The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-04-26

Z" Yes, [ have been careful. It is my
nature to be careful, " said Sara. ''Few
rich mems wives would have done go
much. Now look at these things, my
dear"
Jonas looked. There came O. time
afterward when it seemed to him that
the faded tint of that shawl, its dingy
palm leaves of yellow brown, and the
wilted flowers and shabby ribbon of the
| bonnet had been scared into his brain.
He looked at them long and 1ingefingly.
He knew his wife was reasonable, and
that he things were, and long had been,
unfit for her to wear. But his money
| tugged at his heart rt-strings.
Suppose you wear them one winter
more, Sara," he said. "Just one."
''The shawl is very thin," she said.
"I shall catch cold again as I did last
winter
Poor girl' he said, softly, and
looked toward the desk where his check
book lay. But the grip of the fiend that
rules a miser's soul nipped him sorely as
he did so.
The momentary impulse vanished.
Besid thought occurred to him.
"Thev wear sacques a good deal,
Sara, don't they?" he said.
"Oh they are very fashionable" re-
piled his wife.
"Then couldn't you make one of that
old billiard-cloth that is in the trunk
room % he said. "My poor mother
bought it at an auction. She meant to
use it for a coverlet; but it's a very
pretty green, don't you think, Sara, and
such nice materials"
There is limit to woman's patience :;
this suggestion measured Sara's She
started to her feet, and, gathering up her
bonnet and shawl, walked out of the
room. After she had gone Jonas really
looked at his check-book, and, for at
least two minutes, contemplated drawing
a large check, and telling his wife he had
been teasing her. But he could not
bring himself to do it.
After while his wife looked into the
room with her old bonnet on, and her
old shawl about her shoulders, and said ::
"Jonas, I'm going to spend the day
with my sister-in-law, but I shall be
home before dinner time"
"I hope you'll enjoy yourself, my
| DEAR" said Jonas He saw her eyes
were heavy with weeping, and looked
aWay. ashamed of himself.
Then he betook himself to his office,
| where he ground out his money, and,
during the day, compromised with him
self. He would do no extravagant thing,
but when he went home he would give
| his wife what was necessary. And, after
all, as he said to himself, it would have
been better to have done it. He had
| grieved her, and she was the only thing
he loved ON earth.
He went home earlier than usual that
evening to make what amends his soul
| would consent to, and as he walked
| briskly along, being light upon his feet
yet-for who ever heard of miser grow
ing fat 2-he thought that he never
| again would bring tears TO those good,
kind eyes. Never, never again, never
again and then-what was that crowd {?
What had happened? People were
coming his way, looking backward as
they came. Men, boys, women, little
children, all the riff-raff that accident,
! or quarrel, or an arrest will collect in
the streets of New York; and now he
was in the midst of the throng and close
to four policemen, who, with set faces,
marched in time, bearing between them
a stretcher, on which lay a human form.
1t was covered-covered with shawl
Jonas looked. Oh, heavenl he knew the
pattern of that shawl Only d few
hours before its diney palm leaves of
yellow brown, it's faded fringe, its shabby
brown center, had been spread before
him.
1t was his wife's shawl
Stop-stop-sto p he cried. "Let
me see her-let me see her -
"Do you know her?" asked the
| policeman.
"Let me see her face" said Jonas,
growing so faint that kindly man hard
| by supported him by the arm
YOU'D not know her face tele-
graph pole fell ON her; it's crushed out
of all shape" said the policeman. "But
shawls are alike. Keep up your cour-
| age. ] don't think this any relation Of
yours she's too shabby. Look at her
shoes. See heie, this is her bonnet
You don't know that? ?''
He held up a bonnet. 1t was crushed
and soaked with blood but Jonas knew
it. The streaked purple ribbon, and a
flower amongst the other flowers that had
lost half its petals. He had fingered it
as it lay on the table beside him.
eyes, 1 know it," he cried. ''It's
Sara It's my wife Y
Then he pulled away the shawl from
the crushed face, and tainted outright.
Just as his senses left him he heard
some one say:
Ellis wife why, thought she was a
beggar l'' And another answered:
Like enough; they call him a miser.
/ know him. His name is Jonas Pray.
They carried the poor woman home to
Jonas Fray's old house, helping him TO
follow as he came to himself She was
laid upon her bed, and there was ii Cor
oner's inquest, and women prepared her
body for burial, talking among them
! selves of the shame it WAS. she. a rich