Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1883-07-12

| your new duties, and allowed you no mon
ey to spend as you choose. dressed you
well to be sure; but gave you no money,
without the why's and wherefore's and whith-
er's being inquired into; in short, treated
you as you do me? ?"
You exaggerate the case, Annie. Men
and women are differently situated. | 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 ?"
"Why, if only had to ask, first rate"
"Well. then. suppose you let me carry the
pocket-bo book for week
"But, Annie, it isn't practicable. You
couldn't attend to business at the store
IAN 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 of a'quarter?"
| Cigars"
"Nell, here are two ten-cent pieces, try to
make that do. Did you ever reckon up how
much your cigars cost you in the year ~
| Let US see. You smoke at least two day,
at an average of ten cents apiece, Which
amounts to one dollar and forty cents week.
Now ftty-two times one-forty makes seven
ty-tiye dollars and eighty cents a year, TO say
nothing of those you give your friends. A
hundred dollars will scarcely cover your ex-
penses IN that line"
'As our old friend Abigail Stillman says
Who'd a-thunk it," said Mr. Gray laugh
ing; but he was surprised to find the sum
so large.
| Ia. NJ kal
distance from the house before he remem-
bered that he had only twenty five cents.
"l'll risk it," said he to himself per
haps III not want TO buy anything. I'll
show Annie that man can do without mon
ey"
Hello, GRAY ?" cried voice, interrupt
! ing his reflections What is the brain
study about ?" Ii was his old friend. Frank
! Ka, mond.
l The two men had not met since Mr.. GRAY :
marriage, and as Frank was to remain in
town for week, Mr.. Gray invited him
| home.
! He lit a cigar and handed its mate to
| Frank, as he did his.
| The two conversed Of old times until they
reached Mr.. Gray's place of business, when
they separated, Frank agreeing to be at the
GRAY at slx O'Clock. Annie was apprised
Of his coming by note from her husband.
Going hong, that night, as was his invar-
iabie custom. he ran into Benton's to bu,
some cigars. Benton was surprised to see
him drop the dozen he had taken up.
Are they not good ?" inquired the deal
er. 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 used them but now he wished he had
box a, home. However, he decided to
ask his wife for some money, and run out
and fill his case without his friends knowl-
edge. Twenty four hsurs had passed. and
he had already begun to experience feel
Ing Of shame, ANA q Discrimination 70 ask for
money, 4 thought of.Annie crossed his
mind 'Psha~ she doesn't have TO treat
friends TO cigars" he muttered.
Frank Ka, mund was already at his house
and Annie had tempting little supper for
them and Annie was looking her prettest.
When supper wa. over, he took Annie
aside, and asked for dollar, which she
gave him, grudgingly. Then he excused
himself for moment, and bought some
cigars They were wretched affairs, how
ever, and filled the house with a villainous
odor for he had TO get them at new place,
Benton'- 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.
"rll 90 back with you, if you have forgot
ten anything" said Mr. Raymond.
Mr.. Gray clapped his hand on his pocket.
Il thought had forgotten my pocket book,
but haven't" he said 80 its all right"
and then he hurried on, his cheeks tinging
With shame at the deceit" But he could
not risk having his friend 90 back with him,
and stand b. while he asked for money.
Mr. Gray was lucky that day. He had no
call. for money, and he had half dozen Of
those horrid cigars left a 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, at never rains but
it pours, for from being asked TO change a
bill, To getting his coat ripped, and asking
for credit at his tailor's the day was series
Of notifications.
Annie was unaware of all this. In fact,
size thought her husband was failing 10
realize the situation, so when, at night, MIR.
GRAY asked her for money to spend the next
day. she wickedly put him off with some
excuse and ingenicusly avoided 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?"
There, Annie, don't bother fellow.
I'm in hurry"
But with grave deliberation. she drew
out quarter, and laid il down, than another
and another, next two dimes.
"Let me see-three quarters-seventy-
FIVE. ten is eighty ive-ten-ninely-fiv
and here is three cent piece-ninety-e 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 inquire
into the cause of the scene, when he would
tell him Of the compact and how it origin
ated. IL would then pass as joke. But
Mr.. Raymond did not make any remark.
Instead, he thought to himself:
"Gnod gracious What grind she is,
And thought her so pretty. | never sup
posed that Albert would make such a meek
husband. Catch me getting married, and
having quarters doled out in that way.
He pitied his friends embarrassment, but
did not appear to notice it. Instead, he
chatted unconcernedly of old friends and
past times Suddenly turning corner they
met two mutual acquantances. Hand
shakings and inquiries followed, and the
four had so much to say that Mr. Gray de-
cided to send note to his partner and
spend the forenoon with his friends.
The party now adjourned to a restaurant,
and Mr.. Raymond, aware of the exact
amount of his-Mr. Gray's-funds, ordered
lunch.
Before separating. little excursion to
Beech Island was proposed for Monday.
Mr.. Gray invited them, meantime, to spend
the evening at his house. The evening
passed was pleasant one. Annie was in
excellent spirits sang and PLAYED, and was
altogether charming. Mr.. RAYMOND, re
membering the money, decided that matri-
mony was snare when women we're so de-
ceptive.
The next day, which was Sunday, Mrs.
Gray, without being asked, gravely handed
her husband fifty cents.
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