Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-04-20
Tales aud Skftehfs.
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READY MONEY.
fcoNcLupEp FROM YEsrERDAY.l


getting it. We were terribly disappoint-
ed, having counted so surely upon an ad-
dition to our means; and when our. wrath
ful feelings were at their height who
| should suddenly walk in but Uncle
Jocelyn He had never been in our house
since we were married. 1t was in fact, a
great event for him to leave Covington,
but the freak had seized him. He wanted
to see his old favorte and his new grand
niece, so he had come. He only meant to
stay Tor the day; in the evening he intend
| ed to return home. In my inmost heart
was as fond of him as ever; but his visit
was ill-timed. could not really enjoy /.
from my disappointment for Henry, and
| our cares were now assuming too serious
an aspect to be easily set aside.
You have a beautiful little house,
Kate" he said, 81 had no notion Henry
was such rich man.
Hadn't you, uncle ?n | said, trying to
laugh unconstrainedly."
81 am truly pleased TO see you so COM
fortabe," continued Uncle Jocelyn kindly.
This room must have cost you pretty
penny, Kate; and daresay you have
nest-egg somewhere as WELL"
"Oh, it isn't very much." / answered.
really referring to the room, but as he
thought to the nest-egg; and imagining
! meant that the latter, though of small pro-
portions, did exist, he responded most cor
daily:
Doesn't matter how large, Kate there's
plenty of time to make ii larger"
1t was no use undeceiving him, though
at that very moment an ominous envelope
was delivered TO me with the announce
ment that the person who brought it was
waiting for an answer; to which returned
the usual formula, that Mr.. Arden was
out. but would call in day or two.
tried to look as indifferent as possible, but
| felt Uncle Jocelyn's eyes were upon me,
and my face colored painfully, nor did my
| confusion escape the kind scrutiny. l felt
thoroughly convinced he had drawn his
own conclusions. Soon afterwards lunch
was announced, and we descended to the
dining-room, where Sophy, my parlor-
maid, had, to my horror. arranged some
OF our best china ON the table, with the
best intentions | knew, meaning TO i'm
press my visitor with our grandeur, but
little imagining the real effect such super
tluites would have upon my uncle. He
noticed it directly, and admired it verv
much.
''Where did you get that figure ?" he
asked, indicating lovely china center
piece.
81 am not quite certain, replied, care
lessly; 1--WE have had it for some tme'
WAS it very expensiye?' pursued Un-
Gle Jocelyn.
"Oh no, not very at least don't think
So" answered, recollecting with pain
ful throb that 1t certainly had not cost us
much as yet, considering we had not paid
for it.
need not give all the details of Uncle
Jocelyn's visit. Suffice it to say that it
was one martyrdom that afternoon to me
and it was positive relief when his kind
old face van shed and found myself alone
once more. lie had gone away no doubt
thinking our lines were cast in pleasant
| places, feeling assured not only of our
prosperity but OF our happiness. Poor
| undeceived Uncle Joceyn He little knew
that was just longing to throw myself
into his arms and make a clean breast of
all our extravaganza and consequent
troubles. How l envied him going back
to quiet peaceful Covington How |
wished Henry and | were just one-half as
hgppy as he was
However, our struggle then was Just
| beginning, for we sank deeper and deep
er. 1t was like qucksand-the more
we struggled the deeper We got. We
| dared not openly retrench--we lacked the
moral courage, and our private attempts
| were the merest drops in the ocean of
| that mighty sea into which we had Drift
ed, simply and solely because we had at
| the outset ignored the golden rule, so i'm
pressed upon me by Uncle Jocelyn, 10
| live within our means, and to pay ready
money. And what had all our extrava-
gance done for US? We had large visit
ing list, and | periodically paid host of
visits. always hoping to find friends from
home. We had pretty house. and were
able to entertain as elegantly as our neigh
bors. | had heaps OF fashionable dresses
and useless finery and Henry was as per-
feet as ever in my eyes; but we were
both miserable; debt stared us in the
face whichever way we turned, and how
long we could keep our creditors at bay
was beginning to be source of consid-
| cradle anxiety to us.
Henry's position in his business de-
pended solely upon the pleasure of the
senior partners. There were curious con-
dtions in their agreement with him and
| if they heard of his embarrassments, no
doubt it would injure him greatly. and
| might make them consider themselves JUS
titled in perhaps something far more seri-
Gus than remonstrance. o that we had
acted differently that the past could be
| lived over again with our present expert
ence
Once or twice | thought Of confiding
our woes to my mother; but dared not
intuitively ! knew that although in his
prosperity Henry was great favorite
with her, she would regard him very diff
ferently if misfortunes came; and felt
| could bear anything rather than have
him blamed. especially as in my most in
most heart knew was equally it not
actually more to blame than he was, for
now see clearly how true it was what
Uncle Jocelyn said that wife can make
or mar her husband. 1t | had quietly
set to work at the outset, and advised
him Alright, all would have been well;
but now every day brought some hateful
dun or threatening letter. A ring at the
bell would cause me to start and the