The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1881-11-12

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know, only | can make it seem right
that | should do att the doing without"
"lt is not right
"Stil, it is really Robert only fault,
so perhaps | ought not to complain n.
Think how much worse some men are?
Surprising he drank now?n
That's poor excuse, Kate. You
wouldn't excuse person for being
liar because he was not thief"
"Well!'' Young Mrs Pringle drew a
long sigh. 81 don't know what to do
about it, Pm sure. When | try to talk
to him about it he either puts me OFT or
laughs at me, and tells me not to bother
my head about things l don't under
stand"
"Suppose, Kate, you ask him for the
same amount he spends in cigars for
you to spend for your own gratilica-
tionP"
but | couldn't have the conscience
to spend money on superluties, mother.
| remember how Emily Brand used to
do that she thought she was quite
| justified in spending three or four dol
lars a week in trash, because her hus-
band spent the same in cigars. So he
smoked and she spent, and he broke up
in business, and now they are living,
nobody knows how, in some little
Western town"
a. think you might manage to open
Roberts eyes little, though Kate.
| Listen"
Mrs. Pringle, the elder. smiled as if
| in admiration of some clever scheme
within her brain, yet shook her head
in solemn appreciation of the
serious character of the subject. a
very earnest followed, brought to
sudden end by the appearance of the
son and husband, carrying his young
! heir, who had run to meet him, on
one shoulder and small parcel under
! his other arm.
"A new book, Robert?" asked his
mother, CHANGING at it after greetings
| had been exchanged.
"Oh, put in Kate, sis it that Car
isle we were speaking Of? You said
you'd bring one up"
"No, it is not went for copy,
but they had none of the cheap editions,
and thought it hardly worth while to
| pay two dollars for one"
He leisurely unwrapped his parcel,
showing Tiptoe picture inside, united
various bits of ribbon, giving them to
| him to tie on Carlo ears then took out
a cigar which he smelled critically be-
fore setting it approyingly between his
! lips.
"What does such a box as that cost
| you, RoDertN' ASKED his mother.
About eight dollars and a-half,
ma am" he answered, with perfectly
unsuspecting smile. 81 frequently buy
by the box because l find it qut tie lit
tie saving, and, of course, / have to
watch the corners, for our expenses
naturally increase little each year"
His look of virtlouS frugalitv seemed,
however, lost upon his mother, as she
said, dr"ly: Z" | am glad you appreciate
the need of it. How long does such
box last you?'
"Wsll--I can hardly say. Perhaps
a month perhaps not so long"
But it seems to me, Robert, you
spend more money on yourself than
you do on Kate"
Mrs. Kate hid her face behind Tip
toe $ curs to hide smile at her moth
er-in-law's light skirmishing.
WHAT" said Robert, looking up in
surprise. "Why--don't you have
money enough. Kate? Why didn't you
tell me, dear?'
Her tender heart was dsarmed at
once, and she was about to protest that
she never wanted anything, but Mrs.
Pringle, the elder, struck in, with
warning glance at her: "You know,
Robert, it is not pleasant for a wife to
be always obliged to ask for what she
wants for her own little fancies. Now
l think it would be a very good plan for
you to hand her the same amount you
81 end in cigars, monthly, say-for her
own personal qualification"
That's good suggestion. mother.
I'll do it,"
Then bear in mind" Mrs. Prngle
was very fond of clinching a thing
when she went at it, your best way
will be to keep careful account of
your own expenditure, and hand her,
regularly, the same"
i Agreed, ma am"
/ He sat for awhile after dinner enjoy
ing his mother visit, chatting pleas
antly, smoking three cigars meanwhile
and putting a few more in his pocket as
he started down town, never dreaming
that, according to his wife's mental
calculation, he could burn up more
money in an hour than she could save
by sewing all her spare time for half
! day.
Robert Pringle conscientiously made
an entry, in a corner of his pri-
vate memorandum book, of every cent
! he spent in tobacco during the follow.
ing month beginning with the box of
cigars. which lasted exactly eleven days,
} ,all nF
| purchases made as convenient. To do
] him, inStioa his raall, anI