Ellsworth American., 1877-11-22
An Unexpected Request.
THE TROUBLE MADE BY THE SHADOW OF
MONEY.


MONEY.
A bright fresidc. with fender aad fire.
irons shining like gold, windows hung
with drapery OF Turkey red. wall Of Grim.
son-hock paper, starred over with gold,
and little walnut stand Of books opposite
Mrs. Milford's parlor was q cabinet gem
In Its way. Not that the Milfords were
rich. On the contrary. Merton Milford
was a bank clerk, on q salary so small tha:
1t sometimes became an almost lnsoluble
problem to make both ends meet.
Almost we say, but never quite; for
Lucy Milford had learned the lesson OF
household economy. and 1t WAS her pride
to be able to say that they had pever been
In debt. Yet Lucy had 3 woman's taste
aud woman's cravings alter the beautiful
and the costly; and on this special even
ing. as she sat by the fire leaning one cheek
on her hand, her foot mechanically agita-
ting the rocker OF her baby's cradle, she
was thinking OF the possible-the unsttain-
able.
III we were only rich" thought Lucy.
as she gszed across the room. "How |
would like a Persian-Patterned carpet, in
stead OF this staring red and green ingram.
And little oil painting, or a bunch Of
water-colored flowers over the table. where
the map OF the city hangs now. And then
l could afford . Valenciennes cap for the
baby, and a real Ponson silk for myself;
and could surprise Merton with half q
dozen silk handkerchief, and would send
papa \ new meerschaum. real sea-foam.
with an amber mouth-piece and odd cary
ings on the bowl. and mamma should have
An Indian-bordered shawl. aud"
Bang went the front door. Tramp,
tramp. came a weli-known footstep aloug
the hall. with just enough pause to fling
the hat carelessly on the little circlet Of
pegs, which Ia that unpretentious house
hold took the place Of q marbie-topped.
mirror backed hall rack.
ITS Merton" said Mrs. Milford, start
ing up; and Merton II was.
Halo. Puss." said Merton, coming In .
flushed and bresthless. And how's the
little kIt,eny''
kitty Is well, said Mrs. Milford. "Shall
! order tea, dear:''
"Yes."
The little maid. d.servant-Lncy Milford
only kept oDe-brought In the urn, and
when ste had tip-toed out again, Mrs. MIL
ford looked her husband In the face.
Merton" said she, something has
happened. can read /, in your eyes. wha,
Is it:''
what a little fortune-teller, you are. to
be sure" said he. Yes. something has
happened. I've rot telegram from Fort
ley. aud old uncle Jesse is dying"
Uncle Jesse, the rich old miser."
Uncle Jesse, the rich old miser And
Writ informs me that his last will. made In
a hi OF pique against the directors OF the
Fortley Orphan Asylum, leaves everything
10 US"
ITO US, Mertoni'
her hr..,h y.t,b lI,,Ia
Ing sound.
why, Il must be half a million Of mon-
ey!'
That at least. We shall be rich people,
puss
"Oh, Merton, 1t scarcely seems possible. !.
II. Ike q dream"
LISA dream with pretty solid vein
OF reality running through II, youll find.
my dear" said the husband.
And just before YOU Game In. wss sit.
ting here .and thinking what would do,
aud how would ornament my home "
only We were rich" cried Lucy clapping
her hands.
Merton pinched her check and laughed
complAceutly. Evidently he was In the
best OF humor.
Half million. LIcyi'' said he. You
shall have q set OF diamonds that will rival
those OF Mrs. Merriwell, the bankers wife,
and real cashmere shawl And I'll order
pony phaeton for your own drying, and
you"
But we shall buy a country place.
shan't We. Mertonf" ~istfully asked Lucy.
the sol csrmine shadows deepening over
her cheek.
a country place! What tory' said Mer-
ton. little contemptuously. what on
earth should We bury ourselves In the
country for, when we can buy place at
the West End. and surround ourselves
with all the rennements Of city lief'
A shade OF disappointment caur over
Lucy's face.
"oh, Merton, have always dreamed OF
q country house" sighed she.
With burglars and mildew aud spiders
thrown 10. ehi Nonsense. my dear. non
sense. The city is the place to live in"
And We can have papa and mamma to
live with US, can't wel'
"w-well, don't know exactly about
that" said Milford. thoughtfu.ly, stroking
his moustache; "l'Il buy 'em q snug little
place, II you say so, my love; but never
did believe In father. and mothers-in-lAw
living with their children. Every house
hold is complete in itself. That's my no.
ton"
''Oh. Merton, how can you talk so:''
cried Lucy with . pained voice.
On, well. Lucy. there's no use In sent-
mentalizing on these points" retorted her
husband. . little brusquely.
Il don't care to be rich II can't enjoy
the pleasures OF my money" said Mrs. Nil.
ford, pouting.
so you may enjoy them. ifyou only
will be reasonable about it,
'And I've always thought so much OF
having mamma with me-"
Better leave of thinking of II them"
said Milford. lighting cigar aud leaning
back In chair, the better to enjoy it.
Il suppose can have as many servants
as please now7' hazarded Mrs. Milford,
wisely steering the conversational barque
away from the shoals OF dispute.
"Twenty, IL You Ike, my dear" replied
Merton.
'And ahousekeeper. like Mrs. Miller's7"
Not housekeeper," said Mr.. Milford,
shaking his head. mo fine ladies for me,
disguised as dependents. As many ser.
wants as you like, but no ono to domineer
over them-a proxy for yourself"
81 will have housekeeper," said Lucy.
excitedly.
mo. you will not, my dear-uot iu my
house"
"You don't want me to have anything 1
want"
''Ob, yes; but there's no use 10 being
unreasonable"
And can We have cottage at Brigh-
ton?'
why do yon say BrightonY' Rravely,
questioned Merton. ITO my mind, puss,
Brighton is nothing more than hot bed
Of folly and fiippery. At Hastings. now?"
Il don't care for Hastings" said Lucy.
moodily; "the air never did agree with
me-"
Lucy burst Into tears.
Mr. Milford got up and strode out Of the
room.
Merton, Merton.'' cried the wife,
where are you goipGf"
''ro TIE billard-room 1t the corner"
said Milford, hotly. II can find friends
enough there, II dare say, to give 10 me
the sympathy my wife seems Inclined to
WITHHOLD
Lucy cried bitterly. In all the bright
years OF their married life they never had
any serious differences until now. Was 1t
possible that riches were destined to bring
them only need of misery instead .of the
expected harvest Of happiness Next came
feeling Of bitterness and resentment.