Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-04-21
A Sensible wife,

4
purchases.
"Wat ant see first, love, " he answered,
lightly. "After you know what | have
bought, you will not have that opinion
Look at this" holding up to her view an
elegant pattern OF N new silk dress. "What
do you think of that, my beautyl"
Now most women would have shown
their appreciation and pleasure In the warm
est manner; but not so Mrs. Hollis.
"Why, my old one that | was married
in, is good yet. Why. did you buy this
when times are 80 hard And only yes
tel day | heard you say that the shop
would have to suspend operations for
few months soon"
al know dear but you have worn that
dress ever since we were married, nearly
a year. Ii is time, think, that you had
new one."
''But the times !"
"Oh, bother the times We have the
lease of this little house for year aud
guess we can live through 1t somehow
besides our credit Is good TO an unlimited
extent"
"Well, love, 1t Ii nice present." said
Mrs. Hollis, holding the shlmmering fabric
to the light.
But no supremely satisfied look passed
across her face, and shortly afterwards the
dress was put away with sigh.
Eugene Hollis, like thousands of other
young men working on salary, had mar
ried the woman OF his choice, and settled
down into Staid, sober, home. LOVING man.
He was open-hearted by nature, and de-
| lighted to see his little wife look well,
| though he had 10 run in debt for it,
Now, though he knew is not, this SAID
wife was perfect little heroine, and well
worth her weight in gold The time came
shortly afterwards, that both had feared
the shop had closed for a few weeks, which
time run into months and still no slgus of
work. People that Eugene had traded with
sold out. in disgust, while strangers filled
their places. With them credit was an
impossiDility, and Eugene Hollis soon had
the modification of being reduced to his
last penny.
IL was high time tina: something should
| be done, or the littlel woman he had
vowed TO shield from all harm would suf-
| fer.
To this end he went through the city,
and in every imaginable place where
there WIS likelihood of earning an hon
est living.
But hundreds were there before him, and
one evening about dusk found him wend-
ing his way, foot-sore ana weary, towards
home. lie brought no mpney non proyis-
ions with him, for the las penny he had
was paid out a week before.
But what contrast he found in the
happy, contentcrtface of his wife 10 his
own despaiung condition.
'Come, love, supper is ready; sit down
at once, before 1t gets cold" she said,
kindly, noticing from the woe-begone look
that he had not succeeded.
Supper! What can We make supper of,
except the Imagination that one ought TO
| be e. was the morose remark.
''Oh, there is the ham that you purchased
the other day, and then the potatoes are
not out yet" she smilingly said ''Be-
sides, there are enough left for several
meals"
Eugene thought good deal, put said
nothing he was quite positive that the
last potato had gone a week before. But
his wife kept right ON talking as merrily
as if they had house full of plenty in
stead of want. So he mentally decided
that she had received a loan from some
relative, which fact she wished 10 keep to
herself.
SO matters went on day after day, but
still no work or signs of work There
were others in the same condition as Eu-
gene, so he had the comfort of knowing he
was not alone in his woe.
/ al lxuuvs vant xvax- at tIa ,,,.,.l
ing hour, and spent The time hunting in the
cheerless round after work but wnen he
came back again at night, his wife always
met him the same as ever.
1t had become an established fact in his
mind that outside help of some kind was
provided for them In sufficient amount to
keep them from starving.
The bacon never ran quite short or the
potatoes either, for that matter, and they
were relieved now and then by q steak or
chop.
He was too proud to take any notice of
this strange fact outwardly, and his little
wife never meant that he should, always
changing the subject if it came up in their
conversations, leading him to believe that
ssme well to-do uncle whom he had never
heard of, was at the bottom of il.
But this state O., affairs was not to last
always. When man is honest and sober,
and is willing TO do anything, he is capable
of dong, a streak of sunshine IN the shade
of success is sure to crown his efforts at
last.
Eugene Hollis, at his trade as an en-
graver, was a Sailed workman in every
branch, and In fair times commanded
good salary.
He now felt himself in luck when the
position TO drive coal cart at three shill-
lngs per day was offered him.
Good news Good newsr he shouted,
rushing into his home, and searching for
his wife.
Where was she2 The rooms were de-
serted. But no, the attic door was open.
Through it he went, and up the short
flight or stairs. There sat NettIe, patiently
and rapidly propelling sewing machine
under The light from the narrow panes let
INTO the sloping roof.
why, Nettie, where did you get that2"
he asked, completely taken aback at the
discovery.
Il bought it, love-" was the hesitating
response.
Il did not know we had MONEY enough
to buy sewing ma chine, dear"
''Do you remember that silk dress you
bought me long time ago-just before
the shop closed e.
''Why certainly"