The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-12-15
THE TWO WIVES.

(Which shallit be2''
The speaker was scarce more thai
thirty years old, full of health and vigor
the junior and working partner in al
old established business house in sinai
city.
1t was Sabbath evening. His wifi,
had been playing the piano. and he haC
been singing the Sunday-school hymns
with their children of seven and fiv,
years old They were pretty, affection
ate, bright children, and the parents
hearts had been knit closer to then
these last few weeks. since the toddline
wee one had been laid. in a fiower-filleC
casket, beneath the cold white snow.
Sunday was not a day of sacred rest
hut an otf-day from business and care
and Mr.. Brooks lay back in his loung
ing-chair, put aside the magazine he ha6
been reading, while his wife put the
children to bed, and resumed the sub
ject on aich they had been talking the
most or the day.
''The Baldwin house, she answered,
with a smile-just the smile a woman OF
tact wears when she wishes her hus-
bands affection to bias bis judgment.
Mr.. Brooks whisted u minute.
IF we take the Elmore cottage, / can
pay down for it. Our furniture viii be
enough for it. and we can live nicely
and plainly without going into debt one
dollar, and five years hence can buy
any place in town"
people like Mr. Baldwin do not die
every five years, and places like his are
not thrown into the market once in
twenty-five years.
81 can build house.
but my dear husband, not at halt
cost. And it would take lifetime to
grow such trees. 1t is a most beautiful
place, and in most perfect repair. -
81 know all that. 1t is much better
worth its price than the Elmore cottage
is worth its price. But 1 do hate debt
and mortgage. But perhaps, as you
say, the reduced price ought to decide
it.n
81 am sure it ought. and we will
make the old furniture do for time"
''The rooms are much larger, and our
carpets are not India-rubberr'
Il have thought of that. / can make
the best of the carpets into mats, and,
with n playful smile, .'imagine them
TstiKfsh rsssEsg'' sa,-ts---z
You are such shrewd manager. l
can pay for the house soon," he said.
And the house was bought, one-third
paid down, and two-thirds on a mort
gage. Wise business men congratulated
Mr.. Brooks, rs the place was sold below
its value. for the heirs were not near of
kin, and did not wish it, or the care of
it.
And now Mrs. Brooks was happy.
Her early home had been one of
large wealth, and she loved style, and
was used to and fitted for gay society.
But her father speculated in stocks and
went down. He moved to his native
town and hired cottage just out of the
city But the disappointed mans brain
gave way, and the two lone women. in
the new circumstances and surround
ings, were so brave, and watched over
the paralytic so unmurmuringly, that
all hearts sympathized with them, and
Brooks, then only trusted clerk, dared
offer and was thanked for many
thoughtful and delicate kindness. And
when death relieved the watched-over
and the watchers he had won the love
he had craYed.
In that cottage they sat tonight.
Eight years they had been happy in it.
Three lives had come to it. The grand
mother and the little one had gone out
from it. Thus they had known Joy and
sorrow, but they had been content, as
one is content who feels that every to-
morrow will be brighter than to-day.
The looked for tomorrow had now
come. And the early days came back
to Mrs. Brooks with a force she had
thought all spent.
One parlor was closed. A new rich
carpet was bought for the other. and the
paintings. books, statuettes, and bric-a-
brac which the refined taste of Mr.. King
had selected when rich, and which pow
&.1-~s L.
in the small rooms of the cottage had
needs been scattered, were brought to-
gether in it, and gave the elegant room
a tone and air of refinement which mere
wealth had never given it.
The first evening that they sat in it
Mr.. Brooks, with a keen enjoyment of
life's luxuries such as he had never be-
fore known, said:
IT am glad / bought Gsis place. did
not know we had so many elegant things
until your artistic taste brought them
together. This is the finest room in the
city"
II have no doubt it is. have tried
to arrange it as my father had his library.
wish he could see it."
perhaps he does. That cottage was
nice to me, but how meagre it must have
been to you, and yet you never COM
planned"
And new appreciation of and new
love for her sprang up in his heart, and
they talked on and on in their great con-
tent and happiness.
Society swung open its doors, and
calls and invitations came upon them.
More dress was needed, taxes and insur-
ance were high, interest to be paid, and
business everywhere depressed, and for
two years the debt lay unchanged.
There had been no loss as men count
loss, and yet there had been great loss;
that debt, which at first lay so heavy on
Mr.. Brooks, and which he intended to
lift as soon as possible, he had grown used
to. and did otlonger feel to be a burden.
And the debt to society troubled Mrs
Brooks, and the other parlors must be
furnished, and royalty, to match the IL
brary, and then a grand reception was
given.
For these money had to be hired.
Benevolent balls and quasi-literary So
cieties, fashions caprice mingled with
the dancing parties, and Mrs Brooks was
worn and weary with the manifold
duties of her position. and must be re-
lieved of some household duties, and
another servant was indispensable.
Mr.. Brooks confinement to his bust
ness wore upon him, and he must have
recreation, which means a fine horse
and buggy. But it was so selfsh for him