Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-07-02
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MS friend the secret OF his wire cOnuu Gu.
sWhew, SO that is it?' said Frank.
"Well, Pm glad to have my faith in wo-
mankind restored; but isn't she overriding
the matter? Did you ever refuse her
money before others?"
II think did, last summer, when Mrs.
Osgood was visiting her. They wished to
go and see friend. living in Bidderford.
thought it was foolish, and told them so;
and finally refused my wife the money.
The truth is.'' apol ogetically. II 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
economlze in other ways" said Frank.
81. believe she said something Of the
kind. But, to tell the truth, I had got in
to the way of thinking that women needed
to be continually curbed or they would
run into extrayagances.
Its a shame to treat q laigh-spirited
woman in that way"
II realize it now fully, more fully than
you can, unless you go through with my
experience. Annie said she had done plain
sewing to pay for things she needed, rath-
er than ask me for the money. under
stand now; for would far rather have
earned the money for our trip by saving
wood than have asked for it. Fancy hav-
ing to always ask p
.'Do you know, Albert, am glad this
happened? I may marry some time; in
fact, I'm thinking of it strongly; and now
l shall avoid the course you have taken
Otherwise presume I might have done
just the same. I believe great many men
do.
"Do2 Why, yes. My mother never had
a penny without asking father for it, and
she helped earn it all, and was prudence
and industry personiied. I'll turn over a
new leaf. All, here come our friends!''
Mr.. Raymond, to Mr.. Gray's great re
lief, said it would be impossible TOR him
to 60 on the proposed trip owing to unfore-.
seen circumstances, whereupon Mr.. Gray,
in an off-hand manner, proposed that as
Frank could not go they should all come
to his house that evening again. "My
wife will be glad to see you," said he.
The week had passed and 'sRichard was
himself again, FOR could be if he chose. But
his wife had mirrored his past actions so
truly and forcibly that he had no wish to
repeat himself. Annie had taken care to
curb his extravagances by giving him al
ways little less than he asked for and in
variably inquiring just how he spent it !;
and, meantime. reckoning up how much
he had had each day with great exactness
All this, as be knew, was copied from his
own custom. Besides, be reelected, if he
found it so disgraceful for week, how
much more so must it seem year after year,
with no prospect of change! In short, he
felt himself to be the meanest man in ex-
istence. "'Tis one half to own it, and
the other half to reform, we suspect.
There, Albert said his wife, II am
glad the farce is ended. Resume your
prerogative.''
| It was Tuesday evening, at half-past six
precisely. when Mrs. Gray said this. at
the same time she handed her husband his
pocket-book, and then returned to her
seat.
Mr.. Gray counted the money carefully
and then divided it into two equal piles.
This accomplished, he crossed over to
| his wife and placed one in her lap. saying:
"Henceforth we will share alike. Buy
what you choose. I have faith in your
prudence and judgment. I am not infalli-
BILE. Why need I sit in judgment upon
you p
Mrs. Gray's eyes glistened with pride
and happiness as she replied:
"Believe me, Albert. you will never
have cause to regret this; for now I shall
have an opportunity to use my reasoning
faculties. :" ~
He never did regret it.
|