The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-03-04
HOW A WIFE GOT AN ALLOWANCE.

&OW A WIFE GOT AN ALLOWANCE.
There were people enough to envy
Mulloent Haughton when she was mar
ried 10 Radcliffe Gates. She was onIy
"a district school teacher, at so much a
month, without home or parents. He
was wealthy banker. who seemed to
have nothing on earth to do but to in
'dulge his whims and caprices to their
'Uttermost bent, and the world in gen
eral announced its decision that MITly
Haughton " had done uncommonly well
for herself"
But Milly did not look happy upon
Chat golden July morning, with the sun.
shine streaming through the oriel win
dow OF the great breakfast room at
Gates Place, and scattering little drops
OF gold and crimson and glowing pur-
pie on the messy ground of the stone
nelored carpet.
She was dressed in loose white cam
brio wrapper, looped and buttoned with
blue, and single pearl arrow upheld
the shining masses of her lovely auburn
hair. Her eyes were deep, LIQUID hazel.
her complexion as soft and radiant as
the dimpled side of an early peach f;
aud the little kid-slippered foot that
patted the velvet ottoman was as per
heet and ta0ering as a sculptor could
have wished it,
Mr. Gates, from his side of the
Stamask'draped table, eyed her with the
oomPlacent gaze of proprietorship.
she was his wife. He liked her to look
we'll, just as he wanted his horses prom
'erly groomed, and his conservatories
Kept IN order and he troubled himself
verY itile about the shadow on her
brow.
I'm in earnest, Radcliffe" she said,
with emphasis.
$50 I supposed, Mrs. Gates. " said
the husband, leisurely folding his paper
"a sign that the news within was thor.
ouphly exhausted" SO / supposed.
but ~ isn't at all worth while TO allow
yourself to get excited. When I say q
thing, Mrs. Gates, generally mean it.
Aud repeat, IT you need money for any
sensible and necessary purpose, l shall
Zoe most willing and happy to accommo-
date you"
Millioent bit her full, red lower lip
and drummed impatiently on the table
with her ten restless fingers. "And I
an to come meekly imploring you fer
every hve-cent piece 1 happen to
Want?"
:" Yes, Mrs. Gates. if you prefer to
u.
Radcliffe, she coaxed, suddenly
changing her tone, "do give me an al
lowance don't care how little. Don't
subject me to the humiliation of plead
IN tor a little money half-a- dozen times
- day. You are rich.
Exactly, my dear" nodded this
benedict, land that is the way made
my fortune, by looking personally after
"NerY penny, and l mean to keen it
up"
But think how I was mortified yes
terdsy, when Mrs. Armorer came to ask
me II could subscribe fifty cents to-
wards buying a hand carriage for our
Nasherwoman's ohild-only fifty cents
and l had to say, 4 must ask my
husband to give me the money when he
returns from Che city, for I had lot
even City cents of my own"
All very right-all very proper, "
SAID Mr.. Gates, playing with a huge
rope OF gold that hung across his chest
IN the guise of watch chain,
less" NV ~ penn
That rests entirely between them.
seives ard their husbands, Mrs. Gates. 81
l will not endure it," cried MIIly,
starting to her feet, with chez ks dye6
scarlet, and Indignantly giisiening eyes
Mr.. Gates leaned back in his chaiI
with provoking complacency.
family.
How are you going TO get it, m,
dear?' retorted her spouse, with an ag
gravatIDg smile playing around the cor
ner OF his mouth. You have nothinC
OF your own-absolutely nothing. Tn,
money Is all mine, and mean to keeI
it." l
Milly sat down again, twisting he
pocket handkerchief around and around
She was not prepared with an imme
diate nswer.
"And now, Mrs. Gates" said IN,
banker, after a moment or two of over
whelming silence, elf you'll be goot
enough to stitch that button on m,
glove, / II go down town. I have al
ready wasted too much time"
> the verbal passage at arms ended
and Milly felt that, so far, she wa
worsted.
She watched Mr.. Gates drive off il
an elegant open barouche, drawn b
two long tailed chestnut horses, all in
glitter Of plated harness, and turne,
away, almost wishing that she was Nd
hcent Haughton once again, behind he
desk in tie little red school-honse.
She looked around at the inlaid furn
lture, Aubusson carpets, and satin win
dow draps ries, and thought with a pas
sionate papg, how little all this availt
her.
" It's so provoking of Radcliffe" 4" sh
murmured. I've half mind to 2
out to service, or dressmaking, or some
thing-for L must have money of m
Own, and / will"
just then a servant knocked at th
door with basket and a note.
An old lady in Shaker bonnet an
one horse wagon left IL, " said the cir
with a scarcely difgui. ed litter. Ssh
her."
Mrs. Gates opered the note. II "a
IA SUM- old-fashioned caligraphy, as
the pen were an unwOnted implemer
IN the writer's hand:
DEAR MIILY-The Strawberries in the son,
noSeer lot are lust ripe, whore you used
PICK en- where you were 4 little Girl 90 Fem
lope picked lot. and we made bold 10 sen
them TO you for the sake OF old times a. Am
Araminia is gong 10 the CITY tomorrow N
hope YOU will like them. Affectionatelv vo,
inendi MARIA Ann PEABODY"
Toe tears sparkled in the brides eve
For an Instant it seemed to her as
she were a merry child again pickin
strawberries in the golden rain of
July sunshine, with the scent of vii
roses in the air aud the gurgle OF Il
little trout stream close by. Aud
she lifted the lid of the great basket
crimson, luscious fruit and inhaled Il
dehc ous perfume, a sudden idea staIts
into her head.
80 Now will have u,onav of NV ovu