The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-05-29

AASssAV A&SAA III UCSAo AAOAA LILY CVCS olu l.
cry till l am almost sick, and both my
children cry Justify from fear and SYM
pathy. If I only had an allowance of
my own, no matter how small, I feel that
these distressing complications could
not possibly occur; but Lawrence
doesn't approve of allowances, so dis
miss it from my mind.
It is evening now, and my handsome
husband comes in breezy and light
hearted, as he always comes, and losses
Artie, who runs to meet him, high up
into the air, kisses me on each cheek
and seizes his baby daughter for good
night romp before she is laid in her
crib.
"Hurry through your supper, little
woman" he says when his wild orgy
with the children is over, II have
brought tickets for the theater and I
have asked the Lees to 60 with us, and
we'll step in and get some oysters after
the play. A little spree will wake you
up and do you good"
I cannot refuse, of course, and, by
and by, my own troubles are all forgot
ten in the woes and struggles of the
heroine of the play. Between the
acts, Mrs. Lee says to me; as she sits
by my side in her pretty new hat and
fresh six buttoned gloves.
"What a splendid, generous fellow
your husband is. You must be proud of
him."
lam, but I do not feel just like talk
ing about it, and she chances at me curl
ously, I know she thinkes am "queer,"
and have heard she said once that I
was too stingy to dress we'll.
He is man to be proud of do think,
as look across the breakfast table at
him the next morning. Who else is so
handsome, so fascinating, so charming
in every way as he? I wait till he has
finished his chop and coffee; then I
gave him few moments to glance at
his newspaper, and lay the butchers
and grocer's bill and two or three small
er ones by his side.
"'The melancholy days are come"
I quote, with feeble attempt at joking.
It'll take them to the office and look
over them there" Lawrence says hold
ing ont his hand for them.
"Better look them over with me,
Lawrence" I say. II can tell if the
charges are correct"
So we go over them together,
and weary work it is, for Lawrence is
ready to swear that one-third of the
items are falsely charged, but nothing
can be proved, and it ends in his grumb-
lingly giving me the money for two of
the bills, and prmising that the rest
shall be settled tomorrow or some day
soon.
Then 1 take courage and ask for
Ellen's money.
"Well, women are hard to satisfy"
he says. "You must think Tn made
of money. Ellen will have to wait till
another time"
"But she has waited so long already, !"
Iplead.
"Well I can't help that; everybody
has to wait sometimes"
"But she wants shoes and all sorts of
things" say.
$50 do J. want all sorts of things"
Really, Lawrence, it makes me
| ashamed not to have her paid"
"Why, Bell it's not your affair, it's
mine; you need not say anything about
it, You women have the strangest ideas
| about money matters"
"But, oh, Lawrence I'm afraid she
will be saucy."
Gust let her try it once" q didn't
tell him she had tried it already
Don't you listen to word of her i'm
pudence, but send her off instanter. If
she attempts it we can easily replace
her ladyship."
IF only had an allowance, Law
renee" stammer, II think could
manage by thought aud care"
ooh, no, you couldn't" interrupts
my husband, half impatiently women
always think that. They're always anx-
lous to get the purse-st rings-or a
part of them into their own hands, but
I've heard of such cases, and it would
be only worry to you, big deficit to
pay at the end of the year, for nae, and
great hubbub generally. No, MOI"
l want to ask him to refund the money
that was my Aunt's gift, so I can make
Arthur happy with his rubber boots,
but the dreadful lump comes in my
throat again, aud I have to wait till I
can gain command of my voice.
"By the BY" Lawrence says, as he
rises from the table, "NIrs. Lee said
last night that You wouldn't let Arthur
play out in the snow yesterday.
Bell, you coddle that fellow too much.
It was just the day for him to go out. I"
Had no 'ubber boots" says Artie,
promptly, for the first time taking an
interest in the discussion.
"What does this mean, Bell? Why
haven't you bought his boots?"
Her had no money!" Artie ex-
planned
"What does this mean?" again asks
Lawrence rather sternly. II gave you
two dollars and half week ago, to
buy his boots"
Eyes" I said, struggling to keep my
composure, ''but [ had to give the
money to the egg woman; she came so
often and was so unpleasant about it!'
"Bell,' says my husband sternly,
''you run the risk of displeasing me
seriously by such singular actions; I
will buy the boots this morning and
send them home, if you will give me
one of his shoes for measure 1 will be
sure the poor little fellow gets them
this time without the money being
tossed away on some frivolous excuse"
He is gone, and he is angry. It is
only about money that he ever is angry,
and I am no better off for having
aroused his wrath. Artie will get his
boots, but will they be paid for, or only
charged, with bill coming later to
worry me. And Ellen will be angry
when she finds have no money for her,
and angrier still when she sees that the
boots were bought, although she could
not be paid.
The rubber boots" that Lawrence
bought year ago arc so small for Ar
tie now that we have laid them bv till
little katie's small feet shall grow big
enough to fill them.
But l am to have a new pair to-day,
mammal"
Eyes, Artie," I say, put on your hat
and coat, and we will go to the shoe