The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-02-03
WHAT MIGHT hAVE BEEN.

''Isn't 1t loveIy2" Nettie Long asked,
as she held up trailing, bronze -hued
satin dress for her husbands admira-
tion one morning, three days before
the coming Of the New Year.
"Yery lovely" the man answered, in
tone less enthusiastic than Nettie's
had been.
'"You amt glad Bit" the girl said
pettishly.
II ana very glad, Nettie," he replied
quietly, with voice which still, had a
suspicion of weariness in it.
"It is lovely" she replied, "and I
only want ono thing to make my toilet
for New Years day complete.
II have the sweetest crimson roses
for my throat and belt, and all need
is a duchesse lace barbe."
II saw beauty to- day at Macintosh's
for twenty five dollars"
II am afraid you will have to do with
out it, dear"
IL Lave exhausted my last months
salary"
y
"Never mind, Walter; draw your
next months salary to-day, and give
me my allowance and I will get the
barbe with that, and have the meat and
groceries charged for two or three
weeks"
II would not mind drawing my salary
few days before it is due, though you
know do not like to do so, but could
never consent to your running in debt
to purchase All article you do not need ::
and the coal bill 1 promised on the
second of January will take all the
surplus funds I might otherwise spare
you"
but do need it., Walter"
zone would think you would like
Your wife to look her prettiost on New
Years Day."
"Let the coal-dealer wait another
month" she said ooaxingly,
II am sorry you have so little prinoi-
ple."
II cannot be dishonest even to crafty
you"
"Really you must do without it." he
replied.
IL cannot see how making ones GOAL
dealer wait few weeks is dishonest.
but even if it were, it is no worse than
meanness and stinginessl"
"Nettio, take care!" he interrupted:
you rouse the demon in me-
"You know give you all have.
we are spending every dollar of
our income as fast as wo receive it.
when, now in our youth, VIC ought to
be self-dening and economical, and save
something in oase of trouble or ILL
health"
Come, Nettie, be reasonable" he
said, his voice changing from passionate
"ngor to gentle entreaty; ''your friends
VIII think you quite as charming with
out the coveted lace as with it, and
and would certainly respect you more
II they knew the circumstances"
And he kissed her pretty pouting
lips. and went to his business, grieved
and anxious at his wife's apparent lack
of principle. yet revolving in his mind
how he might purchase for her that
which she 80 coveted.
1t WAS New Years Eve, and Mrs.
Long attired for the opera, waited by
the yellow light of the CRATE fire in
their cosy parlor for her lord to finish
his toilette.
It was late, and she could hear the
sound OF his footsteps as he went to and
fro in the room above, and once she
started to call him, but took her seat
again, exclaiming apgrily:
mo, he IL always late; lot him take
his time; I don't oarel''
But when the bronze clock on the
mantel struck eight she opened the
door, and called impatiently:
"Waiter, are you never coming?"
No voice answered her, but five min
utes later her husband entered the par
lor, attired for the opera.
In her anger she would not turn and
greet him, but when he softly crossed
the room and stood before her, and she
was compelled to glance up to him, her
face whitened to the very lips.
He was without shoes or stockings,
He wore neither coat nor vest. and
his white shirt hung slevelesss about
him.
Around his head, 80 as to conceal oil
but the wild eyes, from which the light
OF reason had departed, was gathered
his white merino vest; ono hand held
this tightly, while the other clasped
Nettie's white opera shall, which in her
haste she had forgotten.
"Walterl Walterl" she cried in terror,
"What is the matterp"
1'We're going to get the---the --scarf,
you know"