The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-07-10

Monday morning came III TOO soon,
for try a. he would he could mot get Che
attention OF Annie when he endeevored
to broach the subject Of the projected
trip. Fidgetlng with his knife and fork,
he cleared his throat at Lest, and 10 .
nervous way made plunge.
Mrs. Graz elevated her eyebrows.
ITO the island? Pray, what for2 II
is hardly the season for excursions"
Mr.. Raymond really pitied his friend'i
evident distress. SO he said, jokingly:
"Why, you see, Mrs. Gray, We want
to get of for q time, as We used te
when boys"
The lady smiled grimly, and said:
ALBERT is, as You see. too extravagant
by half. ! cannot. in the present state
of our finances, give my consent to his
going" With these words, spoken
with great composure. she walked.off,
leaving the gentlemen to themselves.
"lsy Heavens. Albert, never would
stand thstW said Frank. vehemently.
ITO he tutored like schoolboyls
Haven't you any money at the store? II
not, call upon mo for any amount, aud
let us hurry, or we shall he late"
mo, am afraid cannot 20. I am
pledged not to take any money from the
stone, and it would not 30 right to 10
cept any from you"
Glad of an excuse, Mr.. Gray then
told his friend the secret Of his wife's
conduct.
"Whowl So that is it," said Frank.
"Well, I'm glad to have my faith in
womankind restored? But isn't she
OVERRIDING the matterP Did you ever
refuse her money before others?"
II think I did last summer, when
Mrs. Osgood was visiting her. They
wished.to visit a friend residing in Bid.
dleford. Thought it was foolish, and
told them so; and finally refused my
wife the money. The truth is. apollo
getically, II had met with some heavy
losses, and felt that we must econo.
mize."
"Why not have allowed her to use
her own judgment? Perhaps she in.
tended to economic in other ways
said Frank.
II believe she said something of the
kind. But to tell the truth, I had got
INTO the way of thinking that women
needed to be continually curbed, or they
would run into extravagances."'
Its . shame to treat big h.spirited
woman in that way"
II realize it now, fully, more fully
than you can, unless you go through
with my experience. Annie said she
had done plain sewing to pay for things
that she needed, rather than ask me
for the money. understand II now;
| would rather have earned the money
for our trip by saving wool than have
asked for It. Fancy having to always
ask!"
Do you know, Albert, am glad this
has happened? Imay marry sometime;
in fact, Tn thinking of it strongly, and
now shall avoid the course you have
taken. Otherwise, / presume might
have donejust the same. I believe great
many men do"
"Do? Why, yes. Ny mother never
had simple penny without asking faith
er for it, and she helped earn it all, and
was prudence and industry personiRed.
TIL turn over new leaf. All, here some
our friends"
Mr., Raymond. to Mr.. Gray's great
relief, said it would not be possible for
him to go on the proposed trip, owing
to unforeseen circumstances, whereupop
Mr.. Gray, in ON off hand manner, pro-
posed that, Us Frank could not go, they
should oil come to his house that evening
again, sMy wife will be glad to see you, "
said he.
The week had passed, and "faichard
was himself again, or could be if lie
chose, but his wife had mirrored his
past actions SO truly and forcibly that
lie had no wish to repeat himself. An
ME had taken care to curb his extrava-
gances, by giving him always o little
less than he asked for, and invariably
inquiring just how he spent, and mean
time, reckoning up how much he had
each day, with great exactnsss. All
this, US lie knew, was copied from his
own custom. Besides, he reflected, il
l,e found it SO disagreeable for week
how much I,Gre SO must it seem year
after year with no prospect of change?
in short, he felt himself to he the
meanest ;nan in existence otis one
half to Own it," and the other half to
reform, We suspect,
"There. Albert, said his wife, II APP
glad the farce is ended. Resume your
prerogative."
1t was Tuesday evening, at half past
six precisely, when Mrs. Gray said this.
At Che same si,,e she handed her hus-
band his pocket-book, any then return
ed tG her seat.
Mr.. Gray counted the money careful
ly, 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 will share alike.
Buy what you choose. Ihave faith in
yosr prudence and judgment. I am
not infallipis. Why need I sit in judg-
ment upon you?"
Mrs. Gray's eyes glistened with pride
and happiness Us she replied:
&Beliese me, Albert, you will never
regret this, for now 7 shall have an OPP.
poftupity to use my reasoning fscql-
s'us