The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-11-17

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grievances burst forth
1To be going along the street, hungrier
than any beggar, and my husband is known
as the successful Mr.. Gray To have no
money in my pocket because my husband
thinks l am not to be trusted. Before L
married you l was in business the same as
you-that is, / earned my living by teach
ing; you earned yours by trading. Now,
suppose when we married you had given
up your business to assist me, or because it
interfered with your new duties, and al
lowed you no omoney to spend as you chose;
l dressed you well, to be sure, but gave you
no money without the why's and wherefores
and whithers being inquired into-in short,
treated you as you do me ?"
"You exaggerate the case, Annie. Men
and women are differently situated. l
should think you would be glad to be saved
the trouble of earning livelihood"
'But, just consider the disadvantages OF
an empty purse. Put yourself in my place.
How would you like it 2"
"Well, if | only had to ask, frst-rate."
''Well, then, suppose you let me carry
( J06 pOckeU-DOOk IOr q W6eh.
eBut, Annie, it isn't practicable. You
couldn't attend to the business at the
store"
'I do not want to attend to your busi-
ness at the store. Only you promise me
that you will not draw any money for your
own use during this week; and that when
you do want any, you will ask me.
"All right, I'll do it just to show you
that it is easy enough Here's the pocket
book, and he gave it into her hand
'But I'll take quarter first, to begin
on"
"What do you want with quarter p
''Cigars"
"Well, here are two ten cent pieces, try
to make that do. Did you ever reckon up
how much your cigars cost you in year Z
Let us see. You smoke at least two day,
at an average of ten cents apiece, which
amounts to one dollar and forty cents a
week. Now, ffty-two times one forty
makes seventy-two dollars and eighty cents
year, to say nothing of those you give
your friends A hundred dollars will
scarcely cover your expenses in that line"
Gas our old friend Abigail Stillman
says, "Who'd thunk it ?" said Mr.. Gray,
laughing; but he was surprised to find the
sum so large.
The next morning Mr.. Gray had gone
some distance from the house before he
remembered that he only had twenty-five
cents.
"I'll risk il" said he to himself. "Per-
haps I'll not want to buy anything. Ill
show Annie that man can do without
money"
"Hello, Grayr cried voice interrupt
ing his reflections. "What is the brain
study about ?" 1t was his old friend
Frank Raymond.
The two men had not met since Mr..
Gray's marriage, and as Frank was to re-
main in town for week, Mr.. Gray invited
him home.
He lit cigar and handed its mate to
Frank, as he did this. .
The two conversed on old times until
they reached Mr.. Gray's place of business,
when they separated, Frank agreeing to be
at the Gray's at o'clock. Annie was
apprised of his coming by note from her
husband.
Going home that night, as was his IN
variable custom, he ran into Benton's to
buy some cigars. Benton was surprised
to see him drop the dozen he had taken
care they not good?" inquired the
dealer. "We think them our choicest"
"They are good. But on second thought
will not take any tonight"
Mr.. Gray had always purchased his
cigars as he had used them; but now he
wished he had box at home However,
he decided to ask his wife for some money,
and run out and fill his case without his
friends knowledge. Twenty-four hours
had passed, and he had already begun to
experience feeling of shame, and dis
inclination to ask for money. A thought
of Annie crossed his mind "Pshaw she
doesn't have to treat friends to cigars" he
muttered.
Frank Raymond was already at his
house, and Annie had tempting little
supper for them; and Annie was looking
her prettiest
When supper was over, he took Annie
aside, and asked her for dollar, which
she gave him grudgingly. Then he excused
himself for a moment and bought some
cigars They were wretched affairs, how
ever, and filled the house with villainous
odor, for he had to get them at new
place, Benton's being too far off.
The next day the two friends started out
together, when Mr. Gray, with an air of
having forgotten something, said, 'excuse
me a minute.
''I'll go back with you if you have for
gotten anything" said Mr.. Raymond.
Mr. Gray clapped his hand on his pock-
et II thought l had forgotten my pocket
book, but 1 haven't" he said. $50 it's all
right. And then he hurried on, his
cheeks tingling with shame at the deceit
But he could not risk having his friend 60
back with him, and stand by while he
asked for money.
Mr. 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 on the street after his
friend left him. In fact, he concluded to
risk another day in the same way. But on
this day he realized the old adage, "It
never rains but it pours," for from being
asked to change bill, to asking credit at
his tailor's, the day was series of morti-
fications.
Annie was unaware of all this. In fact
she thought her husband was failing to
realize the situation, so when, at night,
Mr.. Gray asked her for money to spend
the next day, she wickedly put him off
with some excuse, and ingeniously evaded
the request until he was forced to prefer
it before his friend.
"You want dollar or two! What do
YOU want with dollar or two 2
''There, Annie, don't bother fellow.
I'm in hurry"
But with great deliberation she drew
out quarter, and laid it down, then an
other and another, next two dimes.
"Let me see-three quarters seventy
five, ten is eighty-fve-ten-ninety-f five,
and here is a three-cent piece-ninety- eight
cents. Will that do?''
slVos ond Mr. Grav hustled them into