GATES, from his side of the damask.
draped table, eyed her with the com placent
gaze Of proprietorship was bis wife.
He liked her to look we'll, just as he want
ed his horses properly groomed, and his
Conservatives kept in order and he trou-
bIed himself very little about the shadow
on her marble brow.
I'm in earnest, RADCLIFFE = she said,
with emphasis
80 supposed, Mrs. GATES, said the
husband, lesurely folding the paper, sign
that the news within was thoroughly ex-
haustcd, $50 Isupposed. But it isn't at all
worth while to allow yourself to get excit,
ed. When l say a thing, Mrs. GATES, |
generally mean it. And, | repeat, if YOU
need money for any sensible aud necessary
purpose, shall be most willing and happy
to accommodate you
MILLIcENT bit her full, red lower lip,
and drummed impatiently on the table with
her ten restless fogers.
And L am to come meekly imploring
you for every fVe-cent piece happen to
want 2
Yes, Mrs. GATES, if you prefer to put
the matter in that light
'RADcLIFFE,' she ooaxed, suddenly
changing her tone, do give me an allow.
ance, don't care how little! Don't sub
ject 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 forluu c, BY
looking personally after every penny and
| intend to keep it up
Bu; think how l was mortified yesterday
when Mrs. ARMOUR came to ask me to
subscribe fifty cents towards buying hand
carriage for our sher-woman'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 | had not
htty 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 a watch chain.
Other ladies are not kept pennilcss.
That rests entirely between them and
their husbands, Mrs. GATES
i will not endure it = cried MILLY,
starting to her feet, with cheeks dyed scar
let and giiiteriDg eyes.
Mr.. GATES leaned back in bis chur with
provoking competency.
Il UW have money ! said MILLY.
How are you going to get il, my dear p
returDed her spouse, with an aRgravatipp
smile playing around the corners Of bis
mouth. You have nothing Of your own,
absolutely nothing. The money is all mine,
and | mean to keep it,
MILLY sat down again, twisting her peck.
ethandkercSief around and around. She
was not prepared with an immediate answer.
'And now, Mrs. GATES said the bank
err, after moment or two Of overwhelming
silence, IF you will be good enough to stitch
thai button on my glove, I'll godowu town
| have already wasted too much time
50 the verbal passage-at arms ended, and
MILLY felt, that, so far, she was worsted.
She watched Mr.. GATES drive off in-nn
elegant open barouche, drawn by two long
tailed chestnut horses, all s-glow with ola
ted harness aud turned away, almost wish
log that she was MILLIcENT HAUouToN
once again, behind her desk 10 the little
school-room
She looked around a, the inaid furniture.
Ambusson carpets, aud satin window dra-
peries, aud tbougb', with passionate pang,
how little all this avaiIed her.
1T is so provoking Of RADCLIFFE . she
murmured. I've half mind 10 90 out to
service, or dress making, or something, for
| must have money Of my OVID, and / piU
have il =
just then a servant knocked at the door.
with a basket and note
AN old lady, in a sbaSer bonnet and
oue-horse wagon, left this said the girl,
with scarcely disguised litter. she wouldn't
come iu, although invited her,