The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-12-06

get out every evening, entertain her friends
in our parlor once "a week and be excused
from getting breakfast on Sunday as she
had to goto early nlass-Sunday above all
days, the only one dear Walters business
permitted him to breakfast with his wife?
No, no. Upon calm deliberation | resolved
that the girls trunk should never cross
the threshold. 1t came though, she perch
ed upon the wagon with it. met her at
the door. ~ am very sorry" | said in
most hum BILE tone, but cannot take you.
I have changed my mind"
Oh, dear! Thought of that girl makes
me shudder. Such u torrent of abuse
poured from her lips that I was glad to
drag her into the hall SO that the neigh
bors would not hear her. The outcome
was that I had to pay her half a months
wages as well as carriage upon her trunk
whence it came and back again. Even
then she was undecided whether or not to
institute proceedings against me in the
courts, and for days L lived in mortal ter
ror of policeman with blue paper.
The next Abigail was not SO bad, al
though when Walter saw her he advised
me to put his razors under lock and key
and to guard my bedroom door until he
came home-newspaper men, you know,
are always at business until early morning
for he thought he detected insanity in
her eye. Of course laughed at him, but
it was forced laugh, and his words prey
ed SO upon me that l really did hide his
razors the first night and guarded my bed
room door too Matilda turned out to be
a very good girl though. In time be-
came quite attached to her and felt sorry
when she suddenly left us to run away
with married man. They have been
coming and going ever since-now good
one, then a bad one. Verify the ways of
a mistress and maid are hard to under
stand.
Oh, the delights of young housekeeper
and the worry! When have chops for
dinner, know by the way he looks at
them that Walter would have better liked
a roast, and when he comes rushing in
with a cry for mullagatawny soup am
sure to have it not.
One night several months ago Walter
came home to dinner, bringing a friend,
Mr.. Graham, with him. Now, in the first
place, I disliked Mr.. Graham, and in the
second it happened that 1 had prepared
tempting little salad made of the daintiest
of chickens; but, alas, just enough for
Walter and myself! Taking these two facts
together, is it wonder that was in
pouting mood? Walter noticed it, and /
blushed when my glance met his, for felt
that it was foolish of me to behave with
such childish sullenness. The converse
ton tagged. I could not talk, and Wal
ter, thought, was too annoyed to say
much.
s'Nellie, y he at last remarked, "Graham
and have hit upon a great scheme to
make a fortune"
tYes,' was all could say in reply. e
'sYou'll have your. horses and carriage,
rich furs, diamonds and all that kind of
thing before a year has passed .
ssThat would be nice, y said. Had WAL
ter told me such news upon any other;
occasion and associated with any one but,
Mr.. Graham, 1 would have fallen upon
his neck and wept for Joy. But when that
Mr.. Graham had ANYTHING to do with it
well. did not like Mr.. Graham. He was
q DR.. FELL in nv ewes.
At last the odious meal was at an end.
When the two men had finished their
pipes. Walter had to 90 to the Office. and
Mr.. Graham went with him. That was a
wearisome night for me. and wept more
than slept until Walter came home again.
After the paper had been got out, 1 was
awake
ssOh, Walter, forgive me. III cried.
"Why, Nellie, darling, what's the mat
ter?'' he laughingly inquired, taking my
cheeks between his hands and kissing me.
"You've been crying your eyes out. What
am to forgive you for9"
Then, half laughing and half crying,
told him all about it. I knew it was a
small matter, but thought my good hus
band was angry at my behavior, and it
was the first disagreement we had had,
and-well, perhaps was foolish. \
So the days flew merrily on. heard no
more OF Walters great scheme for making
a fortune until one night few weeks ago.
Walter came home before his usual hour.
was awake and thought it strange that
he came directly up stairs without going
into the dining room to partake OF. the
light supper L always left ready for him
and which ne SO enjoyed.
Nellie"
His face was as white as the cambria tie
he wore, his hair disheveled, and in his eye
there was wild stare.
ION, Walter, WalterFs cried, shrink
h