The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-03-05
HOW { WIFE cor An ALLOWANCES.

district school teacher, at so much q
month, without home or parents. He
was wealthy banker. who seemed TO
have nothing on earth to do but to in
dulga his wbfms and caprices to their
uttermOst bent. and the world in gen
eral announced its decision that MilIy
HaughtOn sc had done uneommonIy well
for herself"
But RIihs did not look happy upon
that golden July morning, with thesun.
shine stresming through the oriel win
dow of the great breakfast room at
Gates Place, AMI scattering little drops
of gold and crimson and glowing pur-
pie on the mossy ground of the stone
colOred carpet.
She was dressed in a loose white cam
brio wrapper, looped and buttoned with
blue, Gnd a single pearl arrow upheld
the shining masses of her lovely auburn
hair. Her eyes were deep, liquid hazel,
her cOmplexiol as soft and radiant as
the dimpled side of an early peach ::
and the little kid-slippered foot that
patel the velvet ottoman was as per
feet aud ta3ering as a sculptor could
have wished it,. &
Mr.. Gates, from his side OF the
damask- -draped table, eyed her with the
complRcent gaze of proprietorship.
She was his wife. He liked her to look
well, just as-he wanted his horses prop
erly groomed, and his conseIvatories
kept IN order; and he troubled himself
very litSle@about the shadow on her
brow. >
g I'm in earnest, Radcliffe, " she said,
with Emphasis.
SO l supposed, Mrs. Gates" said
the husband, leisurely folding Lis paper
a sign that the news within was thor
oughly exhausted" so | supposed.
Bat IL isn't at all worth while to allow
yourself TO get excited. When / say
thing, Mrs. Gates, generally mean it.
And repeat. If you need money for any
sensible and necessary purpose, shall
he most W ling and happy to accommo-
date you" I|F - .H
MInicsnt bit her full, red lower lip
and drummed impatiently on the table
with her ten restless fingers. "And l
am to come meekly imploring you for
every fve-cens piece L happen to
Yes, Mrs. Gates, if you prefer to
put the matter in that light.
Radcliffe, she coaxed, suddenly
changing her tone, edo give me an al
Iowance don't care how little. Don't
subject me to the humiliation of plead
IN fer a little money half-a dozen times
a day. YJu are rich.
Exactly, my dear" nodded this
benedict, "and that is the way / made
my fortune, by looking personally after
every penny, and / mean to keep it
up."
But think how was mortified YES
terday, when Mrs. Armorer came to ask
me II l could subscribe fifty cents to-
wards buying a hand carriage for our
washerWoman's child-enly fifty cents
and l had to say, L must ask my
husband TO give me the money when he
returns from the city, for / had not
even fifty cents of my own"
"All very right-all very proper"
said Mr.. Gates, playing with 8 huge
rope OF gold that hung across his chest
IN the guise of a watch chain.
"Other ladies are not kept penni-
less
That rests entirely between them
selves and their husbands, Mrs. Gates"
90 will not endure it, cried AIlIly,
starting 10 her feet, with chez ks dyed
scarlet, and Indignantly glis,ening eyes.
Mr.. Gates leaned back in his chair
with provoking complacencv.
" will Lave money" said Milly de-
"How are You going to get it, my
dear?' retorted her spouse, with an sg.
graVatiDg smile playing around the cor
Ier o. his mouth. You have nothing
of your own-absolutely nothing. The
money Is all mine, and l mean to keep
it."
NIllly sat down again, twisting her
pocket handkerchief around and around.
She wa@ not prepared with an imme-
diate answer
And now, Mrs. Gates" said the
banker, after moment or two of over
whglming silence, eff you'll be good
enough to stitch that button on my
glove, III go down town. 1 have al
ready wasted too much time"
s. the verbal passage at arms ended,
and Mlliy felt that, so far, she was
worsted.
She watched Mr.. Ga es drive off in
an elegant open barouche, drawn by
two long tailed chestnut horses, all in a
glitter Of plated harness, and turned
away, almost wishing that she was Nil
llceUt Haughton once again, behind her
desk in the little red sohoolhouse.
She looked around at the inlaid furn-
itdre, Aubusson carpets, and satin win.
dow drapsries, and thought with pas
sionate papg, how little all this avaiIsd
her.
- It's so provoking of Radcliffe" ," she
murmuSed n" I've half mind to 90
out to service, or dressmaking, or some
thing-fOr | must have money of my
owe, and L will"
just then a servant knocked at the
door with basket and a note.
q" An old lady in a Shaker bonnet and
one horse wagon left IL, said the girl,
with a scarcely disg led litter "She
wouldn't come ID, although 1 invited
her" s
Mrs. Gates opened the note. It ran
IN stiti, Old-faShiOned caligraphy, as if
the pen were an unwonted implt ment
IN the writer's hand:
''DEAR ATILIY--The rawberries in the south
modder lot are iust ripe, where Won used to
pick 'em where you were little eirl oPene-
lope picked-a lot. and we made bold to tend
them to YOU, for the sake of old times. as Aunt
Araminia Is going to the city tomorrow We
hope you will like them. Afeotionatelv vour
friend, MARIA ANN PEAPoDY"
Tue tears sparkled in the brides ewes
For an instant it seemed to her as if
she were a merry child again picking
strawberries in The golden rain of a
July sunshine, with the scent of wild
roses IN the air aud the gurgle OF the
little front stream close by. Aud as
she lifted tie lid of the great basket of
crimson. luscious fruit aud iuhale d the
delic GUS perfume, sudden idea started
into her head.
&" Now | VIII have money OF my ownl"
she crled out, "money that will earn
myself. and thus bs independent
Half an hour afterwards Mrs. Gates
came down stairs. to the infinite amaze
ment of Rachel, the chambeImaid, and
Louisa, the parlor- maid, in a brown
Cingham dress, a white pique sun-bon-
net. and basket on her arm.
Won't you have the carria7e,
maam?' asked the latter, as Mrs.
Gates beokoned to passing omnibus.
No, I won't" :" said the bankers
lady.
When within the city limits she
al;gh.sd and set to work in good earn
est.
Strawberries who'll buy my wild
tlra Gbsrries ?" rang out her clear.