The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-06-13
Mr.. Gray clapped his hand on his

book, but / 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
go 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 a
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 adsge, at
never rains but it pours," for from being
asked to change 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
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?"
"There, Annie, don't bother fellow.
Pm in hurry.
But with great deliberation she drew
out a quarter, and laid it down, then
another and another.
"Let me see-three quarters-seventy.
five, ten is eighty fve-ten-ninety.five
and here is three-cent piece-ninety.
eight cents. Will that do ?"
eyes," 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 the scene, when he
would tell him of the compact and how it
originated. 1t would then pass as joke.
But Mr.. Raymond did not make any re.
mark. Instead he thought to himself
Good gracious What a grind she
isl And l thought her so pretty. |
never thought that Albert would make
such meek husband. Catch me getting
married and having quarters doled out to
me 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 cor
ner they met two mutual acquaintance.
Hand shakings and inquiries followed,
and the four had so much to say that Mr..
Gray decided to send note to his part
ner, and spend the forenoon with his
friends.
The party now adjourned to restaur-
ant, and Mr.. Raymond, aware of the ex.
act amount of his, Mr.. Gray's funds, Or
dered lunch.
The next day, which was Sunday, Mrs.
Gray, without being asked, gravely
handed her husband fifty cents. Mr..
Raymond was present, but did not appear
to notice it. He was apparently engrossed
in the book he was reading. But he
heard Mr.. Gray ask,
"What's that for ? Oh, the contribu-
ton box Thank you'll" But to himself
he added:
"Why not save it to 60 with the TWEEN.
ty-five cents have already, so as not be
compelled to ask for money on Tuesday
Then can succeed in getting some for
Mondays trip without the knowledge of
my friends, and this absurd farce will
end without any more unpleasantness." !.
Before separating, little excursion to
Beech Island was proposed for Monday.
Mr.. Gray invited them, meantime, to
spend the evening at his house. Annie
was in excellent spirits; sang, and played,
and was altogether charming. Mr.. Ray
mond, remembering the money, decided
that matrimony was snare when women
were so deceptive.
Monday morning came all too soon
for try as he would he could not get the
attention of Annie, when he endeavo ed
to breach the subject of the projected
trip. Fidgeting with his knife and fork,
he cleared his throat at last, and made a
plunge.
Mrs. Gray elevated her eyebrows.
TO the Island =? Pray what for 1t
is hardly the time for excursions"
MIR. Raymond really pitied his friends
evident DISTRESS, SO he said, jokingly:
"Why, you see,' Mrs. Gray, we want to
get off for time, as we used to when
boys"
The lady smiled grimly and said
d" Albert is, as you see, too extravaganza
by half. l cannot, in the present state of
our finances, give my consent to his 60
ing" With these words, spoken with
great composure, she walked off, leaving
the gentlemen to themselves.
"Albert, never would stand that p
said Frank, vehement)y. "To be tutored
like schoolboy Haven't you any money
at the store? If not, call upon me for any
amount, and let us hurry, or we shall
be late"
"No. am afraid l cannot 20. l am
pledged not to take any money from the
store, and it would not be right to accept
any from YOU"
Glad of an excuse, Mr.. Gray then told
his friend the secret of his wife's con-
duct.
"Whew so that is it," said Frank.
DWELL, Pm glad to have my faith in
womanhood restored; but isn't she over
doing the matter? Did you ever refuse
her money before others p
81 think l did last summer, when Mrs.
Osgood was visiting her. They wished
to visit friend residing in Biddleford.
| thought it was foolish and told my wife
so, and finally refused my wife the money
The truth ls," alphabetically, 81 had met
with some heavy losses, and felt that we
must economize."
"Why not have allowed her to use her
own judgment Perhaps she intended to
economic in other ways" said Frank.
81 believe she said something of the
kind. But to tell the truth, had got
into the way of thinking that women
needed to be continually curbed, or they
would run into extravagsnces."
"lt's shame to treat high spirited