The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-04-29
BELLEVUE, La, THURSDAY. April, 49, 1880

| CD. =. VI cai Hlllg livelihood. >
of i'ut Just consider the disadvantage,
n1ona an Empty purse. Put yourself in my
pace; G,, bow would you like itp''
:. wv Why' II | had only to ask, first-rate.' y
-, Heh' then, suppose you let me carry
the pocket-book for week.
,t, put, Annie, it isn't practicable. You
eoulan attend to business at the store ),
VI course not. 1t is only your ner.
sonal expenses | will regulate. You
come 10 me Tor what money YOU wish to
sPeho Tor yourself; that's all: and oive
me your word that you will take no
money from the store.'' ~
" An right. I'll do it, Just to show
you That it's easy enough. Here's the
Pocket-book And he gave it into her
hand. But I'll take quarter. first to
begin on" - ~ "
What do you want of a quartere',
Cigars 1''' ''A
~ wen. there are two ten-cent pieces.
Try to make that do. Did Won ever
reckon up how much your cigars cost
you IN the course of the yearp
Let us see. You smoke at least
two a day, at an average cost Of
ten cents a piece, which amounts
to one dollar and forty cents a week
NOW, flfty-two times one forty make
seVenty-two dollars and eighty cents
year, 70 say nothing of those YOU give
your friends. A hundred dollars will
scarcely coveryour expenses in that line,
" AS our old friend Abigail Stillinps
says, Who'd a-think it,'h said MI.
Gray, laughing; but he was surprised to
md the sum SO large.
The next morning, Mr. Gray had gone
some distance from the house, before he
remembered that he had only twenty
cents.
'In risk it, he said to himself.
Perhaps I'll not want to buy anything.
ii show Annie that man can do with
out money!
Halo, Grayr' cried voice. inter-
rupting his reflections. "What is the
brain-study about?'' 1t was his old
friend, Frank Raymond.
The two men had not met since Mr..
Gray's marriage, and as Frank was to
remain in town for week, Mr.. GRAY in
vited him home.
He lit cigar, and handed its mate to
Frank, as he did this. The two con-
versed of old times until they reached
MIR. Gray's place of business, when they
separated, Frank agreeing to be at the
Gray,s at six O'Clock Annie was ap-
prlsed OF his coming by a note from her
husband.
When supper was over, he took Annie
aside and asked for dollar, which An
ME gave him, grudgingly. Then he ex-
cused himself, for a moment, and bought
some cigars. They were wretched af-
fairs, however, and filled the house with
a villainous odor. for he had to get them
at new place, Benson's being too far
off.
The next day, the two friends started
out together, when Mr.. Gray, with an air
OF having forgotten something, said,
s. Excuse me a minute
"IH go back with you, if YOU have
forgotten anything said Mr. Raymond.
Mr.. Gray clapped his hand on his
pocket.
II thought had forgotten my pocket
book, but haven't" he said. $50 it's
all right and then hurried on, his
cheeks tingling with shame at the de-
ceit. But he could not risk having his
friend 60 back with him, and stand by,
while he asked for money.
Mr.. Gray was lucky, that day. He
had no calls for money, and he had half
a-dozen of those horrid cigars left, a
couple of which he smoked on the street,
after his friend left him. In fact, he
concluded to risk another day, in the
same way. But on this day, he realized |
the old adage, cit never rains but it |
pours;'' for from being asked to change |
a bill, to getting his coat ripped, and
asking for credit at his tailor's, the day
was a series of notifications
Annie was unaware of all this; in fact |
she thought her husband was failing to
realize the situation; SO when, at night, |
Mr.. Gray asked her for money to spend |
the next day, she wickedly put him off
with some excuse, and ingeniously |
evaded the request until he was forced |
to prefer it before his friend.
a want dollar or two, Annie. Please
get it for me- he said, in an off-hand
manner.
"A dollar or two! What do you want
with dollar or two?"
There, Annie, don't bother fellow.
I'm in hurry"
But with grave deliberation, she drew
out quarter, and laid it down, then an
other and another. next two dimes.
Let me see-three quarters-seventy-
five, ten is eighty ve-ten-ninety-
and here is three-cent piece-ninety-
eight cents. Will that do?''
Yes and Mr.. Gray hustled them
into his pocket and hurried from the
room.
He was in hopes his friend would in
quire into the cause of the scene, when
he would tell him of the compact and
how it originated. 1t would then pass
as a joke. But. Mr.. Raymond did not
make any remark. Instead he thought
to himself;
''Good gracious! What horrid grind
she is! And thought her so pretty. I
never supposed Albert would have made
such meek husband. Catch me getting
and having quarters doled out to
me in that wayr'
He pitied his friends embarrassment,
but did not appear to notice it. Instead,
he chatted unconcernedly of old friends
and past times. Suddenly turning cor
ner, they met two mutual acquaintances,
Hand-shakings and inquiries followed,