Mohave County miner., 1891-02-07
HIS WILL AND HER WON'T.

~
Mrs. Alison sat in her easy chair and
tapped her foot impatiently as she
worked. MIR. Alison paced the floor
uneaslly and frowned darkIy. II was
evident there was storm brewing ia
the domestic atmosphere. Indeed, the
first faint drops OF the coming shower
were already pattering down on the
dainty dress Mrs. Alison was embroid-
ering for her beloved baby.
''For PHYS sake, Maud broke forth
her liege lord. don't begin cryiug.
Why can't you be sensible and look at
the matter in a reasonable way? IL
ought not to be so hard for you to yield
to my wishes. when / have good
reasons for asking you to do it, be-
Sides
Il don't know what you call good
reasons" sobbed Maud Alison. "You
don't know the least thing about the
WilvertoBs. that you should wish me
TO give up attending their ball-such
magnificent affair as it's going to be.
teo.
That Is the chief of my reasons
because don't know anything about
the famIly-neither for nor against
them. But the mans face is enough
TO condemn him. / wouldn't trust him
an inch ont Of my sight,
You're as unjust as you can be.
10 say such things about Il stranger of
whom you know nothing l do be-
lieye you are jealous of him because he
was so attentive to me at Mrs. Fitz-
gerald's party.
MIR. Alison whistled.
Jealous! i should hope ! wasn't
quite such fool. But DO think You
are altogether too careless iu taking
up with people so rashly. You haven't
known the family month, aud yet
Mrs. WilyertOn is as much at home
here as IL the house belonged to her.
/ don't like it. and / expressly desire
you viii see as little of her or her hus-
band rs Is possible until something
more is known OF both of them. Es-
pecially do wish you to decline their
invitation to this ball. / don't want
my wife known as the chosen friend of
a pair OF adventurers.
And. having delivered this decision,
MIR. Alison walked out of the room.
Thereat bis pretty wife was Justly
indignant as well as at what he had
said. Anger had dried the tears upon
her cheeks as she muttered, advent
nrers, indeed; as If that were possiblei
am sure Mr.. and Mrs. Wilyerton are
as elegant aud refined as any people of
our acquaintance. and everybody SAYS
the ball will be magnificent; and every
body Is going. too; and-and--so ain
j. l will not be deprived Of every little
pleasure / chance to care for, because
Fred chooses to dictate in that lordly
manner. / shall go to the ball in spite
of him; so therer'
And the little foot came down with
emphasis upon the soft carpet beneath
1t.
Thus IL was.that Mr. and Mrs. Alison
so nearly quarreled this bright MORN
ing in early December. The WiIver- /
tons had issued cards for a grand re- !
ceptlon and ball, to which nearly all |
elite of the town had responded favor
ably. Could Mrs. Alison decline? She |
did not intend to. at all events.
Yet IL was with rather failing heart |
that she Penned her acceptance of the /
invitation aud commenced her pre- I
paratiou for the great event She had .
never yet IN their pleasant married life I
acted SO willfully In opposition to her
husbands wishes But this time she
felt In part excusable.
If he had asked me not TO go" she
said, half penitently, II might have
thought better of it; but / went be
/ didn't marry to be-
come my husbands slave, and I'll 90
% this ball. II only to show him that
can think for myself and shall act as
choose, whether be objects or not
You see. the little lady was fast
herself up TO very high pitch
II yirtuOus Indignation, and she was
icareely disposed to pay any attention
o the faint monitions of conscience.
specially when il dared to whisper
hat she was wrong.
The night Of the ball came round at
asst, as all things do when patiently
waited for. At breakfast that day
drs. Alison had announced to her hus-
and her intention Of attending the
all
ou are not IN earnestS' he said.
"Indeed / am, was the defiant re-
ly. "Ny preparations are all COM
leted, aud Mrs. Leighton has Offered
le a seat in her carriage. in case you
ersfst in not eseorting me yourself"
II certainly shall not gO,' her
usband answered firmly. and
anuot believe my little wife will 90
'ithout me-" he added. pleasantly.
Give me kiss. puss, and when /
pure home this evening. / trust you
i'll have put all this nonsense out of
our head. By, byt'
But his wife would not look at him
hsa be kissed her. aud stamped her
'os augrily as the door closed Rsbipd .