Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-11-22


asked Mrs. Little, coming from the
dining-room.
FO1t for little while, . be replied.
"I'll be back in half an hour"
'.Out where 2"
eeTen Ler, 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
answered firmly.
"Tellyour wife p The words were
in his mind, and would keep repeating
themselves.
Cant you say where you are going,
Aaron? Why do you make mystery
of it ~
''Oh, it's only a matter of bnsines.
I'm going to Mr.. Lawrence. p"
edward Lawrence"
| " Yes. !" -. -.-.
sTell your wife p The words SEEM
ed almost af uttered aloud in his ears
"What are you going to see him
about?''
e'Tell hes?"
Mr.. Little stood irresolute. What
good would telling her do?
/ "What's the matter, Aaron? You've
I been dull some time past. Nothing
going wrong with you, / hope?" And
his wife laid her hand upon his arm
and leaned toward him in kind way
/ Nothing is wrong" he 81 Wered
in an evasive manner. "Bu3iness has
been dull this season"
"Has it2"@ I'm sorry. Why didn't
you tell me2"
+ What good would that have done? ~
| "ft might have done good deal of
good. When mans business is dull,
his wife should look to the household
/ expenses; but if if she knows nothing
about it, she may go on in way that
is really extravagant under the circum-
stances. [ think that men ought to
tell their wives when anything is going
wrong"
'EYou do -
Certainly I do. What better rea-
son can you want than the one [ have
given? IT she knows that the income
is reduced, as prudent wife she will
endeavsr to rednce the ezpens-
Hadn't you better take off your coat,
and sit down AMI talk to me little,
! before you go to see Mr.. Lawrence ~.
Mr.. Little permitted his wife to
draw off his overcoat, which she took
into the passage and replaced on the
hat-rack. Then, returning into the par
( lor, she said:
"Now, Aaron, talk to me as freely as
you choose. Don't keep anything back
Whatever tie trouble is, let me know
it to the full extent
"Oh, there is no great trouble yet.
I am only afraid of trouble [ see it
coming, and wish to keep out of its
way, Betsy"
FThat's wise and prudent, said his
wife. "Now tell me why you are 60
ing to see Mr. Lawrence"
Mr.. Little let his eyes fall on the
floor, and for some moments in ST.
lence. Then looking up, he said:
"The truth is, Betsy, I must have
more capital in my business. There
will be no getting along without it.
! Now Mr.. Lawrence can command, or at
least says he can command, ten thous-
and pounds. I think ne would like to
join me. He has said as much two or
I three times
g Are you going to see him on that
business ~ a....-.-l... - - E-s...--
! tEI was"
"Don't do it, said Mrs. Little, en-
phatically.
'sWhy not?' asked Aaron. a4.
because he isn't the man for you
not if he had twenty thousand pounds" )"
because is no reason, replied Aaron
Little
E|The extravaganza of his wife u.s.
was answered firmly.
"What do you know about her?"
"Only what [ have seen. [ have
called on her two or three times, and
have noticed the style in which her
house is furnished 1t is arrayed in
/ palace attire compared with ours And
as for dress, it wonld take the interest
/ of a small fortune to pay her milliner's
and mantuamaker's 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. "Im rather afraid, after what
you say, that Mr.. Lawrence is not my
my man. But what am to do 2" and
his voice fell into troubled tone. "I
must have more capital, Or Mr.
Little paused.
/ Cor what 2" His wife looked at him
steadily, and without any signs of weak
anxiety.
cor [ may become bankrupt"
ETm sorry to hear you say that,
Aaron, and Mrs. Little's voice trem-
bled perceptibly. "But I'm glad you've
told me. The new parlOr carpet, of
course, [ shall not order
ooh, as to that, the amount it viii
said Mr.. Little. The parlor does look
shabby; and [ know you've set your
heart on new carpet
"Indeed, and 1t wiH make a differ
cnce then, replied the little woman in
her decided way. "The last feather
breaks the camel's back. Aaron Little
shall never fail because of his wife's
extravagance. wouldn't have a new
carpet now ii it were offered to me at
half price"
! g You are brave, true woman, Bet
sy," said Aaron, kissing his wife, in
! the glow of a new born feeling of ad-
miration.
4 Il hope that I shall ever be a true,
brave wife," returned Mrs. Little,
"willing always to help my husband,
either In saving or in earning, as the
case may be. But let us talk more
about your affairs; let me see the
trouble nearer. Must you have ten
thousand pounds right away?'
ooh, 10, no; it is not so bad as that.
I was only looking ahead, and SEEKING
!, to provide the means for approaching
payments. [ don't want a partner so
far as the business itself is concerned.
I don't like partnerships; they are al
most always accompanied with annoy
ances or danger. 1t was the money L
was after; not the man"
"'The money would come dearly at
the price Of a man, if you took MI,
Lawrence for a partner At least that
is my opinion, But am glad to hear