Connecticut western news., 1883-05-02
A Wife's Lesson


 of her especial weaknesses and irritated her husband as nothing else could do.
 Externally snufing and blubbering," 1 he had said, savagely, as he grabbed his | hat and went out the front door with a rush and bang.
 "Oh, dear! dear! How could he be so cru-el?" moaned Mrs. Ainsworth, l crying the harder. "To go and leave me like this-and all because I wanted twenty dollars for 8 new pair of curtains that we needed badly-and then to grow so angry; he's 8 bear! Oh why did I ever marry him? I might have known mamma said he was stubborn and had temper. Oh, dear! dear! dear!' i And lower sank her head in the sofa cushions and the little clock on the mantel ticked the hours away until Mrs. Ainsworth raised her head with start of surprise.
 "Twelve o'clock !" she exclaimed. "I wonder why Ned isn't here? What can keep him in the office so late at night Hark What is that p
 It was the sound of feet upon the pavement, followed by 8 sudden, sharp ring of the door-bell.
 Mrs. Ainsworth hastily smoothed her hair and ran downstairs and opened the door starting back with 8 cry of terror at the objects that presented themselves. There, in charge of two burly police men, was Ned, his clothes covered with mud, his face with blood, and his wild eyes and lolling attitude betraying all too plainly his deplorable, disgraceful con- dition.
 One of the policemen touched his hat respectfully to the stricken young wife.
 eff you please, ma'am, it's nothing serious. The boys at the store made a night of it and wound up with row. The cut on his head is not dangerous and by morning he'll be all right"
 "'By morning he'll be all right Oh no, no P thought Mrs. Ainsworth. "He is ruined-he will never stop now. I know his disposition, and I-Oh, God pity me I helped to drive him to it.
 'tAssist him upstairs, please" she said, "and then you can go," and she wondered how she could speak so quietly and follow them so calmly when her heart was breaking.
 Strong arms laid him down upon the , lounge, and then the two policemen de- !, parted and the wife was alone with he, sorrow and shame.
 She wiped the blood from his forehead 7 smoothed back the wavy, silken hair and knelt by his side and prayed. 7 "Help me; help me to be strong, Of f God! and to keep him from temptations, was the ceaseless prayer through the , long hours of the night
 At last he stirred uneasily, and sud
 denly started up to a sitting posture.
 "Hallo, Mamie is it you? And ar,
 you through crying? Where are tn R boys and with look of fear crossing
 his face, in his now awakening facultie a -" where the mischief is that money {? S feeling nervously in all his pockets. D "What money, Ned?" inquired hi wife, new dream coming over her. "Why, the money I had of ol' q Smiths forgot to put it in the bank
 as he ordered, and went off with tn , boys on a lark, and-and by Jupiter V Mamie! it's gone! I've ~been robbed o r my employers money "-his face white ming like dead mans as he sank bac] V upon the lounge and regarded her il :; mournful horror.
 , "How much was it ?" she managed t s ask through her trembling lips. n s'Two thousand dollars p he said wit # groan, burying his face in his hands @ 'sOh, little wife I'm ruined man. e never can repay it-that is, if I canno e escape; and haven't dollar. What e mad fool I've been! Hush isn't ol l.. Smith in the hall? Yes; I know hi r voice, and he's got wind of this some h how. I'll never be taken alive. Never y and as he spoke she saw somethin e bright and shining in his hand. s She couldn't cry out, though sh ! thought she was dying, and nearer an a nearer came the voices and whiter an }. more desperate grew the face of her hut '' band.
 y "Ned! Oh, Ned P she moaned and
 % "Why, what is the matter? Come ' wake up. It's dark and cold in here a 0 barn. Why, Mamie, little wife, whs ,e is it? Did I frighten you, or was it
 dream? I could not get away from tI N office sooner"
 But she could not answer. She on] ,I flung her arms around his neck an "a sobbed so hysterically that he was real ;s alarmed.
 d How nervous you are, my darling
 But listen: what good news I've brought o. MT. Smith came into the office to-nigl Il. and smiled as he looked over my stat is ments of sales and profits, and Ire said: m "'You've worked hard, my boy, an es merit an increase in your salary. W " will make it fifteen hundred from tn at on
 [e 1T don't know what I said. I don LII think I said much of anything, but
 looked satisfied and shook my hand {
 kindly and added that faithfulne'
 found its reward usually and so you ca ~ ~ have your new curtains whenever yo I want them, and carpet, too, perhaps. :"
 "Ohi I don't care for them now. 1- was so foolish to fret over such trif " ~ And I've had such dreadful, dreadf ,r dream P But she never could bri1