Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1875-08-20
THE WIFE'S REVENGE.

world is the reason you didn't order
some?" exclaimed Edward Lester, as he
entered his pleasant home in the suburbs
of Boston. "You know, Maria, l am
very fond of them, and you are determined
to punish me in some way if you can"
"Punish you, Edward ! What do you
talk so r?'' returned the wife, sweet
little woman, full of beauty and grace.
"You know like them very much,"
added the petulant husband.
"But they taste too strongly OF the
money"
"Come, come, Maria, no more Of Poor
Richards saws. am heartily sick OF
them"
"You would not have me pay sixty
J cents box for strawberries, would you ~
"Why not?"
cit is too much.'
Ono, it isn't"
"You can't afford it."
eyes I can. Isn't my salary fifteen hun
dred year,"
81 do not think strawberries at sixty
cents box are very profitable" replied
the pretty wife, with pleasant smile.
Edward Lester did not deserve such a
beautiful, sweettempered wife as Maria.
But in spite of his petulant manner he
was really an excellent fellow, and loved
the pretty little woman with all his soul,
| though it is true he had a very singular
way of showing it. He deserved thrash
| inc for his hasty words; yet, as he event
ually learned better, it is not worth while
| to dwell too long upon the dark side of
his character.
The first year after his marriage he had
boarded; but, desiring to have the COM
forts of home in all their purity, the
young couple had decided to 60 to house
keeping.
Edward would have hired a large house,
at a rent of $400 year, if his wife had
not persisted that such dwelling would
wear her life out. He then left the matter
entirely to her, and she found a nice little
cottage seven miles from the city, at a
rent of $3.50. The husband liked it very
| well and Maria furnished it in a very
plain, but neat, style.
They were at home now and, for time,
the novelty of the thing kept Edward in
excellent Rumor. But he was a reckless
fellow and had no idea whatever of the
value of money He always spent all his
salary and, sometimes, a little more.
Edward was out of humOr because he
had no strawberries, and, when he sat
down to the table, the tea was too weak
| and the butter was strong. He snarled
and growled, first at Maria and then at
Bridget, till the wife was almost discour-
| aged. But she did not yield to the i'm
pulse of the moment and get out of tenn
per. She kept smiling, however cutting
and severe came the criticism OF her
! husband. Ia sl.saz ~. 6..~, -
there seemed to be nothing more to
grumble at, and even condescended to
smile.
edward, want fifty dollars to-mor-
| row." said Maria.
| This was rather a remarkable request
! for the careful little woman to make, tOr
she was very prudent in regard to her prl-
!, vate expenses. ~ s'Cs
ssCeftainly, Maria,'' replied Edward
81 hope you are going to buy new
/ silk"
'I am.''
He handed her the money, and hoped
i she would dress herself a great deal better
than before, for he could afford 1t.
stI am going to spend as much money
as can,n she replied.
"That is right, Maria, do" added the
! reckless husband And Edward soon hac
reason to repent this advice, for Maris
now seemed to spend all her spare time II
asking for money. He was too reckless
too magnanimous to deny her or to sugges
that she was exceeding the bounds OF rea
son.
She was merciless in her drafts upol
him, and. to supply her demands, for h
4 had not the courage to refuse her modes
requests, he was obliged to curtail his owl
expenses. On several occasions he hal
been obliged to borrow money to meet he
acquisitions upon his purse, and being al
honest man he had to cut off many luxurie
in order to pay these loans
What had got into Maria? She was eA
travagant, and yet she did not seem to b.
dressed much better, or his house to b
supplied with many additional luXuries
But he was too proud tocomplain. He di'
!. hint. but she would not take hint.
A year passed by and there was no in
provement in the reckless woman. Fol
: tunately for him his salary was raised
, $4,000, but it was scarcely done befor
, Maria demanded a fifty dollar bill.
"You spend more money than you use
. to spend, Maria he suggested.
/ + aWhat is the use for me to pinch my
self if you spend all you get?'' smile
5 Maria, so sweetly he could not say al
e other word g. want to have the good {
!. the money while it is going as well {
4 YOU" , m
!; Edward had some doubts as to the col
i sequences, but what puzzled him mo
e was to know what became of the none
o Another year passed by, and the danger
running in debt stared him in the face.