Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1871-01-27
Figures Won't Lie.
BY REV. JAMES MILLER,

BY REV JAMES MILLER.
"To. morrow is the 25th, isn't it
Mary ?"
"rhe 25th," answered the young
wife, sad y,
james Carroll knocked the ashes
from his cigar, held it carefully be
tween his thumb aud ioretinger of
hIs left hand, aud looked thoughtful.
ly Into the fire. Mary's tired ling
ers showed no signs of weafiuess,
but turned the hem of u sheet me.
chanically, then proceeded to baste
IL for sewing.
Belle will be three years old?"--
he said iaterrogatively.
"Three, James," replied Mary.
without the trace of smile lighting
up her pretty young face. James
gave a few inore whifs ut his nearly
consumed cigar, but did not seem to
erjoy 1t much. A listener would
have plonouneed Mary "a cold. un
lowing wife that the genia! presence
of her handsome husband. or the
return OF her baby's birthday failed
to please.
Lookers on and listeners do not
always look into the depths of the
heart to see what trials and struggles
are there. SO in this instance. An.
other woman whose life is all sun
seine would have pronounced Mary
Garrett heartless. Poor thing She
had too much heart for this worlds
trials. Her wedding day was bIiss-
ful one. Her husband the ideal of
manly perfection. His love, unac.
cnmpunied 10y wealth. was more to
her than all the treasures of earth.
But ctoud arose to dim the bright.
less of her sky. Sue soon made the
discovery that her husband was hu.
man. That the love of wine, aud
possibly something stronger, filed
his heart as well as the love of his
wife. He was not what the world
calls AZ intemperate man one glass
does not constitute drunkard, why
should she fear.
Al the end of three years he took at
least three glasses day; what
had sue to hope for In the years to
come?
II wish, Mary, was able to make
Belle present every day i'm her life,
but you know it Is all can do To
get along as it is"
81 know it," meekIy replied his
wife.
James was i'll at ease. Something
In Mary's manner disturbed him.
"Wha makes you look so solemn
and quiet, Mary? Why not sympa.
thize with me and say you know
have hard time To get along, and
that Belle can do without presents
better than we can afford TO get
them? Fox gave me the wood bill
this morning, aud Jones wanted To
know when the grocery bill will he
paid. / don't like TO bother you
with these things. only want you
tn understand that as much as love
our little girl. can't afford to make
her presents"
Mays color came and went
Tears stole into her violet eyes, and
her heart beat quick and fast. Her
trembling fingers guided her needle
unsteadiIy and her stitches were long
aud irregular. Three long years she
had brooded alone over her hus
bands weakness without u word of
reproof. and, us much rs she dreaded
TO speak, she knew that her time had
come.
II wish, dear James. / could econ
omize In something, aud save money
to buy our darling present. 1t
seems cruel to neglect her birth day
SO sOon.n
II know of nothing you could be
more prudent In, and you know that
| am as economical as possible, don
your"
IL was very hard for the lips that
had uttered only loving words of
praise tn sa.t no; but strength not
her own came 10 her aid. and with
sweet. sad smile, the wife uttered
her first rebuke:
mo, James. / am grieved to say
that feel THAT In some things you
are too extravagant. 1t must be a
sin OF ignorance, for know III you
realized ii you would never wrong
your wife aud child.n
James started from his seat; his
eyes flashed aud his cheek paled. -
For Heavens sake, Mary, are you
crazy ?"
"Not crazv, James. but too clear
headed fer our happiness"
After the shock had passed. and be
was prepared TO listen, cue went on,