The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-06-24
A SUPPOSABLE CASE.


Mrs. Delameter sat in her bay
window sewing. She was thinking
as well as sewing-thinking Of some
thing that had happened in the
morning
If any living soul had dared to
insinuate to Mrs Delameter that her
husband was capable of meanness,
she would have risen in her wrath
and hurled indignation at the offend
ing insinuator, And yet there had
been times in the course cf their
year of married life when she had
almost admitted as much to herself
in her inmost heart, though she had
always fastened to assure herself
that he didn't intend it and was only
thoughtless.
The trouble lay in a nutshell
there was only one pocketbook in
the Delameter family, and its abid.
ing place was Mr.. Delameter's pocket.
To woman who had supported
herself single handed and alone fer
several years previous to marriage
it seemed unbearably humiliating to
be obliged to sue for every dollar
she spent, to say nothing OF being
expected to explain for what par
ticular purpose each individual
dollar was to be expended.
That morning she felt the last
straw had beer added to her load of
humiliation. She had conceived the
brilliant plan of asking for more
money than her immediate necessi
ties demanded, with the idea of
sparing herself few Unnecessary
humiliations in the near future. She
had screwed up her courage as she
ate her breakfast to ask timidly, as
Mr.. Delameter rose from the table.
Tom, can you spare me $40?
What's the trouble now? asked
Mr.. Delameter good naturedlv.
I-need a pair Of boots.
Whew! Ten dollars for a pair Of
bootsf and he arched his eyebrows,
still good naturediy.
No, stammered his wife, feeling
and looking as guilty as though she
had robbed neighbor's clothesline
over night, the boots will be only
81, butt thought it would be
handy to have little money by me
and-not to have to trouble you so
often.
And Mr.. Delameter-her face
grew hot, and she breathed fast
ever time she thought of it-Mr.
Delameter took a s. bill and 81
bill and silver half dollar, and laid
them on the table, saying in an off
hand way, l guess that'll do you
this time, and then put up his
and went away whist
ling.
Mrs. Delameter was good little
woman, and she endeavored Loyalty
to find excuses for such atroclous
conduct. She was forglvlng little
woman, too, and so when the clock
on the mantle struck the halt hour
after she folded up her work, and
set the tea table with the puffy
cream cakes Mr.. Delameter SO loved
and which she had made in the
morning, and put on the even slices
of homemade bread, light as a
feather and sweet as a nut, and
opened a jar OF the peaches she can
ned the fall before, and made the
tea in the precise manner he liked it
made,
And Mr.. Delameter came home,
and gave his wife an atfectionate
greeting, and looked at her admir-
inely across the table, and praised
her cream cakes. And after supper
he drew her down on his knee and
SAID how Jolly it was to have home
of ones own and not have to live In
a horrid boarding house, and he was
altogether in such pleasant mood
that Mrs. Delameter dared attempt
a little serious talk and paved the
way by informing him that.
Mrs. Southernwood came to see
me to day.
Ali She's the millinery lady, |
believe?
She wants me to trim hats for her
in my spare time this summer.
Indeed! Well, l hope you sent
her to the right about face in double
quick time. The idea of my wife
working in a shop! said Mr.. Della
meter, with considerable spirit.
wish you'd let me do it.
For goodness sake, what for! anc
Mr.. Delameter spoke little testify
this time.
Because lit would seem so gooC
to have little money of my own.
Well, don't you have money o
your very own? All that's mine il
yours.
suppose so-but, oh, Tom, yo'
| don. know | hate to ask for it.
You silly little goose! Did l eve
refuse you? L can't see why unde
the canopy you should feel that way
But really, Tom, | think-l'n
almost sure-you would feel tn
same way.
Nonsense! shouldn't either. II
lust as lief ask as not.
Would yon he willing to prove it
Certainly Id if there was an
way, but | - sec