The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-01-26
MRS. GRETCHUM'S VOW.


Yet me have little money to-day?"
asked a pale, tired-looking woman, as
she stood with dropping eyelids and
folded hands before her husband, q tall,
broad siX-fOOter.
Cant you wait until Saturday." he
asked impatiently.
lit is such beautiful day for shop
ping" she continued, meekly. "You
know that the stores are 50 crowded of
= Saturday afternoon that it is the
poorest day in the week to get good bar
gains; besides, | am almost sure it will
rain. You know it has rained every
Saturday for ever SO long"
"Just the very reason it will not rain
next Saturday. Why don'tyou say you
don't want to wait, and be done with
it?''
Mrs. Gretchum's face flushed Grim
son, and she stammered out: - ! sup
pose | shall have to wait, if you say it.
But the fact is, put off asking you for
money until the very last moment
here her lips quivered so that she was
unable to finish her sentence.
:" A few days can make no great diff
ference" said her husband, as he stood
in the door buttoning up his coat.
The wife lifted up her lips to give the
accustomed kiss, while her husband
'coolly turned one cheek to receive it,
tLpen, closing the door after him, he
went down the steps muttering:" Money,
money, always money!
His wife hurried into the house, and,
f1inging herself upon the lounge, gave
way to a bitter paroXysm of tears. She
wept until she could weep no longer,
then, arising, she went about her house
hold duties with a troubled heart.
Saturday noon, at the dinner table,
although it was raining as hard as it
could pour, Mr.. Gretchum drew out his
purse, saying: "How much do you
want?'
"You know can't 90 to-day. 1t is
raining. Ii twas only myself wouldn'
care, but, since | have no one to keep
the children, am obliged to take them
along. Johnnie would be sure to take
the Group should he get wet"
Every well, then, said Mr.. Gretchum,
with a self-satisfed air, putting away
his purse.
Again it was the middle of the week,
and again Mrs. Gretchum petitioned for
''just little money"
Il should think you would get money
enough, some time, responded her hus-
band, GROSSLY.
''You forget that didn't get any the
last time | asked
"No difference; you would have
wanted it all the same if you had"
F'Charles, Johnnie is almost bare
footed, and the baby hasn't decent
frOck to her name"
1t won't hurt them if you keep them
in the house"
CHARLES said his wife, II wouldn't
ask you if didn't know you had plenty
of money"
There wouldn't be plenty if you
could spend all you wanted.
80 Charles, how unfair, when YOU
know / make every cent 90 as far as
common people make twon' she walled
ont.
$50 you say. How much do you
wantP" he snapped out
"Just as much as you can spare. Yor
know there is much needed every spring
and autumn"
"Will that do?n he asked, taking out
"a i1ve-dollar note.
"l-I guess So" stammered out the
poor woman, but she went into the
house with bitter thoughts surging il
her breast.
Night came and Mr. Gretchum wa,
very self-complacent.
odd you put down what you got to
dayP' he asked.
Certainly"
q hope you got yourself new cali
co wrapper. | am tired of seeing you
IN patches"
al hadn't money enough to get al
The children needed without thinking
of myself. Twenty-Five dollars wouldn't
be a cent too much to get all we need. y
"'You are getting very extravaganza,
he said, sneeringly.
Charles she said, in tremulou'
voice, eve have now been married five
years. During that time | have asked
YOu for little money, as | have made
out with making over my old clothes
but they are nearly all in shreds now
Ihave got to have money or go ragged
"Well, didn't give You some to-
,day?n