South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1883-08-24
.rll go back with you if you have
forgotten anything said Mr.. Ray

70 Dock Win you III you nave
forgotten anything said Mr.. Ray
lmond.
Mr.. Gray clarped his hand on his
rocket. Il thought l had forgotten
my pocket book, but 1 haven't he
said. so its all right And thcn 10
hurried OH. his cheeks tinyIine with
Shame at the deceit. But he could
mot risk having his friend 60 back
with him, aud stand by while he ask.
cd for money.
! Mr.. Gray was lucky that day. lie
had no calls for money, and he had
half dozen of those horried cigars
left, q couple os which he smoked on
the street after his friend left him. In
fact he concluded to risk another dav
in the same. way. But on this day he
realized the old adage .Itnever rains
but 1t pours,' for from being asked to
changed q bili,to getting his CO at
ripped and asking for credit at his
tailor's, the day was Il series of NOR.
titications
Annie was unaware of all this. In
fact, she thought her husband was
falling to realize the situation, 80 when
at night, Mr.. Gray asked her for mo.
ney to spend the next day, she wick
edly put him Off with some excuse.
and ingeniously evaded the request
until be was forced to prefer it before
his friend. 80.
You want q dollar or two! What
do you want with dollar or two?'
There, Annie, don't bother a fel.
low I'm in Il hurry
But with grave deliberalion. she
drew out n quarter. and laid it down
then another and another, next two
dimes.
Let me see-threc quarters-scv.
enty live, ten is eighty -iive-ten-
ninety-iive, and here is three cent
plece-ninety eight cents. Will that
do?'
Yes and Mr.. Gray hustled them
into his pocket and hurried from the
room.
! He was in hopes his friend would
inquire into the cause of the scene,
when he would tell him of tile CONF
pact and how it originated. 1t would
then pass as n joke. But Mr.. Ray
mond did not make any remark. In.
stead, lie thought to himself:
Good Gracious! What grind she
Is And / thought her SO pretty. |
neve, supposed that Albert would
mako such Il meek husband. Catch
me getting married, and having quar-
tiers doled out to me in that way.
He pitied his friend embarrassment,
but did not appear TO rotice it. In.
stead, he chartered unconcernedly Of
Old friends and past times Sudden
ly turning corner they mot two mu.
tual acquaintance. Hand shakings
and Inquiries followed, and the four
had so mnch to say that Mr.. Gray de.
cided to send a note to his partner
and spend the forenoon with hia
friends.
The party now adjourucd to n res.
taurant, and Mr.. Raymond, aware of
the exact amount OF his-Mr. Gray's
funds. ordered lunch.
Before separating, little excursion
70 Beech Island was proposed for
Monday. Mr.. Gray invited them,
meantime, to spend the evening at
his house. The evening passed vas
n pleasant one. Annie was in excel
lent spirits; sang and played, and was
altogether charming. Mr.. Raymond,
remembering the money, decided that
matrimony was a snare when women
were SO deceptive.
The next day, which was Sunday
Mrs Gray, without being asked grave.
~ handed her husband fifty cents.
Dir. Raymond was present, but did
not appear TO notice it. lie was APP
parently engrossed in the book he was
reading. But he heard Mr. Gray ask:
whats that for? O, the contribu.
ton box Thank your lie said. But
to himself he added:
Why rot save it. to 90 with the 25
cents l have already, so as not
to be compelled 70 ask for money on
Tuesday? Then | can succeed in get
ting some for Mondays trip. without
the knowledge OF my friends, and this
absurd farce will ebd without any
more CnpIeasantness.
Monday morning came all too soon
for, try rs be would, be could not eet
| the attention of Annie, when he en-.
deavored to breach the subiec, of the
( projected trip. hdgeting with his knife
ana iork, he cleared bis throat at last.
and IN nervous way made n plunge
Mrs Gray elevated her eyebrows.
TO the island? Pray, what for? II
IS hardly the season for excursions
Mr. Raymond really pitied his friends
evident distress, so he said iokjngly:
WIN, You see, Mrs Gray, we want
/ TO get off for y time as we used TO
when boys
The lady smiled grimly and said.
ALBERT is, as you see, too extrava-
CANT by half. Icannot in {. present
state OF our finances. give M consent
fn