Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-09-12
NO. 81.
You have something laid up -

"You have something laid up -
ooh, yes, enthusiastically. Mrs Kent
is splendid manager, aud have added
something 10 my bank account every month
since our marriage
'Hou give your wife an allowance for
household expenses, so she won't have to
ask you for money Women hate that "
'No o." hesitatingly Honor is vel
come TO all she needs. | never refuse her
requests for money!
Never tell her how to spend it, either ~
Mr.. Kent flushed, but answered honest
ly, II have cautioned her to spend the mon.
ey wisely, certainly"
"Once or twice I"
she would care"
mo How long since she has been home
on a visit ~
"Only once since our marriage-about a
year after think. A wifes place is with
her husband, and l could not well leave nv
business"
Now, John, don't lose your temper
while sum up this case Perhaps YOU had
better not say anything till finish"
Mr.. Kent smiled uneasily. The lawyers
sharp questions had already started disn-
greeabe train Of thought Light was al
ready breaking on his intellect and his
wifes state of mind was not half the mys.
terry that it had been, but he replied 81
came here for advice and | shall take it
none the less willingly because it is unpal-
atable"
"Well, now listen You will have to win
your wife's heart over again. 1t NAV be a
task of more or less difficulty. According
to your own statement you have been most
thoroughly selfish all your married life.
1ou admit that she is an admirable man
ager, but you have never given her cent
since your marriage until she asked for it,
and then you have instructed her how to
spend it. Could anything be moe ga!iins
to a high spirited woman You have
taken her away from her relatives and
friends, and kept her at your beck and
call, because a wifes place is with her
husband, except when the husband is play
ing billiards at the club, or spending his
time agreeably elsewhere, | wonder who
has entertained her all this time Proba-
bly, her hearts desire was cottage in the
suburbs, but fiat in the heart of the city
suited your convenience better. Let me tell
you, young man, the less a married man
separates his wife from his pleasures the
happier his married life will be. Having
steadily ignored her wishes for three years
or so, she concludes that you don't love her,
and her whole nature rises in revolt and |
don't wonder. If | were not man myself
| shouldn't think you would either. You
had better win her forgiveness if you can,
but it will take some self-sacriiice on YOUR
part. Send her and the baby down home
on visit, then sit down and think what
you ought to do, and if you can't find out,
come to me again"
To say that Mr.. Kent was shocked at the
photograph of himself which had been
4 LIE I
ings. He was appalled,.
Il thank YOU for your summary of the
case, he said 81 plead guilty.
As he bowed himself out, Mr. Bates called
after him, "And say, Kent, don't forget
that the accumulation of money should not
be the sole object of a young mans exist
ence, especially when he has a wife and
baby"
That night Mr. Kent said Honor.
wouldn't you like to 90 down to your mother
a couple of weeks I"
The light that suddenly shonc in her eyes
swered him, but she said, quietly: Its an
expense. Besides, how would you get
along -
81 can eat at restaurant The expense
don't matter. You can go to morrow if
you like or would it take longer to get
ready :"
1t is nothing to get ready" she returned.
81 should like to go if you really mean it,"
John got up and leaned over the back of
the low rocker so he could look into her
eyes. Honor, l would ask you to forgive
me, but now that | realize what | have
done don't know that you can but, my
darling warm color famed in her
face at the endearing word-'I love you
very dearly. Won't you kiss me !'
Honor was woman, just like the rest
the tears came into her eyes, and she lifted
her lips to his.
In the morning she and Paul went down
to the country home. And the way John
put in all the time he could spare from
business during her absence was a wonder.
He abandoned his club. Busy" he said,
curtly, to inquiring friends He rented
coEy cottage, with little lawn in front and
a nice yard at the back. 1t was long
way out, to be sure, but not too far for a
twice a day trip. He moved the furniture
from the fiat into it, making such additions
as were necessary Then he went after
Honor and the baby. She was surprised
and pleased that he should come after her,
and as they were driven away from the
depot she told him she was "glad to get
| home"
Wen take a little drive" he said, when
she noticed that they were rolling out of
town. At length they stopped at the cot
tage. An intuition of the truth came to
Honor before she reached the door. and
when John led her into the parlor-there
we're ''parlors" in those days-she sat down
on the most convenient resting place, which
| happened to be the piano stool, and cried.
Don't you like it Z" said John
Like 1t It's p-p-paradse !" she
sobbed and then she put her arms around
his neck and cried harder than ever.
There were tears in Johns eyes as he
said, ''Do you think you can forgive me
and love me again. dear Z"
And this contradictory woman cried, 81
always loved you, and-and- Oh dear p
giving him little shake you will just
break my heart"
And somehow he understood just what
she meant.
After that they had talk, and Honor
told her husband all the bitterness that had
been in her heart so long.
John did not make many promses-it
was not his way-but he said, Il feel like
a man who has been roughly awakened
from a sound sleep but it is better to be
awake"
Always after that "tall1n he gave Honor
a generous allowance for household ex-
penses, and she not infrequently surprised
him with something he wanted, bought
with money she had saved out of that al
lowance. He got so in the habit of spend
ing his evenings at home aloIe with his
family, or with the nice people that Honor
got together at her modest little "even-
ings, i" that it became quite a calamity to
him when he was forced to be absent In
time a stout German girl was added to
their household, so that Honor need not be
too closely confined.
The Kents gave a little dinner, one night,
at which Mr. Bates was present. The
shrewd old lawyers sharp eyes missed none
of the details in his hosts house that make
up happy married life but when chance
favored him he said, 81 suppose, John,
that these days you wonder how you ever
came to be such fool"
, And John answered, "You are quite
right. "-PuW CtrSon in Haper'S Magazine
for September,
After the Wedding.
He-What are you crying for, love
, She-Oyer papa's wedding present-boO-