St. Landry democrat., 1880-04-24
"a dollar or two! What do you wan

with a dollar or TWO!
"There, Annie, don't bother fellow
I'm in a hurry
But with grave dcliberation. she drew
out a quarter, and laid it down. then an
other and another. next two dimes.
"Let me see-thrcc enthusiastically
five, ten is eighty tive-ten-ninetv-f five
and here is a three-ccnt piece-ninety
eight cents. VIII that do?"
YES" and Mr.. Gray hustled them
into his pocket, and hurried from the
room.
He was in hopes his 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 joke. But Mr.. Raymond did not
make any remark. Instead he thought
to himself:
"Good gracious! What 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 wayr'
He pitied his friends embarrassment,
but did not appear to notice it. Instead,
he chatted unconcernedly of old friends
and past times. Suddenly turning a cor
ner, they met two mutual acquaintance,
Hand-shakings and inquiries followed,
Mr. Gray decided to send a note to his
partner, and spend the forenoon with his
| friends.
The party now adjourned to a restau-
rant, and Mr. Raymond, aware of the
exact amount of his-Mr. Gray s-funds,
ordered lunch.
Before separating, little excursion to
Beach Island was proposed for Monday.
MIR. 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.
Mr.. Raymond, remembering the money,
decided that matrimOny was 4 snare,
when women were 50 deceptive.
The next day, which was Sunday, Mrs.
handed her husband fifty cents. Mr..
Raymond was present, but did not APP
pear to noticeit. He was apparently en-
crossed with the book he was reading.
But he heard Mr.. Gray ask:
"What's that for? 0, the contrih,l-
ton box! Thank you!' he said. But
to himself he added:
"Why not save it, to 90 with the
twenty-five cents | have already, so as
not to be compelled to ask for money on
Tuesday? Then if | can succeed in get
ting some for Monday trip, without the
knowledge of my friends, this absurd
farce will end, without any more I'M
pleasantness."
Monday morning came, all too soon;
for try as he would, he could not get the
attention of Annie, when he endeavored
to breach the subject of the projected
trip. Fidgetting with his knife and fork,
he cleared his throat, at last, and in q
nervous way made the plunge.
Mrs. Gray elevated her eyebrows.
"To the island? Pray for what? 1t
is hardly the season for excursions
Mr.. Raymond really pitied his friends
evident distress, so 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
by half | cannot, in the present state
of our finances, give my consent to his
going" With these words, spoken with
great compostlre, she walked off, leaving
the gentlemen to themselves.
by heavens, Albert, [ never would
stand that!' said Frank, vehemently.
"'To be tutored like schoolboy!.
Haven't you any money at the store? If
not, call upon me for any amount, and
let us hurry, or we shall be late.'
"No. I'm afraid cannot go. | am
pledged not to take any money from the
store, and it would not be right to accept
any from YOU
Glad of an excuse, Mr.. Gray then told
his friend the secret of his wife's conduct.
e" Whew, so that is it?'' said Frank.
"Well, I'm glad to have my faith in
womankind restored; but isn't she over
doing the matter? Did you ever refuse
her money before others?''
Il think I did, last summer, when
Mrs. Osgood was visiting her. They
wished to go and see friend, living in
Biddeford. thought it was foolish, and
told them SO; and finally refused my
wife the money. The truth is apollo
getically, Il had met with some losses,
and felt that we must economize."
"Why not have allowed her to use
her own judgment? Perhaps she in.
tended to economic in other ways" said
Frank.
Il believe she said something of the
kind. But to tell the truth, had got
into the way of thinking that women
needed to be continually curbed, OF they
would run into extravagances.'
''It's shame to treat a high-spirited
woman in that way
Il realize it now fully, more fully than
you can, unless you 60 through with my
experience Annie said she had done
plain sewing to pay for things she needett,
rather than ask me for the money. [
understand it now; for I would far rather
have earned the money for our trip by
saving wood, than have asked for it.
Fancy having to always ask!'
"Do you know, Albert, l am glad this
happened? may marry sometime; in
fact, I'm thinking of it strongly, and
now / shall avoid the course you have
taken. Otherwise, presume | might
have done just the same. l believe a
great many men do.
"Do? Why, yes. My mother never
had penny without asking father for it,
and she helped earn it all, and was pr,l
dence and industry personified. Ill
turn over a new leaf All, here COME
E.. J,f3