American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-08-21


No change for the better appeared in
the affairs Of the young couple. Maria
kept asking for money, and she was sc
pretty, so sweettempefed and so gentle
that Edward could never refuse! If hi
demurred 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 haC
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 expen
| sive."
BE prudent, then"
| az can't, nay wife,
He checked himself. He was impulsive
| and did not mean to say anything about
| Maria.
"What of her. Is she extravagant.
swell, yes"
laughed the doctor.
Don't like to do that.''
Mustn't let her ruin you.''
hope she will mott
"Be firm, Lester There is only one
| way to do with an extravagant woman
shut down upon her before she ruins
you,
II haven't courage to deny her."
Pm sorry for you; what can 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. .
pay it few days after you gave the
note?"
mo, surely" replied Edward, con-
founded by the statement.
But I am sure you did. Here" con-
tinued the doctor, pulling an account-boOk
| from his pocket, "here is where l entered
the cash. You have got the note"
Not l."
find it. / will go 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
There, it isp exclaimed the doctor,
pointing to paper. ---.-.- -
To Edwards astonishment he read the
note, with the signature torn of. He was
utterly COMPOUNDED at the discovery. He
had no recollection of having paid it; and
pay it..
b He was mystified, but was satisfied with
| the result, though he could hardly believe
| it. If anyone had paid it, itmust have been
his guardian angel, and he hoped she
| would not charge him the amount
Three years from the time of Edwards
Introduction to the reader had passed
away, and his finances were in no better
| condition. By great deal of retrench-
L <,f hn ho6
trived to keep out of debt. Instead of din
| ing at Parker's at an expense of five or
six dollars a week, he made a quarter of
that sum suffice. His tailor's bill had
| been reduced one-half, and all other bills
| in proportion. Better than all, he had
been cured of grumbling at Maria, for if
he complained of anything she was sure
to ask him for fifty-do1lar bill on the
same day. In fact, he was afraid of her.
Maria, in her demand for money, had
been even more remorseless during the
| last year than before, and had actually
not p,,s.s1 ss,u1 out or It "a the house o,
I upon her person. If he had limited at an
explanation, She turned him off so sweetly
and adroitly that he could not resist.
Maria, we must tn5a -. iesi,"
lar in the woodland never shall have
while things go on in this way. I have
given you $500 this last year,
Have you? Indeed! What is $500 ~
I chuckled she.
| There is Raymond's house, opposite,
| for sale. It is beautiful place and can
| be bought for 1000 by paying 81 SOC
down. 1 was thinking that if had saved
my money I might have been able to buy
that place" =, :.
" No use to cry for spiltmilk, Edward, y
| replied Maria.
| 81 know that; but we needn't spill any
more milk. l have been very economical
the last year," and he proceeded to detail
the retrenchments he had made.
you have done very well, Edward"
"Yes, my dear, better than you have
Who would have thought l should eveI
preach economy to your he laughed.
What was the use for me to be pru
dent while you scattered your money like
chaff?'' asked the wife, with infinite goOd
humor
"No use, confess"
az will turn over a new leaf if you will
You used to find fault with me because
wouldn't buy strawberries at sixty cents {
box"
az haven't lately"
mo, you haven't"
"And never will again. Now, Maria
l was thinking if we could save up four o.
y y
we might buy a house."
: Very true; and we will begin now, i
you like
, "With all my heart''
"You shall allow me a fixed sum for m,
personal expenses
"Say two hundred dollars"
"Half that sum will do.''
"But you can't come down all at ono,
from eight hundred to one hundred"
Eyes, Ican," replied the pretty woman
| the mischief cleaning in her radian
J eyes.
"Then we can buy house in tire
years"
sSuppose you buy Raymond's now?"
"But / cannot. / have not dollar il
I the world after my bills are paid.''
"Then I will let you have fifteen hun
dred dollars to pay down."
"Youl You are facetious, Maria. Wha
are you laughing at?"
Maria, for some reason or other, had burs
into a violent fit of laughing.
You shall have the money, Edward
But you must promise me not to tell any
one what an extravagant wife you have, a
you did Dr. Smith"
: What do you mean, Mariae Forgiv
me for that"
II will, my dear" replied she, and go
ing to drawer she produced two bank
: hooks and placed them in her husband
/ hand.