Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1879-03-04
SCELLAaE GUS.
A WIFE'S AMBITION.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

=. :, rs hard rub to get along little vile,
=. isn't t." said Gerald May, rs he
closed his account book, and looked some>
what ruetully at the solitary one dollar bill,
which is all that remained of his months
salary after his housekeeping bills were set-
tied, and the rent paid, aud the outstapdin2
accounts at the dry goods store balanced
mp satisfactorily.
Mable May WAS kneeling on the hearth
rug, toasting piece of bread for her hus-
bands supper. She turned around with
cheeks flushed by the freight, aud rosy lips
apart
'Oh, Gerald" said she, 81 do Try so hard
to be economical"
.Of course you do, little chick" snid
Gerald, lcuning over to catch one particular
curl of reddish brown hair that was dropping
in spiTals of gold over the fair forehead, and
giving it an uHectionate little twtoh. ''Don't,
know that without you telling me
"B1t l. swish / cnuld hslp you." cried ont
Mable. ooh, wish knew of any way to
earn money myself"
Gerald May looked at her with on amused
smile.
"My dear said he. Zone would as soon
expect al. diversified doll to caro- money"
"Other women do,' said Mabe, critically
surveying the slice of bread to make sure
'Bu, you are such child -
II em two and twenty" said M4b!e, SOL
cmnIy. ,o
Nonsense" said Gerald, "What could
you do to earn money!
MabIe colored at thc dcprecatory tone Of
the words. -.....
''Gera|1," said she. II do wish you would
treat me more like woman and less Ike a
child. Don't you suppose have as much
alent as the rest of my sex r
Gerald laughed good humoredly Poor
out the tea c0ro," no ssid. before you 90
raphsodzing. OF course. know that you're
dear little puss, and can make an ome!ette
or shirt with any woman in Ehristeodom.-
Bot you cant write a stirring book like
George Elicit. or paint grand picture ike
Rosa Boahcur.' -
"Of course. l don't aspire to any such
greatness as that" said Mable, impatiently,
but can sing"
You've got nice little voice, enough"
said husband a,.tronzipgIy, "for tho parIor;
hut as to king money out OF it, hardly
think you'll ind it so easy"
You don't think | can do ANYTHING"
said Msble, half Indignantly. "OOly just
because | am woman"
some women drive fate single handed, "
uouchalance, but you're none Of that sort,
my DEAR"
But long after Gerald had lighted his
student lamp and commenced his evening
svocaton of Copying law papers, by pursuit
of which he added slender SUN to the in
come, which would otherwise have been
quite insufficient for even the, slender wants
of the young married pair, Mable sat with
! folded hands gazing into the red Goals, as if
she could read there some clue to the prob,
/ lem OF her life.
''OaIy one dollar left of our months
| money, after our months bills are al set
( tied. said Mrs May to herself. screwiug up
/ her little rosebud mouth. "Oh, dear that
isn't the way to get rich. We must make a
\ little more money somehow. l can't write
| lore stories poetry, and l won't sew for
starvation prices; and don't see my way clear
to being shop girl a cashier, even if any
/ body would employ me, because there's dear
! old Gerald 20 be looked after aud kept com
/ Portable. But l do think could sing. if |
| only obtained chance. Mr.. Martell, at the
/ boarding school, used to say had a soprano.
/ Iii ask Mrs. Lacy, up stairs, to let me prac>
tice little on her piano, aud then I'll try
my fortune. Gerald would say it was all
nonsense; but don't mean to ask Gerald
advice.
Aud three or four weeks afserward, when
| Mrs May presented herself trembling and
8uttering, before Sigoor Severe, that musi-
cal autOcrat viewed her, with favorable eyes.
through an immense pair of tortoise-shell
| Eyeglasses.
"You advertised for soprano, sir" said
! 1lable, turning cameTine and white by turns.
Certainly, msdsme. did" said the Sig
nor. ''For ze choir of St. Eudocis, IN Nag-
nolia Square"
"WiI you please try me !" :,
"Wiz &c greatest of pleasure madsme'
! briskIy opening the grand piano which stood
ike a family ccfiu in tie middle Of the
! room. And what viii you sing|