The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-08-24
A WIFE'S RIGHTS.
Why John Weston Was Forced
to Respect Them.

money. john" pleaded the wife, trying
to control her voice.
II tell you no, | cannot spare it; be-
sides she does not need a white dress.
If women had their way every cent
man could earn would be spent on
fnery and foolishncss. If Grace Is not
content to wear something she has to
this trumpery picnic. let her stay at
home; and I'm not sure but that would
be best anyway.
but, John, she really needs n new
dress; I've turned and remade every
thing that | could possibly use. IL you
have not the money to spare let me get
it at Graham's, and you can pay it when
Won come home"
II wont have il; now don't you go to
rettiug it after | am gone Wait, I'll
iix it. Grace!'' he called to a young girl
in the yard, mind, you are not to go
TO tine picnic at all. Do you hear what
| say?"
Yes; but, oh, papa! / am to take
part in the exercises. and promised"
1T don't matter what you promised.
| say you shall not go, and that ends it
III see if I'm to be beg cared for a
Voman's whims. Remember" he said,
turning to his wife, Il said she should
not go, and expect to be Obeyed"
''Iou shall be-" she answered quiet
ly. I've never taught her to disobey
you. and shall not begin now"
''Better not" he returned, roughly,
and walked away.
A one-story log house, ugly and un-
inviting save for the blossoming flowers
about il, rose before her, and from it,
low door slender girl of fourteen
came with wet eyes and flushed face,
saying pitifully:
is it not too cruel, mamma? How
can | bear it?"
Try To bear it bravely, darling
Mamma will help you" And with her
arms around her weeping daughter
Alice Weston sat down upon the lower
dourstone and thought.
Seventeen years before she, pretty
Alice Lewis, had married John Weston.
Her mother was dead, aud her father
had gone to northern New York with
them and purchased Two hundred a res
ui rich but uuimprove,; land. 1t had been
quite cheap--the entire cost only one
Thousand dollars, but it had taken an
ether Thousand To stock it and to build
the little house and barn. Mr.. Lewis
and John agreed very well and Alice
lad been contented- Three years Later
Eahy Grace came, aud, Grandpa Lewis
holding the wee one in his arms said:
Thank heaven, Alice you and baby
viii always have a nome. whatever
happens When | am gone teach the
little one To love my memory"
The lo~-house and barn had been
very well ,or Il start when they were
just beginning, but as years passed a
thriving little town sprang up near,
and Il railroad wound its serpent-like
track across one corner of the farm.
They had prospered, too, in other
ways; had little sickness and good
harvests, and every year John had gone
to B. To deposit the yearly profits.
The barn had long ago given way to a
better more commodiOus structure;
and Alice had often pleaded for new
house, but John was adamant and
scoffed at the idea so Alice yielded,
though feeling his injustice, tor all
labor-saving implements for farm use
had been freely purchased, and help
for himself was never wanting, but
since Baby Grace was three months old
she had never had a stroke of help in
the house.
Johns parsimoniousness was grow
ing uUou him. He seemed to have sunk
all other considerations, and bent all
his energies To making money. 1t WAS
difficult even to get him to provide
suitably for the table. If the provi-
sions were out or their wardrobeS need
ed replenishing Alice WAS made tn feel
that she was personally responsible Tor
the matter. and the family felt his dis
pleasure for days over every triiiIng
expenditure.
catering the house she went slowly
up the Iuudcr that led to the loft. and
taking Il small book from an old red
chest on which We're her fathers in
i,iais IN large brass headed nails, she
examined its contents. 1t was an old
book, and Alice well remembered when
.Iohn had first brought it home. after
scpo>iting two hundred dollars in the
bank at Il There was much To his
.-rrdit; very little had been drawn out,
mi her examination showed her there
vas ten Thousand five hundred dollars
- his order.
Taking "A blank check from the
hest, Alice flied it for $500, payable
80 herself dated l. and signed her hus-
ID nd's name a. nearly like his own sig
nature as possible
Each autumn John went to New
YORK with hi, own and his nei bors
produce. remaining there two To four
weeks. Tnither he had gone to-day,
and would remain at least a month
- Alice had a clear field for her opera
{ ons. She examined her purse, but
.ound less than a dollar there; but sh,
| supplemented it by selling eggs at the
! village, and obtained money enough tt
| 20 to B She had not been there
/ for years. and at first felt timid at he
! ur alone i'm a large city; but each mo
! ,mcnt gave her confidence, and wher
| she PRESENTED the check at the banl
! she. was rs cool and dignified as vet
eran.
John had an uncle in the city, and Il
him she applied for identification
| knowing nothing of the circumstances
| ne of course identified her, but wa
thoroughly astonished when once ou
! of the bank to learn the real state o
affairs He WAS. however, just man
and not only did he approve of he
! course. but gave her valuable assist
ance in her project, and no doubt save'
| her much loss.
Nearly five weeks elapsed befor'
John Weston returned, but to In
a,touiSheI eyes Aladdin's palace seemed
| before him.
a neat. tvo-story frame building, ol
which the paint was scarcely dry
stood where the log house had been
The yard. always level, had beeI
cleared of rubbish, and inclosed in
neat fence
Hastily striding up the gravel walk
he entered the sitting room where hi
L