The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-09-24
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. ..lou know, Maria,
am very fond Of them. and YOU are de-
termined TO punish me in some way il
YOU can.
Punish YOU. Edward? What do YOU
talk so for?" returned the wife, a 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
cents box for Strawberries, would
you?"
"Why not?"
- IL is too much
mo. ii isn't
- You cannot afford it,
. Yes, can. Isn't my salary fifteen
hundred a year?'
II do not think Strawberries at sixty
cents box, are very profitable" re-
piled the pretty wife, with pleasant
smile.
Edward Lester did not deserve such
a beautiful, sweet tempered 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 il j. true he had a very
singular way sf showing il. He deserv-
ed thrashing for his hasty words, yet
as he eventually learned better II 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
comforts Of home in all their purity,
the young couple had decided TO 20 10
housekeeping.
Edward would have hired large
house at a rent Of four hundred dollars
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 nice little cottage seven
miles from the city, at rent of one
hundred and fifty. The husband liked
it very well, and Maria furnished it in
very plain but neat style.
They were at home now. and for
time the novelty of the thing kept Ed
ward in excellent humor But he was
a reckless fellow. and had no idea what
ever of the value of money. lie al
ways spent all his salary, and sometimes
a little more.
Edward was out of humor because he
had no strawberries, and when he sat
down 20 the table the tea was too weak,
the bread tasted of saleratus, and the
butter was strong. He snarled and
growled, first at Maria. and then at
Bridget, till the wife was almost dis
Outraged. But she did not Yield TO the
impulse of the moment and get out of
temper. She kept smiling, however
cutting and severe came the criticisms
of her husband.
After tea he was little modified, for
there seemed TO be nothing more TO
grumblc 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, for
she was very prudent in regard to her
private expenses.
Certainly, Maria" replied Edward
. hope you are going to buy a new
silk
II am"
He handed her the money and hoped
she would dress herself great deal
better than before, for he could afford
it.
g am going to spend AS much money
rs | can, (" said she.
That is right, Maria, do" added
the reckless husband. And Edward
soon had reason to repent this advice,
for Maria now seemed to spend all her
spare time in asking for money. He
was too reckless, too magnanimous To
deny her or to suggest that she was ex-
-ceeding the bounds Of reason.
She was merciless in her drafts upon
him, and to supply her demands, for he
had not the courage 10 reAose her modest
requests, he was obliged 70 curtail his
own private expenses. On several occa-
sions he had been obliged To borrow
money to meet her acquisitions upon his
purse, and being an honest man he had
TO cut off many luxuries in order to pay
these loans.
What had got into Maria7 She was
'extrayagant, and yet she did not seem
90 be dressed much better, or his home