The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-06
The Euenir,e Story
epondine-M0ney.
(By Ella Randolph Pearce


Mr.. Lemuel Wallace kissed his wife
goodby In his usual gallant early
morning manner. walked jAuntily a.
far az the door and turned with . re-
Elective glance.
st gave you a two-dollar bill yes-
terday, didn't I. Chrissie?" he Ques-
toned. "How much was the gas tub
ing?"
Young Mrs. Wallace knew what
was expected Of her. She quickly
produced q handful Of small change
from her bag. "Seventy-five cents
, change" She counted the money
at him a little wistfully. ia like to
keep a quarter. Lem"
What for?" inquired her husband.
| with elevated eyebrows. You're not
going out today
moo. But I'd like to have little
deninE. and she looked away. "Oh.
never mind. Go on"
Lemuel slowly dropped the coins
into his pocket.
81 can't see why you're always ask
ing for money" he said peevishly.
"It's-it's irritating"
always asking!" echoed his wife.
stung into vexation. Then her eyes
frightened. and she stared mutinous-
ly at the man before her. well. II
am always asktng-1 never get it!
but. Chrissie. what do you want
husband. IT pay all the bills. don't
II? And buy you good clothes?. And
take you out whenever I can. don't II
Yet, you're harping on change late
ly-what do you want with my
my change" mimicked Chrissie In
the childish way that made her gentle
anger seem unimpressive-more
amusing than anything else. "Oh. 60
along. Lemuel Wallacei"
She pushed him across the sill and
shut the door. Then. with tears leap
at the table.
Hell never understand-never.
neveri And can't make himl I was
hoping he'd forget about that 81 bill.
I wanted to see how it would seem to
have q few pennies in my purse.
He thinks I'm just joking. or set on
having my own way. And LENS aw-.
fully stubborn himself about some
thinga."
Within a week. the disagreeable
ing from the breakfast table, counted
out $1.10 with which the laundry bill
was to be paid.
I'm going to your mothers for
luncheon reminded Christie.
Another dime was carefully laid on
eyes full OF extraordinary resentment.
That's enough for your carfare,"
said her husband.
Then the long brooding storm
broke.
dime-and had to ask for that!"
Chrissie choked as she winked back
the tears. Suppose I lost my last
nickel and had to walk home! Sup
pose wanted to make q small pur-
chase on the way. Or your mother
nate to one of her pet charities.
won't be humiliated in this wayl And
II won't ever ask you for money
again! It's-it's awful"
Her husband regarded her with an
expression in which astonishment and
very strange ideas Chr1ssie-and
foolish he said coldly. 'I suppose
that comes OF your having been q
wage Garner before your marriage. l
am willing to give you all you need:
but this idea of 'spending-money.' as
you call it-why, it Is becoming a YER
table bone of contention between U.S.
It is spelling our lives. Chrissie.''
''Then why don't you let me keep
my self-respect? asked Chrissie, piti-
fully. You pay my bills. You give
me pennies when I ask for them
but you make me feel like a pauper-
and q beggar. Lem. Lem. think 1t
over. Try to be fair with me! Other
wives crave dresses, Jewels, entertain
ment for their friends: but IL"
tones were shrill. why, Lem. the
happiest moment Of my life would be
when I could hear my husband say,
Keep the change. Chrissie!'
The speech, with its provoked sar-
casm. stung deeper than the speaker
h 3~t0nAA6
flushed angrily and stinened with un-
expressed displeasure. Chrissie flung
herself upon him, half laughing, half
crying.
Lem! I didn't mean to hurt you.
But I'm right I know I'm right
He firmly thrust her aside. and
went out. a figure of righteous indig-
nation and ofrened majesty. But
Chrisaie's words ranked. OF all she
had said ON that detested subject the
ridiculous remark about keeping the
change struck deepest. It showed
him up az q man OF misery instincts
and petty exactions. OF course It was
all nonsense that q married woman
needed q regular allowance: that,
with her material wants provided for
she should have any use for money;
but perhaps-perhaps 1t would be
worrying to a woman Of spirit to have
to ask for such trifling sums az her
occasional small needs might require.
Though I never refused Chrfesfe. re-
fected Lemuel defensively. "And
she certainly is most unreasonable"
Peace reigned in the Wallace home
but the shadow Of past discord vague
1y fingered. The fact itself Of Chris !
sizes silence on the subject of spend !
ing-money produced uneasiness in
the mind OF her husband. After |
awhile there seemed to be something |
wrong with the little mistress Of the |
house. She was less animated; leaB
playful than usual She became given |
to periods Of meditation, and some- |
times refused to go abroad evenings,
Mead fatigue or a haadachA-l