The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-02-24

ana run out and NIL his case without hi!
friends knowledge. Twenty. four hour
had passed, and he had already begun tc
experience q feeling Of shame, and dis
inclination, to ask for money. A thought
of Annie crossed his mind.
"Pshnw, she doesn't have to treat
friends to cigars" he muItercd
Frank Raymond was already at his
house, and Annie had Attempting little
supper for them, and Annie was locking
her preltiest. When supper was over he
took his wife aside, and asked for half.a.
crown, which she gave him grudgingly.
Then he excused himself for q moment
and bought some cigars. They were
wretched affairs, however and filled the
house with villainous odor, for he had
to get them at a new place, Benson's being
too far of.
The next day the two friends started
out together, when MIR. Gray, with an air
ofhaving forgotten something, said:
| Excuse me moment"
| "I'Il 90 back with you, if you have for.
getten anything" said Mr.. Raymond.
Mr.. Gray clapped his hand on his
pocket.
II thought had forgotten my pocket
book, but havn't," he said. $50 it's all
right" and then hurried on, his cheeks
tingling with shame Mt the deceit. But
he could not risk having his friend go
back with him and stand by while he
asked for money.
MIR. Gray was lucky that day. He had
no calls for money, and he had half
dozen Of those horrid cigars left, couple
Of which he smoked in the street after
his friend left him. In fact, he concIu.
ded to risk another day in tho same way.
But on this day he realized the old
adage, at nnver rains but it pours," for
from being asked to change five pound
note, to getting his coat ripped, and ask
ing for credit at his tailors, tho day was
series Of notifications. -
Annie was unaware of all this, in fact
she thought her husband was falling to
realize the situation; SO when, ut night,
Mr.. Grny asked her for money to spend
the next day sha wickedly r.. him of #
with some excue, and ingeniously eyaded
the request until he was force to prefer il
before his friend.
II want few shillings, Annie. Please
get them for me-" he said in an Off hand
manner.
"a few shillings What do You want
with few shillngs?"
"There, Annie, don't bother fellow.
I'm in hurry"
But with grave deliberaton she drew
nut o shilling, and laid it down, then an
other, next aixpence, next fourpenny.
piece, and last threepcnce in coppers.
"Let me seo-three shilling-sixpence
& fourpenny -peice-a threepenny.piece,
and here are threepence in coppers-four
shillings and fourpence. 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 thsscene, when he
would tell him OF tho compact and how
it originated. 1t would then pass as a
joke. But Mr.. Raymond did not make
any remarks. Instead. he thought to
himself:
"GGoooaa Coed gracious, what hoTriidi s.;nd
she is And l thought her 50 pretty.
never supposed Albert would have made
such meek husband. Catch me getting
married, and having shillings doled out
to me in that way"
He pitied his friends embarrassment
but did not appear to notice it. Ims.ead,
he chatted unconcernedly of old friends
and past times. Suddenly turning cor
ner, they met two muiunl acquaintances.
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 friend.
Before separating, little excursion to
Brighton was proposed for Monday. Mr..
Gray invited them, meantime, to spend
the evening at his house. The evening
passed was q pleasant one.
Annie was in excellent spirits, sang
and played, and was altogether charming
Mr. Raymond, remembering the money,
decided that inatrimony was indeed q
snare when women were 80 deceptive.
The next day, which was Sunday, Mrs.
Gray, without being asked, gravely hand
ed her husband two shiliings. Mr.. Ray
mond was present, but did not appear to
notice it. He was apparently engrossed
with the book he was reading. But he
heard Mrs. Gray ask:
"What's that for? Oh, the contribution
box. Thank you," he said. But to him.
self he added
"Why not save il to go with the shill-
ing have already, so rs not to be COM
PEELED to ask for money on Tuesday
Then if ! succeed in getting some for
Mondays trip, without the knowledge of
my friends, this absurd farce will end,
without any more unpleasahtness."
Monday morning came all too soon,
ioT try Us nc would, he could not get tho
attention ofAnnie when heendeavored to
broaeh the subject OF the projected trip.
Eidgetting with his knife and fork he
cleared mis- throat at last and in nervous
way made the plunge.
Mrs. Gray elevated her eyebrows.
"To Brighton? Pray for what? It is
hardly the season for excursions.'
Mr.. Raymond really pitied his friends
evid ut distress. so he said, jokingly:
",9hy, you see, Mn. Gray, we want
to get OF for time as we used to when
we were boys"
The lady smiled grinnly and replied
firmly:
"Albert is, as you see, too extravayant
by half. / cannot, in tho present etate
Of our finances, give my consent to his CO.
With these words, spoken with great
composure, she walked of, leaving the
gentlemen to themselves. -'-
"By heavens, Albert, ] never would
stand that" said Frank, veher1ently.
ITO be tntored like achoolboy r HaT-
emit you any money at tho Office? If not
call upon me for any alaount. and let us
hurry, or we shall be late" n
mo. Pm afraid I cannot go. nm
pledged not to take any money from the
office, and it would not be right to accept
any from you.D
Glad of excuse, Mr.. Gray then told
his friend the secret OF his .wife's con.
duct.