The Forrest City times., 1891-05-08

silver drops of wa ter, upon the man. telshelf; and Mrs Ives needle glancing in and out of her work like small ray of lightning. The children were | all tucked snugly up in bed, for Mir. Julius Ives liked to be qmet when he came home from business, and Mrs Ives was the most devoted and obedi- ent of conjugal partners. It was an exquisitely neat room--a room where the sweet home element predominated in every nook and corner-a room to which the tired business man might ltok forward, all day, as haven of rest and peace
 The clock struck eight; pussy stretched herself drowsily before the fire, and Mr. Ives laid down the pa- per with preparatory, "Ahemr'
 And now, Melissa" he said author itatively, you may bring me the tradesman's bills
 Poor Mrs Ives started in her chair as if a cannon ball had thundered ominously into the silence of the cosy little apartment. How much she dreaded the weekly recurrence of this domestic ukase, was only known to herself It was the skelton in her closet-the one embittering element of her happy home-life - the haunting ghost that no diplomacy had yet en- abled her to exercise! Yet, like a we'll trained wife, as she was, she brought the tiny packet of bills, and sat down meekly at her husband $ side.
 She was pretty woman, tall and graceful, with straight, regulur feat ures, rosy cheeks, and soft wistful eyes, that looked like brown velvet: a woman whose hands always were white and delicate, and whose dresses always seemed to fit by magic.
 Nor was Mir. Julius Ives disagree able specimen of mankind to look upon. He was large, and finely form. ed, with dark hair, strongly disposed to curl at the ends, and bright black eyes. Yet, nevertheless, there was a certain curve in Mir. Ives upper lip that savoured somewhat of the inn
 ~'-~ pertive mood.
 Butter again. that's five pounds we've used within q week" moaned Mir. Ives, checking of the various items of the grocer's bill with the little gold pencil that hung at his watch chain. My dear, does Bridget grease the kitchen pans with butter?"
 Mrs. Ives cheeks glowed.
 "Now Julius, what is the use of talk ing III that sarcastic sort of way? You don't seem to reflect that a family like ours cannot subsist on air--and you like to have the cooking very rich you know"
 "Rieh should think so Ham cod fish. By the way, Melissa, Jones says they only buy meat three times a week-have 1t cold every other day. Jones S wife knows how to economize. l suppose you haven't the least idea what becomes of the joints after they leave the table"
 Il have. no doubt of Bridget's per feet honesty, Julius"
 "Oh, no--of course not. But I do think Melissa, it is wife's duty to pay some sort of attention to her hus- bands pocket"
 "Our bills are not tdisproportionate ly large, Julius"
 "They must be, my dear-they must be. Positively it's enough to irighten one, just to run over these items in the housekeeping accounts! Sugar raisins-oil-oysters! Melissa, do keep a restaurant2 If not, where do all these things go?"
 Mrs, Ives was silent.
 "Bread-steaks-l tons of coal Upon my word?'
 Still Mrs. Ives maintained complete taciturnity.
 Melissa" said her husband, plac- ing the bills rather emphatically on the table, i've must turn over new leaf--we must, positively. Can't you retrenchY'
 "How?"
 ''ln a thousand ways. my dear. Why, my mother never spent half the money you contrive to spend, and there were twelve of us"
 'Iour mother lived on farm. Julius. The milk, butter, cheese, and vegetables were from her farm and dairy-the meat and poultry were within her own barn-yard and pas uure. do not think it fair to insti- tute a comparison between her ex- penses and mine.
 'Oh. that s the way you women all talk said Mir. Ives, impatiently "All 1 know is that there must be a screw loose somewhere. You must economizel"
 But, Julius"
 ''My love, don't you see Pm just | lighting my cigar? I never can smoke l when my mind is in anyway disturbed. | Suppose we edismiss the subject. am quite sure that Ihave stated my wish es on the subject with sufficient dis l tinctnessl"
 Mrs. Ives bit her coral lip, and sew ed away vigorously at her work But if her thoughts could have descended 1 i'll shower bath ofwords on Mir Julius Ives devoted head, how they would have startled him from the calm com l placency of his mood
 "Yes, I'll economize," thought Mrs. Melissa, vindictively dragging the thread through the seams. 'Ill give him enough of retrenchment Why will man relinqnish his dig nity so far as so interfere in matters he cannot possibly understand. wonder if he thinks nine people can live on a pint of milk and two baked potatoes day? I wonder fhe knows that make all the puddngs and pies, and give out the tea and coffee, and superintend every thing myself? Hs might know it If he would take the | trouble to inquire, instead ofindulgine in such sweeping denunciations. wonder if he ever suspects that trim