, 1884-04-03

GLAD u IN excuse. Mr.. Gray then told his
friend the secret of his wife's conduct.
"Whewi so that is it" said Frank. swell,
I'm glad to have my faith in w~omankind re-
stored; but isn't she OVERRIDING the matterl
Did you ever refuse her money before
othersf7
II think 1 did, last summer, when Mrs
Ogden was visiting her. They wished to visit
a friend residing in Biddloford. | thought it
was foolish and told my wife so, and finally
refused my wits the money. The truth is"
alphabetically, Il had met with heavy losses,
and felt that we must e~conomize.n
why not have allowed her to use her own
Judgment. Perhaps she intended to- econo-
mize in other ways" said Frank.
Il believe she said something of the kind.
But, to tell the TRUTH, | had got into the way
of thinking that women needed to be contin-
ually curbed, or they would run into extray.
agencies"
"It's a shame to treat a Ligh-spirited
woman in that way"
Il realize it now fully, moro fully than you
can, unless you go through with my ex-
perience. Annie said she had done plain
sewing to pay for things she needed rather
than ask me for the money. understand it
now; l would far rather have earned the
money for our trip by saving wood than
have asked for it Fancy having to always
askI"
d you know, Albert, 1 am glad this has
happenedi L may marry some tims; in
fact, Pm thinking of it strongly, and now I
shall avoid the course you have taken.
Otherwise | presume 1 might have done just
tue same. l believe a great many men do"
"Dof Why, yes. Ny mother never had a
penny without asking father for it, and she
helped to earn it all, and was prudence
and industry personihed. I'll turn over a
new leaf. All, here comes our friend"
MIR. Raymond, to Mr.. Gray's greut relief,
said it would not be possible to go on
the proposed trip, owing to Unforeseen cir
cumstances, whereupon Mr.. Gray, in an Off
hand manner, proposed that as Frank could
not go, they should all come to his house that
evening again. any wife will be glad to see
you," said he.
Tn week had passed, and Orchard was
himself again." or could be il he chose; but
his wife had mirrored his past actions so
truly and forcibly that he had no wish
to repeat himself. Annie had
taken care to curb his extra VACANCIES
by giving him always a little
less than he asked for, and invariably
inquiring just how he spent it, and, mean
time reckoning up how much he had each
day, with great exactness. All this, as he
know, was copied from his own custom. Be
sides, he reflected. if he found it so disagree
able for a week, how much more so mus it
seem, year after year, with no prospect of a
changel In fact, he felt himself to be the
meanest man in existence. IT'S one-half to
own it, and the other half to reform" we
suspect.
~There, Albert" said his wife, Il am glad
the farce has ended
1t was Tuesday evening at half-past 6,
precisely, when Mrs. Gray said this. AT the
same ti::.e she handed ffsr hustiaud hi= n,oLrat-
book; and then returned to her seat.
Mi. Gray counted the money carefully and
then divided it into two equal piles.
This accomplished, he crossed over to his
wife and placed one in her lap, saying:
"Henceforth We shall share alike. Buy
what you choose. l have faith in your pru-
dence and Judgment. l am not infanible.
Why need l sit in judgment upon your
Mrs. Gray's eyes glistenei with pride and
happiness as she replied:
believe me-, Albert, you shall never regret
this; for now l shall have an opportunity to
use my reasoning faculties
And Albert never did regret it