The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1881-12-24

S23.5O
1t looked large. And when he came to
writing out check for the same amount
for Kate, it looked very large.
1--WE been going little too strong on
it this month, Kate" he said, as he handed
it to her.
He had half hope that she would de-
cline to take it, but without showing any
surprise at the amount, she laid it in her
desk with q very matter-of-course thank
YOU"
A few days after, she challenged his ad-
miration of a lace collar she was wearing.
"Prettier than cigars, isn't it2' she asked,
arcbly.
us that your cigar money, dear2 Yes,
very pretty, bu. they do manage TO crowd a
good deal of money into a very small show,
eh?"
"That's real lace, r ,bert-not at all high
fIr such quality. But-what have you
got to show for your months money!"
He laughed 3andahrugged his shoulders,
assuring her she should g t les. next month.
By heroic effort at self-srcrifce he lowered
the sum by several dollsrs, but the following
month it rose higher III n at first, and Rob
ert began to feel little surprised at the
nonchalant way in which Kate accepted SO
much money to lay out il mere superhuities.
He was obliged to ackno Wedge to himself,
as she displayed pearl breach with great
apparent satisfaction, that he was some what
disappointed at her discovering so much rel
ish for such trihes
pearls, eh7 My mother used to wear
something like th..pn-
"Ahlc12 searls are never out
Kato3rSoext morning we weld il, and be.
gan to tai Natter IN the rse.se
In due courR adorned. "a encyclopedias ap
peared. This purchase met with Roberts
hearty approval, for both had often felt the
need of it, but he had never felt able to buy
one. But when fancy chair was set in the
parlor where there was already no lack of
fancy chairs and picture small in every
respect except the price, he thought. was
hung in the sewing-room, he felt little an
noyed, more especially when Kate airily re-
marked: II didn't need i. of course, but as
have just so much to spend, / thought I'D
like it."
He was ashamed Of himself for feel
ing so, for he told himself over and
over again that it was perfectly fair
arrangement-Eate's money made an
important figure in his business, and if
she had had none, he mad chivslrous notions
on the rights of industrious and economical
wives. And then-what right had he to
crtiicise her mode of spending, when she
was not injuring herself or any one else by
(which he knew in his very heart could
not be claimed for his way2 Still, he had
hoped that it would occur TO her to pay
some of the house bills. but it never had (;
they had continued to present themselves
with their usual aggravsting regularity,
| serving to increase an irritating conscious
ness of the presence of unnecessary articles
about the house, the purchase Of which was
not warranted by his means. At all events,
he might justly allow himself to fall back
upon little relief for his well concealed
annoyances, in his feeling of surprise that
his wife had not taken the least advantage,
so far as he knew, of this liberal supply of
pocket money to carry out any of her old
desires for doing good. He had not OBJ
served that she had given a cent to any of
the missionary societies or in relieving the
poor. In his own growing sense of discom-
fort at the view he was forced to take of the
hitherto unimagined extent Of the cost OF
his pet self-indulgence, there was some con-
ISOLATION in reflections on Hates short-com'
ings.
He sat alone one day looking over his
accounts. He came across six ''stubs" OF
checks he had given her. They ran:
$3.50
1755
| 2525
| A50
| A.OO
| 2325
ase.
| sl3s05
His own expenditure doubling the amount
gave: $276.l0-this for six months, making
the yearly sum Of $552.20. a 80
: oA-blsnk expression ovarspread his counte