The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-05-01

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with dollar or two?''
There, Annie, don't bother fellow.
I'm in hurry"
But with grave deliberation, she drew
out a quarter, and laid it down, then an
other and another, next two dimes.
| "Let me see-three quarters-seventy-
five, ten is ghty-five-ten-n inety-five,
and here is three-cent piece-ninety-
eight cents. Will 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 a joke. But Mr.. Raymond did not
make any remark. 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 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 cor
ner, they met two mutual acquaintance,
Hand-shakings and inquiries followed,
and the four had SO much to say, that
Mr.. Gray decided to send 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.
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.
Mr.. Raymond, remembering the money,
decided that matrimony was snare,
when women were 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 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? o, the contribu-
ton box! Thank your' he said. But
to himself he added
"Why not save it, to go with the
twenty-five cents l have already, SO as
not to be compelled to ask for money on
Tuesday? Then if can succeed in get
ting some for Mondays trip, without the
knowledge of my friends, this absurd
farce will end, without any more un-
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 a |
nervous way made the plunge.
Mrs. Gray elevated her eyebrows.
ITO the island? Pray for whatp 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 a 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 composure, she walked off, leaving
the gentlemen to themselves.
by heavens, Albert, never would
stand thatr' said Frank, vehemently |
ITO be tutored like a schoolboy!
you any money at the storeP II
not, call upon me for any amount, and
let us hurry, or we shall be late.'
No. I'm afraid 1 cannot go. I 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.
"Whew, so that is itp'' said Frank.
Well, I'm glad to have my faith in
restored; but isn't she over
doing the matterP Did you ever refuse
her money before othersr"
Il think / did, last summer, when
Mrs. Osgood was visiting her. They
wished to go and see friend, living in
Biddeford. thought was foolish, and
told them SO; and finally refused my
wife the money. The truth is" apollo
yetically, II had met with some losses, +
md felt that we must economize."
"Why not have allowed her to use
,er own judgmentp Perhaps she in
ended to economic in other ways" said
Frank.
/" l believe she said something OF the
lind. But to tell the truth, l had got
INTO the way Of thinking that women
needed to be continually curbed, or they
would run into extravagances." Il
Its shame to treat high-spirited
in that way
6 realize it now fully, more fully than
'ou can, unless you go through with my
experience. Annie said she had done
lain sewing to pay for things she needed,
ather than ask me for the money. III
understand it now; for would far rather
AVE earned the money for our trip by I
awning wood, than have asked for it.
'ancy having to always askr'
Do Won know Albert am orfad fh;s I