Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1895-07-10
Follies of a Wife.
BY JOHNSON BURT.

country town. Women who were
envious of her beauty declared that
charms like Mrs. Merrigo's were only
skin deep, but as no one who admires
beauty ever thinks of looking deeper
than the skin, the pretty little woman
could afford to laugh when she heard
of this ill-natured criticism. She had
abundant health and spirits; she dearly
loved her husband, and her husband
never weared or changed in his love
for her-sO she was as happy as she
was pretty
Frank MerrigO was not rich; he was
a salesman, on commission, for a firm
who made a speciality of certain iron
and steel goods. He earned several
times as much money as was demanded
by the owner of the very quiet and
comfortable clearinghouse to which
he took his wife. He had promised
the dear girl that it should be the one
object of his life to make her happy,
and ne proved himself man of his
word. lie was "A sensible fellow, too,
for instead of spending his surplus cash
on his own pleasures and expecting his
wife to enjoy them with him, as most
young husbands do, he let her take the
lead and was himself content to follow
her.
Happy" was not the word to de-
scribe Mrs. MerrigO's condition for
two or three years. she said to herself
and if she didn't know, who did =?
! Finally there came wee boy VINO
changed the ways of Mrs. Merrigo's
| life for a little while, but the little fell
lows father did not cease lavishing
money on the mother. Mrs. MerrigO
loved the baby dearly, but she did not
cease to love theatres aud parties and
| drives and new dresses, all Of which
her husband continued Loyalty to
supply.
Suddenly Merrigos friends began to
notice change, though the wife was
absolutely blind 10 it. She could
scarcely be blamed, for her husband
never entered the house without bring
ing a lot of smiles and kisses and merry
chat with him In business circles,
though it was noticed that MerrigO was
sometimes more pxCitable. Business
men, even the youngest of them, would
have known what this meant, even had
they not known that competition had
sprung up in the specialties in which
Merrigo's employer dealt and that this
meant fewer sales, lower prices and
smaller commissions MerrigO faced
the situation bravely, and tried to keep
up his income by working harder, but
he soon learned that he already had
worked as hard as he could, and that
unless he could change his business for
something better there would be moth
ing 10 do but to cut down expenses.
The better business did not turn up
quickly, aud one night at home, when
he thought himself alone, Merrigo
looked so dismal that his wife asked
him with the most tender anxiety
Imaginable, " hat was the matter. Her
manner disarmed him OF the reserve
which he had determined TO preserve
about business affairs. 20 he told her
gently that business had been going
badly of late, and that he was afraid
they would have to economic care
fully. His wife withdrew her arms
from his neck, covered her face with
her hands, burst into tears and sobbed
out:
"That'll be the end of my good times,
suppOse-just what happens to other
folks when they have to be economi-
cal, ;"
Nonsense, my dear j" exclaimed
Merrigo, with new and awfully
heavy weight on his heart. We're
not reduced to poverty; we have oul
home, aud each other, and the baby
But don't want to slave away my
life at housekeeping and taking care OF
baby, if there's to be no fun"
There shall be plenty of fun
promise you that" the wretched hus
band replied, Fbut---but we must select
it with some regard to the cost-that':
all, dear"
CHATS all, indeed? I should think
it was enough" said Mrs. Merrigo, still
, with tears in her voice.
, Pm brute! exclaimed the hus
band, land if you'll forgive me this
once you never shall hear another
. word about it,"
"You solemnly promiseG" asked
Mrs. Merrigo, impressively.
: 'SOlemnly !" said the husband, tax
ing the little woman to his heart
though be had to wait 2 moment Of
two for his wife's arms to wind round
his neck
Before the evening had ended he de
vised something entirely new and de
lightful for the next night-somethinl
quite expensive, too; his wife kissed
him effusively and called him a naughty
but dreadfully darling fellow, and tolC
him she didn't really believe, after all
| that he was going to become an ole
2 stupid, like some of her friends b us
2 bands were, as soon as business didn't
TO suit thea.
From that time forth MerFigO had &
double terror continually in his heart
the fear of making his wife unhapp.
= by curtailing such of her pleasures as
: were bought with money, and the new
v fear that her love for him depended
\ upon the amount Of pleasure he coult
buy for her. 1t was an old story
though he did not know 1.-THE story
of man woOing a woman, not at al
bad in herself as a mere plaything ant
pet-a very delightful plaything ant
v pet-instead of searching for com
t panion and equal, as any mans wifi
|. will be, unless the man takes leave O
4 some or all of his senses when he
:, making his selection.
: Merrigo saw his fault and acknowl
! edged it to himself and Heaven; h.
/ would have admitted it also to Mrs
Merrigo had there been any indication
that the lady would understand him
He redOubled his own attentions t,
her, and as he was naturally an affeC
d tiOnate and companionable fellow, b
8 sometimes made her very happy with
II out spending cent; but variety is tn
spice of life, so next day Mrs. Merrigo'
pretty face and eyes would be so full c
longing, as the little woman spoke c
some innocent yet expensive pleasure
that that the money had to cOme-th
husband had to find the way.
} Love will inspire a man to worI
many wonders, but there is limi
even to inspiration when its purpose
are entirely selfish. Merrigo 6orrowe,
small sums from the firm, who coul
- not refuse accommodations to so valu
able man. The more he borrowe
the more desperate he became, for tn
feeling that more money is owed tina
can be paid Is about as weakening q
any that comes to q man who Is homes
at heart. To keep this torment frou
+! becoming greater, he began to dispos
of such of his personal belongings as h
thought his wife would not miss. T
begin With was set of SHAKESPEARE,
costly edition and expensiyely bound
Mrs Marina onnId Mt ,,-Io.sA. =.