The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-09-18


You spend more money than you used
to spend, Maria, he suggested
What is the use for me to pinch my.
self, If you spend all you can get?" smiled
Maria so sweetly he could not say another
word. al want to have the good of the
money while it is going, as well as you"
Edward had some doubts as TO the con-
sequences, but what puzzled him most was
to know what became Of the money.
Another year passed by, and the danger
Of running in debt stared him in the face.
Maria, We are living too fast, am
afraid, he observed, in a melancholy
tone.
| am afraid you arc, for yesterday you
brought home pair Of chickens for which
you paid twenty cents per pound, replied
Maria, with her usual smile.
" Poor, Maria, don't mean these lit
tie things We must have something to
eat, and while my salary is two thousand
dollars year mean to live well"
" Great trees FROM little acorns grow, !"
she added.
Let us stop the bung hole first" con.
tinued Edward, desperately.
Would you believe, my dear, that l
have given you six hundred dollars year
for the last two years."
What is six hundred dollars year
for a lady2 You were reading the other
day that great many ladies' in New York
spend two thousand dollars year for
dress alone. You certainly cannot com
plain of six hundred
"Oh, no, by no means, ] do not mean
to complain" replied Edward.
{" | knew you didn't. Whatever /
spend goes for good cause"
&" / suppose so; but | don't care any
thing about ii, only that l am getting
little short. There Is Dr. Smiths ILL Of
sixty dollars. ! don't see how can pay
it,"
Let it rest, then. He will never ask
you for it.
" But | don't like that way of doing
things. | don't like to get in debt. |
will go aud see him."
Aud he did go and see him. The doc
tor was a rich man and offered to take
Edwards note, payable any time he pleased,
which offer the latter eagerly accepted,
promising to take it up in six months.
No change for the better appeared iu
the affairs Of the young couple Maria
kept asking for money, and she was so
pretty, so sweet-tempered, and so gentle,
that Edward could never refuse. If he
demuYred, she coaxed it out of him.
At the end Of six months the doctors
note was due, and Edward could not pay
it. He had borrowed money till he was
ashamed to do so any more. But he had
a nice sense Of honor, and instead of let
ting his creditor whistle for his pay, he
went to see him to procure further ex.
tension.
doctor, am hard up" said he.
Sorry to hear it,"
" My family is getting to be expensive. |"
" BE prudent, then"
" | can't, my wife"
He checked himself. He was impul-
siye, and did not mean to say anything
about Maria.
"What of her? Is she extravagant ?"
"Well, yes
Put the bit in her mouth, then, .
laughed the doctor.
Don't like to do that"
Mustn't let her ruin you"
81 hope she will not. y
Be firm, Lester. There is only one
way to do with an extravagant woman;
shut down upon her before she ruins
you
Z" l haven't courage to deny her.
/ am sorry for you; what can 1 do
for you ?" asked the doctor, who seemed
to be in the best of humor,
+" That little note Of mine"
What note ?"
why, the one / owe" !"
" But you paid that"
Come, doctor, you are quizzing me-
"'Pon my soul, | am not Didn't you
pay it few days after you gave the note2"
No, surely" replied Edward, con-
founded by the statement
But l am sure you did. Here" con-
tiuued the doctor pulling an account book
from his pocket, "hcre is where l entered
the cash. You have the note"
Not ]"
Look over your papers and your will
find it, | will 60 home with you"
They repaired to the cottage, and Ed
ward all the time protesting that he had
not paid the money, ransacked the papers
for the note
" There il isl" exclaimed the doctor,
pointing 70 paper.
To Edwards astonishment he read the
note, with the signature torn off. He was
utterly confounded at the discovery. He
had no recollection Of having paid It; and
Maria declared she had not seen him pay
it.
He was mystifed, but was satisfied with
the result, though he could hardly believe
it. Ifany ono had paid it, it must have
been his guardian angel, aud he hoped she
would not charge him the amount.
Three years from the time of Edwards
to the reader had passed away,