Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-08-16
EVENING STAR.
le, 1875.
THE WIFE'S REVENGE.

'No Strawberries: What in the world is
me reason You didn { orier 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 10 punish me in some way If YOU
can
Punish yol. Eiward? What doIyou talk
so Tor! returned the wife. sweet little wo-
man, 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
Richard's saws. L am heartily sick OF them"
You would not have me pay sixty cents a
box for strawberries, would you?'
Otis too much.-
"No, IL isn't"
You cannot afford it"
bred q year,"
lido not think strawberries. at 60 cents a
wife with pleasant smile.
Edward Lester did not deserve such beau-
ulul, sweet tempered wife as Maria.
But, IN spite OF his petulant manner, he
was really an excellent fellow, and>loyed the
pretty little woman with all his soul though
II is true he had very singular way of SioyS-
ing IT. DE deserved a thrashing for his hasty
words, yet as he ntual Y learned better.
II IS no; worth while TO dwell too long upon
the dark side of his character.
Inc hrSt year after his marriage lie had
hoarded, but desiring TO have the comforts of
nome in all their purity, the young couple
t;li decided 10 go t. Housekeeping.
Edward would have hired a large house at
rent of four hundred dollars a year, il his
wife had not persisted that such q dwelling
would wear her lie out. He thea left the
matter entirely TO her, and she found ME
niue cottage Sven miles from the city. al a
rent OF one hundred and fifty. The husband
liked II very well. and Maria furnished It in
very plain but neat style
They were at nome now, and for a time the
novelty CT the thing kept Edward IN excel
itIlt humor. But ne was reckless fellow.
and had no idea whatever of the value Of
money. He always spent all his salary, and
sometimes little more.
Edward was out of hUmor because he had
no strawberries. and when he sat down 10
the table The tea was too weak, the bread
tasted OF saleratuS, and the butter was
strong. he snarled and grOwlel, first at
Maria, and then at Bridget, till the wife was
almost discouraged. But she did not yield
10 The impulse Of the moment and get ont Of
temper. She kept smiling, however cutting
ana severe came The criticism of her husband.
After tea he was little Modified, for there
seemed to be nothing more 20 grumbIc at,
| and even condCScended TO smile.
Edward, want ifty dollars tomorrow
said Maria.
This was rather a remarkable request for
| the careful little woman 10 make, for she
was very prudent in regard toLer private ex-
penSes.
Certainly, Maria, j" he replied Edward. ~
hope you are going TO buy 1t new silk
lam"
He handed her the money, anG hoped she
before, for he could afford it.
81 am going to spend as much money as
| can" she replied.
THAT is isht. Maria, do" added the reck-
| less husband. And Edward soon had reason
| To repent this advice, for Maria now seemed
to spend ali her spare time in asking for
money. lie was too reckless, too nIagnaui-
nous 10 deny her or 10 suggest that she va,
| exceeding the bounds OF reason.
She was mercileSS in her drafts upon him.
| and 10 supply her demands. for he had not
ha
| was obliged TO curtaiI his own private ex-
| lenseS. ON several occasions he had been
| slilons upon his purse, and being an hOleSt
man he had to cut of many luxuries in order
| 10 pay these loans.
What had got into Maria? She WIS ey-
tTaYagant and yet she did not seem to be
! dressed much better, or his house TO be sup
piled with many additional luXurieS. Bat
he was too Proud TO complain. He did hint,
| but she would not take hint.
n year passed by, and there was no i'm
| proVement in the reckless woman. Fortu-
nately for him his salary was raised 10 two
| thousand, but IL was scarcely done before Ma
| ria d amanded fifty dollar bill.
You spend more money than you used 70
| spend, Maria" he suggested.
"What is the use for me to pinch myself
| II you spend all you get?" smiled Maria, 50
! sweetly he could not say another word. Il
want TO have the good OF the money while il
is going, as well as you"
Edward had some doubts as TO the conse-
quences, but what puzzled him most was 10
know what became of the money. Another
year passed by, and the danger Of running in
debt stared MIN ia the face.
Maria, we are living too fast, am
afraid, he observed, in melancholy tone.
Il am afraid you are, for yesterday you
brought home pair OF schickens for which
| you paid twenty cents pound" replied Ma
ria. with her usual smile.
Poor, Maria, don't mean these little
things. We must have something to eat,
and while my salary is two thousand dollars
year mean to live well"
| added.
Let us stop the bung hole 1irst," con-
tnued Edward, desperately. Would you
| believe, my dear, that have given YOU SIX
| hundred dollars year for the last two years.
what Is six hundred dollars a year Tor a
| lady? You were reading, the other day, mat
a great many ladies in New York spend two
Thousand dollars year for dress alone. You
| certainly cannot complain Of six hundred
"oh, 10, by no means. | do not mean IN
complain" replied Edward:
| 81 knew you didn't. Whatever / spend
goes for a good cause"
Il suppose SO; but don't care anything
| about II, only that L am getting a little
/ short. There Is DR.. Smiths Till OF sixty dol
4 IaTs. / don't Sc how can pay IT."
Let 1t rest, then. lie Will never ask you
| for it."
But Cont like that way of doing things
don't like TO get IN debt. 1 will 20 and see
And he did so and see him. The Doctor
! was tlch man and offered to take Edward 5
note, payable any tine he pleased. which
! offer the latter eagerly accepted, promising
10 take II up in SIX months.
! No change for the better appeared in the
! affairs OF the young couple. Maria kept ask
ing for money, and she was so pretty, 50
| sweet-tempered. and SO gentle. that Edward
! could never refuse. II he demUrreJ, she
Goa ed IL out OF aim.
| AT the end OF six months the doctor note
! was due. and Edward could not pay IL. lie
hod Borrowed money til he was ashamed 10
/ 90 50 any more. But he had q nice sense OF
| honor, and instead OF letting his creditor
whistle for his pay, he went TO see him u
produce further extension.
| doctor, am hard up" said he.
! sorry 20 hear it,
my family IS getting 10 be expensive"
| "Be prudent, them
! 81 can't, my vic"
He checked himself lie w1s impulsive,
| and did not mean TO say anything about Ma
ria.
What of her? Is she axtravagant2"
| .'Well. yes"
Putt he bit III her mouth, then" laughed
the doctor
| Don't like 10 DO that"
Mustn't let her ruin you."
II hope she viii not"
BE firm Lester. There Is only one way To
do with an eXtravagant woman; shut down
| upon her before she ruins You"
| - haven't courage TO deny her"
I'm sorry for you; what can do for your
| asked the doctor, who seemed TO b. In The
| best OF hunlor.
| UThat little note of nina