The Baltimore County union., 1883-01-20
TOWSONTOWN, Md, SATURDAY, JANUARY 20 1888.

to the parlor, she took a seat there, re-
solving that she would "speak her mind
no matter what the consequences might
be.
Mo,ioning the inwardly laughing
Laura to seat near by, she said, stern.
ly, "You're very young, and its plain
to me you need advice. Do you know
where you'll land your husband il you
keep on as you've begun ?"
Laura shook her head and smiled
She could not help smiling. The ex-
preston on her mother laws face
was 50 tragic.
"In the poor.house," said old Mrs.
Gordon, solemnly. "He can never
stand such extravaganza, such wanton
waste"
"Perhaps he is the best Judge Of that, I"
said Laura, smiling still. ale gave
me only five hundred dollars with which
to fix the house up, and | think I've
done pretty well. l know I've used
every penny to the best advantage.
"Five hundred dollars I" repeated
the old lady in tone Of horror. "Has
he gone made Why don't believe
poor Selma ever took that much from
him in her whole life, putting all to.
gether."
"Adam is generous" said Laura, al
suppose she might have had money
whenever she wanted, il she'd chosen. "
"Selina never coveted show and dis.
play. She looked after Adams inter.
ests," went on Mrs. Gordon. "And
she'd have worked her fingers to the
bone sooner'n had girl to waste things
and let the knives rust and the sugar be
split. She made butter for market, an
sold eggs, an honey, an dried apples,
an cheese, an soft soap. The whole
twelve years she was married to Adam,
she never got dress beiter'n calico.
| tell you, she was a wife like the Scrip.
ture tells about. She looked we'll after
her vineyard. And know you couldn't
have got teaspoonful Of dust il you'd
looked for il from garrett to cellar"
''Poor soul 80 said Laura, in 4 tone
OF pity. "No wonder she died"
"She never let her hands lie idle
either" with contemptuous glance at
the plump, white, soft.looking hands
lying in Laura's lap. "She didn't be.
lievc in folks savin' their hands at the
expense Of their husbands pocket"
"Ah." said Laura, coolly. Snow
do. | never did admire rough brown
hand. In man il is excusable; but
in woman j, is objectionable il il is
not necessary.
"Do you expect to keep a girl regu.
lar ?" demanded Mrs. Gordon.
al do" answered Laura, checrfully.
''1f ! devoted myself to kitchen work /
should have no time TO devote to Adam.
/ should be too tired to talk to or amuse
him in the evening. This girl lived
with my mother, and is competent and
Trustworthy"
There's sure to be more or less waste"
said Mrs. Gordon, "and the neighbors
will never stop talkin' bout YOU"
al don't live for my neigh5ors, or
regulate my conduct by their views"
said Laura, "and they will soon find
something better to talk about, hope,
than my domestic concerns. want to
make my husband happy, and shall
accomplish this end sooner by being his
companion than by making myself his
slave. | don't believe woman was
created for no higher sphere than that
Of household drudge"
Laura'scolor had risen, hereyes grown
brighter. She looked lovclier than ever
in her ea-nestness and excitement.
Some one came in quietly At the open
door and slipped a strong arm about
her waist. She turned with 4 nervous
little laugh to see Adam smiling down
on her.
"True words !" he said, "and spok.
en- by true woman. Mother, my wife
is right. | never knew until lately how
beautiful and sweet life could be made.
| am like a butterfly just emerged from
its chrysalis. Laura is not cxtravagant,
and We both have IN eye to the future
but | would spend my last cent sooner
than plunge again into the darkness in
which CROPPED SO miserably for twelve
long years"
"That's always the way" said Mrs.
Gordon, as she confded to her daugh.
ter Ellen that evening the result of her
"talk" with Laura. al never knew il
to fail the first wife slaves and saves
that the second may spend"