Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-05-19
THE BEST WIFE.

said Herbert Alnscourt.
'Of course-I dare say responded
Mr.. Portcross. But what's your ex-
act idea of the best wife in the world |?
Jones says he's got the best wife in the
world, because she keeps his stockings
darned. takes him to church three times
Of Sua nday, aud never lets him have
an idea OF his own. jenkins says he's
got the same identical article, but Jen-
kn's wife keeps all the money, draws
his salary for him, and makes him live
in the back kitchen because the parlor
IS too good for the family use.'
oh but Daisy isn't bit osreish-
little, submissive. soft voiced thing
that hasn't an idea except what is re-
nected in me. tell youwhat.old fellow,
Pm master Of my own house | come
when please aud go when 1 please.
Daisy never ventures on word of re-
proach.'
Then you ought to be ashamed OF
yourself, larkiug around at the clubs as
you do, Observation-Disclosures fashion,
Ashamed ! of what p
why, suppose you owe duties to
your wife,?
Where's the harm? Ny wife doesn't
care
Probably you think so because size
is quiet and submissive but if she
were to object
Object I'd like to hear her try it,
Now. look here, Alnscourt, your
wife may be a model wife, but you cer-
tainly are not a model husband. Peo-
pie ore beginning to talk about The way
you neglect that pretty blue-eyed GIRL
I'll thank people to mind their own
business. Neglect her, indeed! Why
man | love her as l love my own Ooul,
Then why don't you treat her as il
you did:'
oh, come, Portcross, that question
Just shows what regular old bachelor
you are. 1t won't do to make much Of
your wife, unless you want to spoiI
her,
Mr. Portcross shook his head.
That sounds selfish. Idon't like the
ring of thal metal
And he went away, leaving Mr.. Ans
court to finish his game Of billiards at
leisure.
'What regular old fuss-budge
Portcross is lasghed the latter. AL
ways poking his nose into somebody
else's business. There's one comfort
l never pay any attention to what hi
says
Meanwhile Mrs. Anscourt was sit
ting alone in her drawingroom, her two
little white hands tightly locked in one
another, and her tair head slightly droop
iug-a delecate little apple-blossom o
a woman. with blue, wistiul eyes an(
curley alxen hair, looking more like q
grown-up child than a wife Of twenty
one summers.
oh dear y sighed Daisy, 1T is 81
dull here. l wish Herbert would come
home. lie never spends any time will
rne now a-days. and read the newspa
pers, so can talk about the things he'
interested in, and try so hard to be en-
tertaining. It's very strange
And then her oval face Frightened
into sudden brilliauce, and the sparkle;
stole into her eyes for the quick cal
had detected her husbands footsteps on
the stairs. The next moment he came
iu.
We'll, pet, hos are yCu:' with {
playing pinch other cheek. There arc
some bonbeas for you. Where are M
Ii 5ht gloves p
% Herbert! you are not going away
agaln p
I must, Daisy. There are lot O.
!, fellows going to drive 10 High Bridge
aud I'm one Of the party. You can GO
over 10 my mothers for dinner, or senC
for one OF your friends, or something
There, goodbye, puss. Pm in DUE o
a hurry
And with one careless kiss p:esse'
Oh the quiyering damask rose Of
mouth that was lifted up TO him, hi
was gone.
Daisy Ainscourt neither went to he
mothcr-in-law, nor sent for one OF he
girl friends. She spent The evening al
alone, ponderiug Oh the shadow whicl
was fast overgrowing her life.
what shall do p thought the little
tlmld shrinking wife. Oh, what shall
, do?'
But, child as she was, Daisy has
strong. resolute woman's heart within
her nor was she long N coming to de
cision.
Daisy said her husband to her mex
day, you haven't any objections to ny
attending the Orion Ball Masque y
Are masked balls nice places, Her
bert:'
o, yes, everybody goes only
thought I'd pay you the compliment oil
asking whether you disapproyed or not.
Can go with you?'
well-ahem- very well, TIM
time, Daisy. You see, Mrs. Fencburch
really limited so strongly for me TO take
her, that couldn't help it.
'very WE'LL assented Daisy, meekly
and Herbsrt repeated within himself th'
pecan of praises he had chanted in Mr.,
| ID p>.,.,.oea, oors. sTho host little wife