The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1880-01-16
HEEHsAsS LESSON.

MFra was poutilig.
The unmistakable expression Of ill-tem-
per disfgured her pretty face, and Ernest
sighed as he remembered how often it had
been there during their brief married ex-
perience. 49,. @.5 ....
Upon the breakfast table was standing
the remains Of q substantial meal, in the
disorder that follows their use.
Breakfast was over, but Ernest still kept
his seat, toying absently with teaspoon,
while Myra looked at him with the
cross look of a thwarted child.
s.rhen you won't give me the dress?''
she said. @4@. .@..5@ -.5E.
II can't Myra, [ really could not do il
without running into debt2'
"L7hat's just I'M EXCUSE. PAPA always
gave ME the money for my clothes, even il
he was cross about some other tllings.n
HYour father was a rich man, Myra
when we were married.
81 wish he was rich now. I'd ask hin
for the money. [ never thought yot
would be stingy, Ernest"
This last thrust was too mitch for the
long enduring temper;
Ernest Mather's voice was very stern a;
he answered:
II am not stingy, Myra, you knew thai
I was a poor man when you married me
and that I could not give you the luxtries
of your old home; but have granted yo,
every indulgence i'll my power withou
getting into debt. THAT / viii not do, fol
your sake as well as mine,
He left her then, lingering in the hal
as he put on his oyercoat, hoping she
would come for kiss and a word Of re.
conciliatiou.
But she sat tapping her little foot upor
the floor until the hall door closed, ant
then ran to her room crying,
/ She was a spoiled child, the only daugh
ter of a man who had been wealthy, bu
who had hazarlca his monty iii an i'm
| fortunate speculation and lost it.
4 position abroad was offered him
His house and furniture, which he hat
given his daughter for wedding gift
were settled upon herself, and not affected
by his change Of fortune,
He knew Ernest Matllel to be an hon
orable man, who had a. good business ca
pacity, and high place in the esteem ant
confidence of his employers, and he felt NJ
anxiety about Myra's future.
So the little wife, as she made her pret
/ ty blue eyes all red with tears Of temper
had no sensible mother to tell her how
wrorHlH she vas arti'tb; nb sister to sym
patlize with her, 10 one to seold or humo
| her.
Under these circumstances the tear
were soon dried, and Mrs. AIather wen
ont for a walk,
s:It's no harm to look at the dress again
4 even If j can buy it, 4 She said5 as she tiet
on a toqhgtsfii little botlnet Hffa 5tilerfTis
beautifed herself for the expedition.
The day was bright, a soft, warm morn
ing III early spring, and the shops wer
filled with tempting fnery.
4 In Myra's dainty porte-monnaie ther
was money enough to purchase man.
nice little articles, even though the pric
OF the expensive dress she wanted was de
Inied herr
So tilemorning slipped away, and lunch
4 con time found her chatting with JUL
MAXWELL, and quite willing to. aeeompen
that friend upon d second tour il, the al
terooon.
II vas five O'Clock when the little ma
ffon, tired to death, as she said, reache
her pretty home.
Her first shock was catching . gIimps
of Ernest's maiden aunt, Miss Cortleli
I I4owrs.vv, her especial aversion and dreae
seated upon tie drav ngg-room sofa.
stOld horror, she nautterad. wis
il she was lat home. | want to make i =
with Ernest. I don't like the dress lla
as much as ! did yesterday
! The second shock met her upon opelliil
Il the door. Of her bed room.
Open boxes, closets, drawers, and
/ air of general confusion everywhere, az
#tlae small trunk Ernest always took 1ipe
his short business trips missing altogetle
u Clearly her husband had packed up ~
{ gone, leaving aunt Gordelia, as usual,
I keep Nyra company
! But where was ae..s