The Evening critic., 1885-04-06
4 BIT OLE REAL LIFE.

The capitalist was sitting in his library
after dinner, having retired to that COM
Portable apartment to enjoy the cigar with
which he would not profane tho drawing
room atmosphere. To him presently came
his wife, a pleasant, matronly woman, not
far from his own age, aud handsomely
dressed, as became the wife of millionaire.
There was nothing extraordinary about this
couple. They were simply rich Americans;
quiet, unpretentious people, who lived hand
somely, went TO church on Sunday and en-
deavored to bring up their children in a
common-sense way.
They were on excellent terms with each
other being of domestic tastes. In short,
they were, with the sole exception of being
somewhat richer than the average, very
credtable specimens of the great majority
of well-tO-do Americans who do not get in
to the newspapers.
The capitalist laid down his paper as the
lady entered. Really, to judge from his
eyes, one would have said he was rather
glad TO see her. AS for her she evidently
had something on her mind" and her hus.
band, for the time being, was of secondary
importance.
Sitting down, she shaded her eyes from
the fire.
"John," she said, 81 am troubled about
Margaret, the nurse"
80 am IT, said John. "Was thinking
about her to-day"
lis there anything that can be done to
make her life pleasanter than it promises
to be after she is married ?"
"Well-yes, think there Isl" and then
he proceeded to detail plan which so thor
oughly coincided with his wife's views that
she actually-4o as she was-went over to
him and kissed him.
That's good boy" she said. Margaret's
suitor must soon be here for his usual even
ing visit. I'll give orders to have him
brought up, and you can talk to him.
After giving the necessary directions she
went back to the sitting-room. Presently
heavy tread was heard in the PASSAGE
way, and big, sturdy man was ushered
into the library by an exceptionally neat
aud trusty.looking maid.
The capitalist rose and shook hands with
his somewhat abashed visitor.
Thank you, Margaret he said to the
woman. I'm ring presently. l want TO
talk little business with Mr.. Brown. You
may shut the door so that we shall not be
interrupted"
Margaret blushingly retired, wondering
greatly In her honest heart what the bust
ness" might be, and resolving that she
would make Tom tell her directly the inter
view was over.
wei, BfOWn, DeBan tue caplthllSti al
ter giving the visitor chair, on which he
sat as If 10 were the most uncomfortable
piece Of furniture in existence. well,
Brown; you know Margaret has been with
me now going on fifteen years, and though
we are very sorry TO part with her, we are
glad she Is going to marry man who will
make her good husband. / don't doubt
you are that kind of a man, but being a
good husband isn't everything, You want
to get ON in the world and make good
home for you both to pass a comfortable
old age In, Now, you're a bricklayer, 1
believe. don'tsuppose you get more than
S3 day, and that only in busy times.
Margaret says you have rented rooms in a
tenement house In Avenue b.
That's all right, aud don't doubt you
will be very happy there for while, but
five years hence perhaps there will be
three or four children, and you will ST i'll be
earning 50 a day part Of the time and
nothing at all the rest. You will ia all
human probability DO poor laboring man
all your days. Her life and your life will
DO spent in u crowded tenement your
children will at hest have but poor chance
to riso in the world, and they will have no
end of chances TO fall-no matter whether
they are boys or girls.
Now, propose to give you show to do
better-to become a leading man In the
town, to have a good home of your own, in-
stead of paying rent in a tenement; TO have
fresh air TO breathe and opportunities, il you
are industrious aud enterprising, to make