The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1880-05-25

wooDsF1EID MONROE COUNTY OHIO TUESDAY NAY 25 1880

cDA i, NAL 20, 100
Annie was unaware of all this; in fact
she thought her husband was failing to
realize the situation; So when at night
her husband asked her for money to
spend the next dav. she wlckedly put him
off with some excuse, and ingeniously
evaded the request until he was forced
to prefer it before his friend.
II want dollar or two, Annie. Please
get it for me-" be said, in an off.hand
manner.
"a dollar or two! What do you want
with dollar or two p
"There, Annie, don't bother fellow.
I'm 10 hurry"
But with grave deliheration she drew
out quarter and laid it down, then
another and another, nrxt two dimes.
"Let me see-three quarters-seventy-
Eve, ten is eighty-fiye, ten--ninety-fye,
and here is three-cent piece-ninety-
eight cents. Will that do ?"
"Yes," and Mr.. Gray hustled them in
to his pocket and hurried from the room.
He was in hopes bis friend would in.
quire into the cause of the scene, when
he would tell him of the compact and
how it originated. 1t would then pass
as a joke. But Raymond did not make
any remarks. Instead he thought to
himself:
Good gracious! What a horrid grind
she is! And / thought her so pretty.
/ never supposed Albert would have
made such meek husband. Catch me
getting married and having quarters
doled out to me in that way!
He pitied his friends embarrassment,
but did not appear to notice it. Instead
he chatted uneoncernedIy of old friends
and past times. Suddenly turning cor
ner they met two mutual acquaintance.
Hand-sbakings and inquiries followed,
and the four had so much to say that
Albert decided to send a note to his
partner and spend the forenoon with his
friends.
The party now adjourned to restau-
rant, and Raymond, aware of the exact
amount Of his-Mr. Gray's funds-or-
dered lunch.
Before separating little excursion to
Beach Island was proposed for Monday.
Mr.. Gray invited them, meantime, to
spend the evening at his house. The
evening passed was pleasant one An
ME was in excellent spirits, sang and
played, and was altogether charming
Raymond, remembering the money, de-
cided that matrimony was snare, when
women was so deceptive.
The next day, which was Sunday,
Mrs. Gray, without being asked, gravely
handed her husband fifty cents, Mr..
Raymond was present, but did not ap-
pear to notice it; he was apparently en-
crossed with the book be was reading
but he heard Albert ask
"What's that for1 Oh, the contribu-
tion-box! Thank you," he said; but to
himself he added:
"Why not save it to go with the TWEEN
tv.ive cents I have already, so as mot to
be compelled to ask for money on Tues
dsy2 Then if can succeed in getting
some for Mondays trip, without the
knowledge Of my friends, this absurd
farce will end without any more unpleas.
antness."
Monday morning came, all too soon;
for try as he would he could not get the
attention Of Annie, when he endeavored
to broach the subject of the projected
trip. Fldgetting with his knife and fork,
he cleared his throat at last, and in a.
nervous way made the plunge.
Mrs. Gray elevated her eyebrows.
ITO the islsnd' Pray for what? tt
is hardly the season for excursions"
Mr. Raymond really pitied his friends
evident distress, 50 he said, jokingly,
"Why. you see, Mrs. Gray, we want
to get off for time, as we used to when
we were boys"
The lady smiled grimly, and said,
"Albert is, as you see, too extravagant
bv half. l cannot, in the present state
of cur finances, give my consent to his
going" With these words, spoken with
greaecomposure, she walked of, leaving
the gentlemen to themselves.
"By heavens, Albert, I never would
stand that!" said Frank, yehemently.-
"To be tutored like schoolboy! Hav-
emit you any money at the storep If
not, call upon me for any amount, and
let us hurry, or We shall be late"
"No. I'm afraid we cannot CO. / am
pledged not to take any money from the
store, and it would not be right to ac-
cept any frem you"
Glad Of an excuse, Albert then told
his friend the secret of his wife's con-
duct
"Whew so that's It! Well, I'm glad
to have my faith in womankind restored; ;
but isn't she OVERRIDING the matter ? Did
you ever refuse her money before 9TH
ers ?"
~ think / did, last summer, whep
Mrs. Osgood was visiting her. They
wished to 60 and see friend living 10
Biddeford. thought it was foolish ).
and told them so, and finally refused my
wife the money. The truth is," apollo
getically, 81 had met with some losses,
and felt that we must economize."
"Why not have allowed her to use her
own judgment? Perhaps she intended
to economise in other ways" said Frank.
81 believe she said something of the
kind. But ] had got into the way of
thinking that women needed to be con-
tinually curbed. or they would run into
extravagances
sits shame to treat high-spirited
woman in that way"
II realize it now fully. Annie said
she had done plain sewing to pay for
things she needed rather than ask me
for money. understand it now, for /
would rather have earned the money for
our trip by saving WOOD than have ask
ed for it Fancy having to always ask T.
"Do you know, Albert, ! am glad this
happenedl may marry some time
in fact I'm thinking of it strongly, and
now shall avoid the course you have
taken; otherwise ! presume might have
done the same. / believe great many
men do"
"Do3 Why, yes. MY mother never