The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1871-11-16


With this conclusion in his mind, Aaron
Little returned home, after closing his
warehouse for the day. Tea being over,
he made preparations for going out with
the intention of calling on Mr.. Lawrence.
As he reached his hand for his great-coat,
a voice seemed to say to him:
"Tell your wife, Talk to her about it. 4"
I But he rejected the thought instantly,
and commenced drawing on his coat.
/ "Where are you going, Aaron asked
Mrs. Little, coming from the dining-room.
"Out for little WHILE" he replied.
"Ill be back in half an hour
/ "Out where ~
| " Tell her, Aaron. Tell her about it, .
said the voice speaking in his mind.
Nonsense She don't understand any
business. She can't help me- he answer
ed firmly.
"Tell your wife y The words were in
his mind, and would keep repeating them
selves.
! Cant you say where you are going,
Aaron? Why do you make a mystery Of
| ?"
''Oh, it's only matter of business. I'm
going to Mr.. Lawrence
Edward Lawrence ?"
"Yes"
Tell your wife - The words seemed
almost as uttered aloud in his ears.
/ What are you going to see him about ?''
| "Tell her p
Mr.. Little stood irresolute. What good
would telling her do?
What's the matter, Aaron? You've
been dull some time past. Nothing going
wrong with you, l hopc:' And his wife
laid her hand upon his arm and leaned
toward him in a kind way.
Nothing is wrong" he answered in an
evasivc manner " Business has been duh
this season."
Has it? I'm sorry. Why didn't you
tell me -
| "Wh hat good would that have done?'
at might have done good deal of
good. When a mans business is dull, his
wife should look to the household ex-
penses; but if she knows nothing about it,
she may go on in a way that is really ex-
| travagant under the circumstances. l
think that men ought to tell their wives
when anything is going wrong
! "You 90 p
"Certainly l do. What letter reason
can YOU want than the one | have given d?
/ If she knows that the income is reduced,
is a prudent wife she will endcavor to re-
duce the expenses. Hadn't you better
take off your coat, and sit down and tall, to
me a little before YOU go to see Mr.. Law
renee p
Mr Little permitted his wife to draw of
/ his ovcrcoat, which she took into the pas
.age and replaced on the hat-rack. Then
returning into the parlor, she said:
! Now, Aaron, talk to me as freely as
yoa choose. Don't keep anything back
Whatever the trouble is, let me know it to
the fall extent
''Oh, there is no great trouble yet l
am only afraid of trouble. L see it coming,
and wish to keep out of its way, Betsy"
That's wise and prudent" said his
wife. Now tell me why you are going to
see Mr.. Lawrence"
Mr.. Little let his eyes fall on the floor,
and sat for some moments in silence.
Then, looking up, he said:
1.-The truth is, Betsy, must have more
capital in my business. There will be no
getting along without it. Now, Mr. Law
renee can command, or at least says he can
command, ten thousand pounds. l think
he would like to join me. He has SAID as
much two or three times"
"Are you going to sec him on that bust
ness p
| 81 was
."Don't do it, said Mrs. Little, en-
phatically.
"Why not p asked Aaron.
/" Because he isn't the nan for you-not
if he had twenty thousand pounds"
Because is no reason" replied Aaron
Little.
The extravaganza of his wife is,'' was
answered firmly.
"What do you know about her?'
l ~, h., 7
on her two or three times, and have no.
ticed the style in which her house is fur
nished. 1t is arrayed in palace attire COM
pared with ours. And as for dress, it
would take the interest of small fortune
to pay her millincr's and mantuamaker' $
bill. No, no, Aaron, Mr. Lawrence isn't
Your man, depend on it. He'd use up the
ten thousand pounds in less than two
years"
"Well, Betsy, that's pretty clear talk, -
said Mr.. Little, taking a long breath.
I'm rather afraid, after what YOU say,
that Mr.. Lawrence is not my man. But
what am to do !? - and his voice fell into
a troubled tone. " | must have more cap
ital, Or Mr.. Little paused.
"Or what? - His wife looked at him
steadily, and without any signs of weak
anxiety.
g Or may become bankrupt"
I'm sorry to hear you say that, Aaron, -
and Mrs. Little's voice trembled percepti-
bly,. :" But I'm glad you've told me- The
new parlor carpet, of course, shall not
order
"Oh, as to that, the amount it will cost
can make no difference" said Mr.. Little.
The parlor does look shabby, and | know
you've set your heart on new carpet
Indeed, and it iciu make a difference
then, replied the little woman in her de-
cided way. The last feather breaks the
eamefs back. Aaron Little shall never