The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-05-30

telshelf; and Mrs. Ives needle glancinl
in and out of her work like a small
ray OF lightning. The children were
all tucked snugly up in bed, for Mr.
Julius Ives liked to be quiet when he
came home from business, and Mrs
Ives was the most devoted and obedi.
ent of conjugal partners. 1t was an
exquisitely neat room-a room where
the sweet home-element predominated
I'm every nook and corner--a room to
which the tired business man might
leok 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, "Ahem"
"And now, Melissa" he said author
iitatively, you may bring me the
tradesman's bills"
Poor Mrs. Ives started in her chair
as if cannon-ball had Numbered
rominously into the silence OF the cosy
little apartment. How much she
dreaded the weekly recurrence of this
domestic ukase, was only known to
herself 1t was the SHELTON 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 husbands side.
She was pretty woman, tall and
graceful, with straight, regulur feat
ures, rosy cheeks, and soft wistful
eyes, that looked like brown velvet; n
woman whose hands always were
white and delicate, and whose dresses
always seemed to fit by magic.
Nor was Mr.. Julius Ives disagree
able specimen of mankind to look
upon. He was large, and finely-form.
led, with dark hair, strongly disposed
TO curl at the ends, and bright black
eyes. Yet, nevertheless, there was d
certain curve in Mr.. Ives upper lip
that savoured somewhat of the i'm
pertive mood.
Butter again! that's five pounds
we've used within q week." moaned
Mr.. Ives, checking off the various
items of the grocer's bill with the little
gold pencil that hung at his watch
chain. any dear, does Bridget grease
the kitchen pans with butter?"
Mrs Ives cheeks glowed.
snow julius, what is the use of talk
ing in 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"
erich! / should think so. Ham cod
fish. BY the way, Melissa, Jones says
they only buy meat three times
,week--have it cold every other day.
Jones's wife knows how to economize.
4 suppose you haven't the least idea
what becomes OF the joints after they
leave the table"
II have no doubt OF Bridget's per-
eect honesty, julius"
"Oh, no--of course not. But do
think Melissa, it is n wife's duty to
pay some sort of attention to her hus-
bands pocket"
"Our bills are not disproportionate-
9y large, julius IhEt
"They must be, my dear-they must
be. Positively it's enough to frighten
one, just to run over these items in
the housekeeping accounts Sugar
raisins-oil--oysters! Melissa, do /
keep q restaurant? II not, where do
all these things go?"
Mrs. Ives was silent.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES 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, 1--WE must turn over new
leaf-we must, positively. Can't you
retrench?"
"How?"
ain a thousand ways, my dear.
Why, my mother never spent half the
money you contrive to spend, and
there were twelve OF u.s."
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
ture. 1 do not think it fair to insti-
tute O comparison between her ex
. penses and mine" ~ w ~ &%
"Oh, that's the way you women all
talk" said Mr.. Ives, impatiently.
"All know is that there must be q
screw loose somewhere. You must
economical" .5ft3tt
I But, Julius"
"My love, don't you see I'm just
lighting my cigars never can smoke
when my mind is in anyway disturbed.
Suppose we dismiss the subject. am
quite sure that Ihave stated my wish
es on the subject with sufficient dis
tinctnessp
Mrs. Ives bit her coral lip, and sew
ed away vigorously at her work. But
II her thoughts could have descended
in a shower bath swords on Mr.. Julius
Ives devoted head, how they would
have startled him from the calm com
placency of his mood.
eyes, I'll economize," thought Mrs.
Melissa, vindictively dragging the
thread through the seams "Ill