Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-04-06
HIS SECOND WIFE.


HIS SECOND WIFE.
Tap tap! went two angry little boot
heels across the hall from the library to
sitting room; bang went door, and Kit
tie Harlan threw herself in disordered
heap on sofa. "Ideclare to goodness.
May Harlan. am completely worn out.
Was there ever such another man born :?
l d rather 20 through the measles or the
who oping cough, than through this inter
view with cur respe cted father one time.
let alone once it week. or oftener, for a
lifetime. How did our poor mother ever
stand It'll wish to gracious he'd marry.
again. su<s :. ijsa, t.s
"Why. Kittie. Harlan Papa marry
again p and the sweet blue eyes on the
other side the CRATE opened wide in panied
surprise. as May looked up at her sister.
You know haven t long to stay here"
and significant blush dyed the round
cheek of the speaker, and of course your
home will always be with me till you CT p
ture one of our own. There are no little
children to be 'bossed around, as Aunt
Tilda says. by stepmother, and l do
want him to marry SOMEBODY with some
force of character. Somebody that will
figuratively speaking, take him by the
throat, and demand money enough to run
this establishment without having to &C.
count for every teaspoonful of sugar and
grain OF coffee used. You should have
heard him this morning. What, Ksthe-
Surely you are mistaken. You cant have
used all bought last month s'Oh. if
Harry ever dares to act that way won't
there be a rowp''
20 Kittie,'' said the elder but invalid
sister. gently drawing the excited girl
down to her side, You mustn't use such
| language, and you know you don't want
poor papa to be unhappy
HE wouldn't be unhappy if 1t was man
aged right" said Kittie. ss4
well. dear. I am inclined to think part
at least, Of your wish ia soon to be realiz-
| ed. Annie wrote that when papa was
there, he was very attentive to a young
widow. and since he came back they have
been corresponding. She told me nothing
uf her character, though perhaps you
know Ter. Her name is Harcourt.''
Kittie sprang to her feet with rip2ling
laugh. as il-..a aaa
"Oh, goodyl I should think ( did. Why
she used to be. and still is, one Of my dear
/ est friends. You have heard lne speak of
Belle Armsteadp She is the very one l
would have chosen. She has had enough
of Que stinay man. Bob Harcourt had
but one fault. and that was he would med
die in the household affairs, and it was
like drawing tooth to get dollar out Of
his pocket. wish you knew Belle. You
would see at once that she was the right
w.man In the right place."
"But will she be good to papa?" asked
the anxious May.
"Of course she will, If she didn't love
him she would never marry him, you may
be sure. But she will be good to herself
too. But must go now, to make my
purchases with this hard earned money!
looking CONTEMPORARY at the purse in
her hand. "I'm going to tell Harry this
very night that if he is not willing to
make me an allowance of as much as he
can spare every month to run his house,
and never ask me il l didn't spill few
grains Of coffee, or put lump Of sugar
too much in som ebody . tea, then he'll
have to find some else to be Mis-. Morri.
son." And with merry laugh the lively
girl was gone, sure that her Harry would
never worry her life about household ex-
penses. t'f
All how many girls have been sure OF
that. and awOke to find the generous
hearted lover lost in the enurious penny
wise husband :. l heard an exasperattd
woman say once that she would almost as
soon man would be drunk and liberal
az sober and stingy,' and though think
that is going almost too far. yet there lis
nothing more wearing on woman 3
nerves than to be afraid to tell her hus-
oand that the f3ur is getting low in the
barrel, or the meat all gone, and to trem-
BILE when he asks what she did with that
quarter yesterday. 4 tte-f
Mr.. Harlan was man who had made
his fortune by hard, pains taking labor,
and often boosted that he ''knew how
every dollar came aud meant to know how
it went" A sentiment all Very well in its
place, but surely man can trust the w0-
man he has chosen of all the world. to be
his ''help-meet," to spend her part OF it
wisely and we'll. Mr.. Harlan had evident
~ thought be couldn't, for his gentle. lily
wife's life had been continual struggle
to make the few dollars he gave her stretch
from one week to the next, without ask
ing for more. Indeed. he very seldom gave
it to her, only just as 1t was absolutely
necessary. and every article must be emu
merated, and its price stated. He liked to
know just what his money went for. As
to ever having a cent over and above ex-