Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-01-08
NOT AT MY EXPENSE.

asked my wife, pausing in her halt-made
toilet, and looking at me curiously.
"People may erjoy themselves riding
out in the breezy morning, but not at my
expense" l shut my teeth hard and con.
tracted my eyebrows; for | was moved by
and impulse of sudden anger.
"Who is riding out at your expense,
Mr.. Golden th ~
1.-THE man who went gathering by just
now. Every morning he goes past, with
head and body erect, saucy and defiant
How he can look an honest man in the
face FROM such an elevation is more than |
am able to understand. And he sha'n't do
it long. Pve made up myl mind to that.
I can't afford to take horseback rides ID
the morning, and nobody else shall do so
at my expense" .
Why do you say at your expense p
quietly asked my wife. When | am dis
turbed she is usually calm. A fortunate
circumstance, as have had occasion many
times to know.
Hes in my debt: that's why say it, "
was my answer.
ooh l understand"
My wife said only this, but her tone
WIS not satisfactory. Somehow it let into
nv mind a perception that what | had
said did not lift me higher in her regard.
"AId he sha'n't keep fast horse at my
expense" further said, in logged man-
ner. Now that word fast was thrown in
to make weight on the side of my lndigna-
lion; for touching the animals speed |
was in the dark. when man fails and
cheats his creditors it's about time to leave
the road to honest mems
"Who is it?" inquired my wife.
"His name is Cline"
edward Cline"
Eyes. He was in the firm of Pettis,
James and Co. They made bad failure
OF it. My loss was nearly five hundred
dollars"
"He married Lucy Jardin," said my
wife, not taking the five hundred dollars
any more in to account than if the loss
had been five hundred cents, much to my
ANNOYANCE. The fact is, Mrs. Goldsmith
is not a worldly minded woman. She
doesn't care great deal for fine dress or
fine furniture. Isn't in fact half as much
in love of appearances as | am. She pro-
vokes me dreadfully with her Indifference
to these things sometimes. But it might
be worse of course. The other extreme
should lind little expensive.
81 believe So" was my cold reply.
Poor Lucy We were school girls,
and | was very fond of her. What is her
husband dong?"
"Clerking it, I'm told"
My wife sighed.
"And enjoying himself with fine horse
ct / in ~
ty of tone that, knowing Mrs. Goldsmith
as did, must have hurt her gentle nature,
even though meant nothing against her
self.
81 He was not in very good health, l
believe, at the time of their marriage"
q don't know anything about that"
said | indifferentiy. The fact is, | was
feeling so hard toward Mr.. Cline, that it
was scarcely possible to interest me favor
ably in anything that concerned him.
The subject was not pleasant one 20
discuss with my wife, and so it was dropped.
She doesn't sympathizs with me in mat
tiers Of business and gain 10 the degree I
would like. Sometimes she anroys me
SO much by this want of sympathy that |
am tempted to say things, which, if said,
it would grieve me to remember. Gener-
ally manage to keep silent.
On my way to the store, after dinner, I
called at the office of lawyer, and placed
my claim against the late firm of Petts,
James & Co., in his hand, and told him to
make what he could out of it.
"Cline keeps a fast trotter," said l,
which doesn't look we'll for clerk. He's
retained few nest eggs, no doubt.
can't afford to keep horse and don't
feel inclined to let any body else keep one
at my expense. You can seize the horse
at any rate"
at he doesn't sell it before we get judg-
ment."
Is there no process by which at at
tachment can be at once ISSUED 2" in
CURED.
"None," answered the lawyer. "And
I'm afraid you'll make yourself costs for
nothing. Cline will hardly wait until
Judgment is obtained before parting with
his horse. Our execution will be returned
by the sheriff as worthless"
mo MATTER" said Z" he shan't ride q
fine horse at my expense. Pve settled
that point. For the last two weeks he's
gone dashiDg, jauntily, past my house ev-
cTS fDoluiDS as SEduO DIS piiuCS, duO L
won't stand it any longer"
So the suit was brought. [ didn't get
the horse but there was no more riding
out in the morning. Mr.. Cline had to
come down to the level of his creditor and
walk if he desired an airing. What did |
gain by all this you ask. l might an.
swer: The satisfaction of knowing that
Mr.. Cline was compelled to walk at his
own expense instead of riding at mine.
But truth compels me TO say that did not
receive much pleasure from this view OF
the case. 1t was not half SO comforting as
had believed it would be. l was disqni-
eted by the transaction. Suggestions, not
q shadow of which intruded before, were
now cast into my thoughts, and | could
not put them away.
did not see anything more OF MIR. Cline
for nearly two months after the mornln
horseback rides bad been given up. Bet
in spite of many efforts to put him out Of
my mind, l could not remove the IN
pleasant subject. One day | met him or
the street. We came face to face sudden
~. recognizing each other with cold for
mality. This meeting did not add to my
comfortable feelings. l would not hav'
taken the impression it left with me II
exchange for twenty horses-no, not TO
twenty score. This thin, almost colories
face, and the large bright eyes that hashe'
into mine, haunted me all day lorg.
A few days afterward l met him AGAR
We looked at each other, nodded distanu
and passed. His appearance troubled me
"Why SO r. asked of myself. "Wha
is Mr.. Cline to me?" A suspicion of th
truth was crowding in upon me, but
sought to keep it out.
81 saw my old friend, Mrs. Cline, to
la= eaid my wife q week or two late,