Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-08-21

afraid of her.
Maria, in her demand for money, had
been even more remorseless during the
last year than before, and had actually
taken eight hundred dollars Of his two
thousand. And there was not much
show oft in the house Or upon her per-
son. Ifhe limited at an explanation,
she turned him of SO sweetly and
adroitly that he could not resist.
maria, we must turn over a new
leaf, he remarked. Here l am with
out dellar in the world-and never
shall have while things go on in this
way. 1 have given you eight hundred
dollars this last year.
Have you? indeed! What is eight
hundred dollars?' chuckled she.
There Is Raymsnd's house opposite
for sale. 1t is a beautiful place, and can
be bought for fcur thousand dollars, by
paying fifteen hundred down. / was
thinking that if 1 had saved my money,
might have been able to buy that
place
No use to cry for split milk, replied
Maria.
Il know that but we needn't spill
any more milk. 1 have been very eco-
nomical the last year ) and he proceed
ed to detail the retrenchments he had
made.
y Oh have done very well, Edward.
Yes, my dear, better than you ave.
Who would have thought should eyer
preach economy to you?' he laughed.
What was the use for me to be pru-
dent while you scatter your money like
chaff:' asked the wife with infinite good
humer.
No use, confess
/ will turn over a new leaf if you
will. You used to find falt with me be-
cause [ wouldn't buy strawberries at
sixty cents box
4 haven't lately
No, you haven't
And | never will again. Now, Ma
ria, was thinking five could save up
four or five hundred dollars a year fol
three years we might buy house.
Very true and We will begin now,
you like
with all my heart
You shall allow me fixed sum fol
nay personal expenses
Say two hundred dollars
Half that sum will do
But you can't come dewn all at once
frsm eight hundred 10 one hundred
Yes, l can,' replied the pretty wo-
man, the mischief cleaning in her radi'
ant eyes.
Then we can buy house IN three
years.
Suppose you buy Raymenss now.'
But | cannot. l haven't dollar in
the world after my debts are paid.
Then Will l let you have fifteen hun
dred dollars to pay down.
You? You are facctious, Maria
What are you laughing at:'
Maria, for some reason or other, had
burst into violent fit Of laughing.
You shall have money, Edward
But YOU must promise not to tell any
one what an extravagant wife you have,
as you did DR.. Smith,
What do you mean, Maria' Forgive
me fer that
I will, my dear replied she, and
going to a drawer she produced two
bank books and paced them in her
husbands hands.
One OF them indicated that she had a
thousand dollars in one savings bank
and the other six hundred in another
bank. Ofcourse, Edward was astonlsh'
edit was his duty to be astonished.
Your exlravagant wife has saved
sixteen hundred dollars Of your money
in spite of your teeth, besides curing you
of sundry reckless habits And she
threw herself upon n sofa and laughed
until she had nearly gone into fit.
Mara, you are a jewel. Lam amaz
ed. You paid DR.. Smith,
4 did,
He lied to me then.'
No, he didn't; you and are one
so of course you paid it. | had to tel
him my secret, and in return he inform
ed me what an excellent character yor
had given me for prudence and econO-
my
J Forgive me, Maria. You have made
me the happiest man in the VERDI
And I am revengcd.
'Revenged?'
You found fault with me every da.
when you came home, and resolved t(
punish you. l knew you would not re-
fuse me money and [ have at length
brought you to your senses
Il sec where the money went to now.
DO you, indeed
To tell the truth, l thought there
wa, very little show for the money
gave you.'
Sixteen hundred dollars, money il
hand, was large sum to Edward, whC
had spent everything as fast as he go
lit. lie felt like a man-like rich man
What treasure was Maria, who, be-
sides being pretty, swcet-tempered ant
devoted, was thorough financier.
Fer my part. should not like a fin
ancier on any other terms. A prudent
but growing, ill-tempered shrew, woul'
be my abomination ; and before her
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