The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1894-08-24
miscellaneous.
A FINANCIER'S WIFE.
BY EDWARD 5. VAN ZILE.

Mrs. Adolphe Mortimer had made
up her mind that it was her duty TO
become a sacrifice. If there was one
thing that this worthy woman prided
herself on it was her mind, and when
ever that organ reached a decision it
chung to it with tenacity worthy of
almost any cause. Mrs. Mortimer's
will power never slipped its trolley.
She had decided, in this instance. to
cast herself as an offering on the altar
of her husbands higher welfare. She
had watched him grow morbid, self
absorbed, restless; and, after tedious,
but, on the whole, satisfactory process
of ratiocination, she had reached the
conclusion that it was incumbent up
on her, as his better half, to revive
him, to enliven his dropping spirits by
the refreshing waters of her own NEIL
tality.
Having established herself firmly
upon this proposition she cast about
her for some effective method where
by she could bring the old sparkle back
to his eye, the color to his wan cheeks,
the smoothness to his wrinkled brow.
He is very silent at meals" she re-
Elected. He reads his newspapers
and letters in tidgety, respondent
WAY lie SOcS OuD III tllC
and remains late at his club. Then,
again, seem to bore him. That is
very strange. He used to take so much
interest in all my affairs Now what
can he find at the club that he cannot
have at home? | set out to give him
all the comforts of a club. How have
| failed His cigar box is always full,
the sponge is always wet, the decan-
tiers are never empty and | learned to
play poker just to please him. Per
haps my conversation bores him. All,
that's it! NY range of topics is too
narrow. really must pay attention
to the current news. Poor Adolphe !.
When his mind is full of business cares
| bother him with my chatter about
books and theatres nd-and-things.
What he needs is hSme where he
can get in small doses the mental tonic
he finds on the exchange and at his
club. I'll read the newspapers every
day and surprise the poor dear fellow
with my wisdom. The idea of my
| talking bonnets when he is thinking
only of bulls and bears. It's absurd ~
Mrs. Mortimer began her experiment
that evening at dinner. They had
eaten their soup in silence and the anX-
ious wife had been nerving herself for
the conversational plunge that she
had determined to make for the sake
of her poor dear boy. Finally she
asked:
"How was the market to-day,
Adolphe -
The broker looked at his wife sharp
What market, Genevieve? Jeffer-
son? Washington What do you
mean -
1.-The stock market, dear. Was it
easy -
EASY as sum in fractions" he an
swered Grossly, helping himself to the
fish and and relapsing into moody 81
| lence.
Vulgar fractions she was tempt
ed to retort, but stayed her tongue in
time.
After a while she made another at
| tempt to rebuild his shattered conSti-
| tuition.
How was the bank statement to.
day, my dear ~
"Whose % he asked nervously.
"Why, anybody's-everybody'
You know what mean, darling. Are
things looking up?"
Her voice trembled slightly, but she
| SIllltNl SWOObly-
He glanced at her questioningly, but
remained silent.
She was growing discouraged, but,
as | have said before, Mrs. Adolphe
Mortimer had will of iron and refus-
ed to give up the fight. 1t was some
thing gained, at all events, to cause
even a faint CLEAN of surprise in her
husbands weary eyes.
"Are you long or short, Adolphe ~
she ventured at last.
"Of what ?''
She really didn't know.
"Of-of-margins," she faltered, al
most in a whisper.
He was too preoccupied to catch hel
answer, and again the dinner went
forward in utter silence.
perhaps" she unused, "he will be
more talkative over his coffee and
cigar. | will wait a moment before
making another effort Let me see
What shall | say next? He said the
market was as easy as q sum in frac
tions. That means it's hard. When
it's 's-its-well, l don't
know. Inever heard of it being hard
nor soft, either Sometimes it:
feverish, isn't it? That's it. I'll ask
him about-about its-its tempera,
ture. No, that won't do. That
wouldn't sound like what | read il
that Wall street paper. But WASH
there something about the rate OF eX'
change? That must mean whether
it's fast or slow. I'll try that
Did the exchange run very well to
day, sweetheart p she began again
us he modify lit a cigar.
He gazed at her moment quizzical