Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-11-20

nands, but he can't do it, for the second
payment is ready for him, and | have
considerable money besides"
Nellie heard all this, and rejoiced with
him; but she began to wonder vaguely
when she was to receive her share of the
wonderful income.
Not cent had she in the once we'll
filled purse and as she ruefully surveyed
her boots, she fully realized that even the
strong ties, supposed to exist between sole
and upper leather, must yield to the foot
steps OF time. She was so hard on boots 1!
and who wouldn't be" she said to her
self grimly, "rotting all over the house,
and out into the yard every half hour to
see if a stray hawk is after my chickens W
When the cold November winds began
to blow, Mrs. Nellie said to herself at is
no use! my lace bonnet and white gloves
look ridiculous at this season, and my
boots grow worse and worse. | must
stay at home from church."
But no, her husband would not listen TO
that; he felt lost without her company,
and her alto in the choir So, without
telling him the cause of the proposition,
she retrimmed her old hat, mended her
second best kids, and patched her boots
with the aid of an awl to pierce the sole.
Not being cobbler by profession, her
fingers received some wounds which made
her feel almost eXasperated; and she con
Guided that if men were not as blind as
bats by nature, Chester would see that she
needed some new ones. He, innocent
heart thought she looked uncommonly
well, as she appeared on Sunday morning,
arrayed in her "old things" and al
though she took the pains to put the first
foot forward as she stepped into the car
riage, Chester only thought, "What pref
ty little foot my wife has got"
His new broadcloth suit, so stout and
firmly made, was warranted to last wear
at least, and what should he know of a
woman's wants?
Monday morning Nellie scrubbed out
her clothes with more than usual
CELEBRITY; for torturing thoughts make
ones hands move quickly; and the day
before, while in Sabbath School,
she had been Mortified to see
that her impromptu cobbling was proving
treacherous, and her boot gaping in deris-
ion. 81 wonder if Chester expects my
clothes will last forever" said she to her
self MAYBE he expects III ask him for
money, but | cannot! Oh, dear, cannot!
Haven't | earned anything, I'd like to
knows And isn't it right for him to give
me a part of the gain? | guess | could
take care Of myself better than he does
it." and if few tears ran down her
cheeks, think it not strange, oh, We lovers
of independence
That night, on his return from the vii
lage, Chester tossed bundle into her lap,
saying:
"l've got some splendid cloth there for
a vest, Nellie; | have always bought my
clothing readymade, but | knew you
could make it 50 nicely-and it will save
two dollars.
Nellie told him she would try to do it,
and then, as if the thought had Just oc-
CURED to her, she added: "By the way,
Chester, must have some new boots some
time this week"
"Well, I'd go to Stearns' and get some
then, if were you. He's just got his
new goods,' and Chester, unfolded his
newspaper and began to read. Poor Mel.
lie bit her lip, and wondered if other hus
bands were as slow to take hint as hers
was proving himself to be. She said not
another word, however, and the next
afternoon got ready for her shopping ex-
pedition-she could fortunately wear rub
bers-and waited for her liege lord to pro
vide her with the necessary funds.
But he sat writing at his desk obliv-
ious Of all domestic cares, and at length
she said with an assumed nonchalence;
Can you let me have some money,
Chester?"
"Oh' yes, you haven't any, have you?"
and he drew out his wallet and began to
count the bills therein.
There's fve-that must go to Mr..
Jackson for the use Of his team; and
three-my minister's tax exactly; and ten
that goes for new sleigh-robe and two
you can have that, / guess" separating it
from the rest; will that do?"
Nellie's face grew white and then red
and her heart beat so that she could
hardly answer; Il will try to make it,"
Chester looked up, thinking her voice
did not sound just natural; but she had
turned toward the window
There's some change you can have, too"
said he, adding several pieces ofscrip to the
bill. She took the money, thrust it into her
purse, and walked rapidly away; but her
thoughts ran somewhat after this fashion:
"And so my claim is last and least In his
estimation, | suppose that is the reason
that so many women grow so sort Of anti
quated; they hate to beg" Her husbands
ears would have tingled could he have
known these reflections, but as it was, he
only looked after her and thought what
fortunate fellow he was to get such
wife
After purchasing an inferior pair of
boots, Mrs. Nellie found that she had
thirty cents remaining, which was speed
lily invested in pins, needles, and thread,
and she returned home resolved "to labor
and to wait" little while longer.
A few days after this, as she was bend.
ing over the table trying to cut out Ches-
ter's vest, Miss Eunice Perkins called,
and after few minutes desultory chat,
the worthy spinster drew from herpocket
a paper, which she handed to Nellie, say
ing as she did so: ave are trying to get