The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-04-16
n Sensible Wife.

Nettic Hollis, one Saturday night. to he,
husband, as he slalkcd into the living
room, loaded down by the weight of hi.
purchases.
"Wait anG see first, love" he answered,
Lightly. after you know what l have
bought, you will not have that opinion
Look at this" holding up to her view an
elegant pattern Of Il new silk dress. "What
40 you think Of that. my bcauty2"
! NOW most women would have shown
their appreciation and pleasure in the warm
est manner; but not so Mrs Hollis.
Why, my old ono that l was married
in, is good yet. Why did you buy this
when times are 80 hard2 And only yes
ter day | heard you say that tho shop
would have to suspend operations for a
few months SOON"
IL know dear; but you have worn that
dress ever since we wero married, nearly
year. 1t is time, think, that you had
| a new one."
''But the times ~
"Oh, bother the times We have the
lease of this little house for a year and |
guess we can live through it somehow /;
besides our credit is good TO al unlimited
| extent"
"Well, love, it is NICE present." said
Nlrs. Hollis, holding the shin,mering fabric
TO the light.
But no supremely satisfied look passed
across her face, and shortly afterwards the
dress was put away with a sigh.
| Eugene Hollis, like thousands of other
young men working Oh u salary, had mar
rlcd the woman Of his choice, and settled
uowh into Stad, sober, home loving man.
he was opcn-hcartcd by nature, and de-
| lighted TO see his little wife look well,
| though he had TO run in debt for it.
NOW, though he knew it not, this SAID
wife was perfect little heroine, and well
| worth her weight in gold The time came
! shortiy afterwards, that both had feared :;
| the shop had closed for few weeks which
time run into months and still no sigus of
work. People that Eugene had traded with
sold out.in disgust, while strangers filled
their places. With them credit was an
| lmpossiDility, and Eugene Hollis soon had
the mortiication OF being reduced to his
| last penny.
II was high time that something should
| be done, or the little woman he had
vowed to shield from all harm would suf-
| fer.
10 this end he went through the CITY,
ana into every Imaginable place where
there was likelihood of earning an hon
est living.
But hundreds were there before him. and
one evening about dusk found him wcnd
ing his way, foot-sore and weary, towards
nome. dc brought no money no1 provis-
lons with him, for the last penny he had
was paid out week before.
But what a contrast he found i" tho
happy, CUnlenfnu race of hi, wife ~ Ills
| own despairlng condition.
10 =.
at once, before 1t gets cold" she said,
kindly, snoticing from the woe-begone look
that he had not succeeded.
Supper! What can We make sumner of
except the imagination that one ought to
be2' was the morosc remark.
"Oh, there is the ham that YOU purchased
| the other day, and then the potatoes are
not out yet" she smilingly said "Bc-
sides, there are enough left for several
meals"
Eugene thought good deal, but said
| nothing; he was quite positive that the
last potato had gone week before. But
his wife kept right Oh talking as merrily
as II they had a house full of plenty in
stead of want. So he mentally decided
that sine had received loan from some
relative, Which fact she wished to 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.
lie always went away at the usual work
ing hour, and spent the time hunting in the
chccrlcss round after work but when lie
came back again al night, his wife always
| met Hin the same as ever.
1t had become an established fact in his
mind that outside help of some kind was
provided for them III sufficient amount to
keep them from starving.
| Inc bacon never ran quito short or the
potatoes either, Tor That matter, and they
were relieved now and then by steak or
chop.
He was too proud to take any notice OF
TINS 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
some well to-do uncle whom he had never
heard of, was at the bottom OF it.
But this state of affair; was not to last
always When Il 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 cffors at
last.
Eugene Hollis, at his trade rs an en-.
gravcr, was Sailed workman in ever
branch, and III fair times commanded a
good salary.
lie now felt himself in luck when the
position to drive coal cart at three shll.
lngs per day was offered him.
Good news Good news!" he shouted.
rushing into his home, and searching for
his wife.
Where was shof The rooms were do.
serted. But no, the attic door was opcn.
Through it he went, and up the shor;
nlsht OF STAIRS. There sat Ncttie, patiently
and rapidly propelling sewing machine
under The light from tho marrow pancs let
INTO The slop;ng roof.
why, Nettie, where did you get that2''
he asked, completely taken aDack at tho
discovery.
Il bought 1t, love-" was the hesitating
| response.