The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1879-02-28
mi j @ O ella IN @ O u q.
The Wife's Ambition.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

cts hard rub to get along, little wife,
isn't it 2" said Gerald May, as he closed his
account book, and looked somewhat rue
fully at the solitary one dollar bill, which
was all that remained of his months salary
after the housekeeping bills were settled
and the rent paid, and the outstanding &C
counts at the dry goods store balanced up
satisfactorily.
Mabel 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, and rosy
lips apart.
ooh, Gerald" said she, II do try so hard
to be economical !"
"Of course you do, little chick" said
Gerald, leaning over to catch one particu-
lar curl of reddish brown hair that was
dropping in spirals of gold over the fore
head, and giving it an affectionate little
twitch. "Don't know that, without you
telling me ~
"But wish could help you," cried out
Mabel" "Oh, wish l knew of any way
to earn money myself"
"My DEAR" said he, zone would as soon
expect an diversified doll to earn mon
ey."
"Other women do" said Mabel, critical
| ly surveying the slice of bread to make
sure it was artistically Drowned on both
| sides.
"But you are such child !"
~ am two and twenty" said Mabel, SOL
EMMY.
"Nonsense |" said Gerald. "What could
you do to earn money 2"
Mabel colored at the deprecatory tone
of the words.
Gerald" said she, II do wish you
would treat me more like woman and
less like child. Don't you suppose 1
have as much talent as the rest of my
sex?"
Gerald laughed in good humor. "Pour
out the tea, DEAR" said he, "before you go
rhapsodizing OF course, know that
you're dear little puss, and can make an
omelette or shirt, with any in Christendom.
But you can't write stirring book like
George Eliot, nor paint grand picture
like Rosa Bonheur |"
"Of course, don't aspire to any great
ness as that" said Mabel, impatiently, "but
can sing"
you've a nice little voice enough" said
her husband, patronizingly, "for the parlor;
but as to making money out of it, hardly
think you will find it so easy"
"You don't think I can do anything u
said Mabel, half Indignantly. "Only just
because am woman"
"Some women drive fate single-handed,'
said Gerald May, slipping his tea with pro-
voking nonchalance, "but you're not one Of
the sort, my dear"
But long after Gerald had lighted his
student lamp and commenced his evening
avocation of copying law papers, by which
pursuit he added slender sum to the in.
come which would otherwise have been
quite insufficient for even the slender wants
of the young married pair, Mabel sat with
folded hands gazing into the red Goals, as il
she could read there some clue to the prob.
lem of her life.
"Only one dollar left of our months
money after our months bills are all set
tled," said Mrs. May to herself, screwine
up her little rosebud mouth. "Ob, dear
that isn't the way to get rich. We must
make money somehow. l can't write love
stories and poetry, and won't sew for star
walton prices and don't see my way cleal
to being shop girl or cashier, even il
anybody would employ me, because there's
dear old Gerald to be looked after and KEEP
comfortable. But do think could sing
if only obtained a chance. Mr.. Martell, a
the boarding school, used to say I had {
good soprano. I'll ask Mrs. Lacy, up stairs
to let me practice a little on her piano, ant
then I'll try my fortune. Gerald will say
ii is all nonsense; but don't mean to ash
his advice"
And three or four weeks afterwards, whel
Mrs. May presented herself trembling ant
: fluttering, before Signor Severe, that mu
,, steal autocrat viewed her, with favora
BILE eyes, through an immense pair of eye
glasses.
you advertised for soprano, sir" sale
/. Mabel, turning carmine and white b.
turns.
Certainly, madame, did," said he
''For re choir of st. Eudocia, in Magnoli
Square"
/. "Will you please try ea"
: "Wiz re greatest of pleasure, madame,
. briskly opening the huge grand plan
which stood like a family coffin in tn
middle Of the room. Sand what will yo1
sing2"
"Whatever you please, sir"
Signor Severe rustled piece of must
out Of a drift some three feet high on tn
floor. r-5a.s.