Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-06-20
ME. o1@
NO. JAG.
Gales aud Sketehes.
ECONOMY Is WEALTH.
BY MRS. &C.

CONTINUED FROM YEsrHRDAY.l
''My circumstances were known to you,n
he replied with dignity, but an angry flush
dyed his cheeks. Pardon me, though, if
l think the word beggarly hardly applica-
bic to an income of FIVE thousand dollars a
year. John Hilton has but little over half
of that, and yet they manage to live, and
so far as l can see, as comfortable, or
more so, than we."
"Oh, Mrs. Hilton is famous housekeep.
er, and | have no talent for anything like
that. She's completely wrapped up in her
husband and baby, and very seldom goes
into society. | could not live such life
of stagnation."
''But home duties ought to claim share
of your attention. Claudia I'm little tired
of balls, and parties, and operas, and this
constant gayety and excitement. The
cost of it is more than we can afford"
1--WE may as well understand each 9TH
er, first as last" she answeredlcoldly. IL
was never intended for household drudge
and don't intend to sink into one. Be-
cause you are growing humdrum and
commonplace, it is no reason should"
Certainly not" and he smiled sarcas-
tically. Sacrifice what you will to socie-
ty; cannot prevent it; but upon one
thing shall insist, and that is, that you do
not run into debt any more"
Il hate economy, and to be always
thinking OF ways and means,' she said
pettishly. You ought to have married
woman like Mrs. Hilton. She's just pet
ty. minded enough to delight in such
things"
Mark Somers looked at his wife a little
critically. She had on soiled wrapper,
her hair was uncombed, and her whole ap-
pearance slovenly in the extreme. She
kept her fine raiment as she did her wit
and grace and conversational talents-for
the world-and thought it would be
waste of materials to use either at home.
All this was the woman whose delicate
sensibilities he had rated so high above
kathie. He could not help thinking of it
now, and recalling picture he had seen
that morning on the way to the office
Mrs. Hilton romping with her baby. her
cheeks all a-bloom, her eyes brimming
over with laughter, and as daintily dress
ed as if for party. Claudia would have
blue-sprigged calico, but Mark thought it
was the prettiest costume in the world.
John Hilton was very fond of his wife.
pity for Mark, who had chosen so unwise-
ly, and frequently invited the latter to his
house. kathie was a genial little hostess,
and Mark to his surprise found her we'll
informed on the topics of the day 1t is
true she could neither sing. nor write, nor
paint like Claudia, but marriage had en-
riched and amplitied her nature, and given
her deeper insight into the world OF
thought and feeling. Mark remembered
that he had once called her commonplace
and somehow the word began to have q
new meaning for him thenceforward.
GLOW happy you two are I" he said to
John one night with sigh. Kathic had
gone up stairs to put her little one to bed,
a task seldom intrusted to the nurse.
"Such harmony Is rarely SEEN"
lit is all kathie's doings," answered
John, "for she knows just when and where
to oil the domestic wheels, so that they
never jar or creak woman's tact is
something wonderful"
Then you never disagree-never have
so much rs the ghost of QUARREL" and
Mark looked at his friend curiously. His
tone was jesting one. but not so the feel
ing that prompted the inquiry.
1--WE are no more than human" John
answered, smiling, land of course do not
think exactly alike on every point l re-
spect Kathe the more that she has GER
tain individuality of her own, and does not
reflect all my likes and dislikes, my pref
erences and prejudices. But her opinion
is often corrective of mine."
'But if her views of lite were shallow
and heartless, and she persisted in follow
course you disapproved, what would you
do then ?''
John hesitatcd before replying. He
more than half suspected that Mark re.
ferred to Claudia, and had dislike of any
thing that seemed like interference be-
tween man and wife.
Il should reason with her, he said final
ly, "try to make her understand the wrong
she was doing both. If that failed, II
nothing | said affected her. could only
make the best ont of what happiness was
left to me, remembering that | had chosen
with my eyes wide open, and that it was
my own fault if had mistaken her charac-
ter"
Mark WINGED little at this plain speak
ing, and instead of pressing the topic, said
abruptly
There is one question l would like to
ask YOU, and hope you won I think it i'm.
pertinent. How is it that you live SO conf
iortably on your small salary"
John opened his eyes very wide. and so
did Kathie, who just then entered the
room.
"Smallr echoed she in amazement;
.why it is three thousand dollars a year,
and we used to lay aside one-third of it
before baby came"
"Yet there are those who think five
thousand little better than beggarlY," said
Mark. Pray let me into the secret of
your management, Mrs. Hilton. l see no
evidence of poverty here" and he glanced
around the little sitting-room, with its
tasteful furnishing and cozy air of COM
fort. admirngly. "Cheap and tawdry,"
were the terms that Claudia would have
applied to it, contrasting it with the artistic
elegance of her own rooms but Mark re-
membered their desolation, and the dust
that lay thick in corners. and thought this
was far more cheerful and pleasant.
Kathie laughed gleeiully.
''If you only knew what time l had
hunting for bargains when we started
housekeeping" she said, land in what
constant state of surprise kept John.