South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1870-08-05
South 1raneh 9ntrlligeneer.
RoMNEY. yRIDAY MORNING, AuG. 5. ls7o.
a Wife's Mistake.

u "liG y n1lSIdkS.
Bertram Chester entered his COSY mar.
Tor one day, a winning smile lingering a.
round the corners of his moustachcd mouth.
a, glorious love. light beaming from his
deeply, dnrkly, beautifully blue eyes; but
when his gaze rested upon the trouble if
not angry face of his wife, he paused, and
his smile vanished, whilo shade of un-
easiness fitted over his manly face. He
was one of those grand, noble aud gener-
Gus men we so often read about but sci.
dom see. He approached her, printed u
loving Kiss upon her lips, seated himself
upon the divan beside her, and said +:
'Stella, why is your usually cheerful face
wearing shadow to day I?
She did not reply immediately, but tap
ped the carpet with her foot
why do you not tell me, why YOU are
sad! You know that | live only in the
light of your smile, and it gricves me deep
~ to see you unhappy. If augbt has &C =
Cured to annoy you tell mo at once. l
have right to know
We'll, since you are so anxious, / will
tell you. | was down to call on Mrs.
Mosby this morning, and she has had her
house all refurnishcl with the most costly
furniture in the city and she has a new
silver tea set, too. We are Just as able
to have new furniture as they are, and
am going to have it. / can't make n par
ty until VIC do, and believe in enjoying
life while we do live. You arc spoken of
a prosperous man, and where's the use
of prospcring if We must be always prac-
ticng economy Our carpets really begin
- look soiled, aud that horrid old piano is
a year behind ihc times
The shade doepcncd on his face as he
listcrcd, and his voice was low and trcmu-
lous as he replied.
Stella, you are beginning to look upon
the wrong side Of Lifc's picture What
arc you living for to win the adulatinn of
tho gay world, or to contribute to my hap
pincssI Had you visited home where,
in sorrow and rags, want was eating up the
life blood of the inmates, you would have
come home thanking God that your home
was as pleasant as it is. The carpets would
then have looked bright aud beautiful, and
you would have been cOntcntcd and happy.
! am a prosperous man, and If continue
TO prosper will ono day be rich but how
lorg would | prosper if you did not assist
TO husband the means We have. Ia other
words, if ! save two thousand dollars year.
aud you throw away three thousand by use
less extravaganza, how long could meet
the demands Of my creditors? We have
lived as our means would :I.,w. ana
navrn tried to initiate those who arc
wcalthicr than ourselves, and we have been
very happy. If you permit the giant dis
content to gain possession of you, you can
bid farewell TO happiness. Times are hard
now, and | can not afford to rcfurnish our
house but if we live economically year
or two, | can then afford new furniture
| don't like to sec misfortune visit our
friends, but II Louis Mostly does not re-
trench in his style o. living, ho will he a
bankrupt in less than six months Ills
residence is mortgagcd for half its value,
and if bis debts were all paid, hc would
not be worth two thousand dollars
well don't care our property is not
mortglgcd and | am going to have things
like other folks. You arc very clever to
read me homily on discomfort, but would
like to know how much you throw away at
champagne parties and card playing You
havo your enjoyment, aud am going to
have mine" she replied haughily.
'S.olla, dcsist will you not listen 10
reason You know do not attend cham
payne aud euchro parties You never
spoke 81 tn me before in your life Sure
ly, you will not destroy our domestic bliss
in this vain and foolish manner, simply to
mako a parade in tho fashionable world
II you carry your plans into execution may
God help Us for positively swear l can Z
spare the money out Of my business Can
you not f1rcgo this desire TO live beyond
our means he pleaded
u know we can afford IL, and / won't be
happy until | get things fixed up as I
want thom It you don't attend cham
payne parties, you spend just as much on
cigars, wine, etc, sho replied spitcdly.
q have never tasted vino since we were
married. ] love the taste Of IL; therefore
I have the moral courage 20 resist the
temptation Did ! allow myself to indulge
In dram. blinking, would soon become a
confirmed druukard Therefore bcwarc,
dcor wife, lest you cause me TO seek forget
1.,;.s-- ;a &c Ioisonod bowl, lac replied,
sorrowfully.
you arc only trying to brighton me in
10 obedience. am not afraid Of your be-
coming q drunkarj, and now, Bcrta DO be
sensible ! have set my heart on having
new furniture, and I can't be happy until
7 get IT, she replied firmly
'StclIa, can't you believe me whom / say
/ can't afford it,
90, hush I'm tiroI 10 death Of hear
ing your doloful complaints. Your face
is as long as my arm. tell you We can
aud will have % ! sho ssid, ns she rose and