Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-08-14
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"All right, I'll do 1t, just to show
you that IL is easy enough. Here's tho
pocket.book." And he gave it into her
hand, "But III take q quarter first to
begin on
What 10 you want Of quarter
Cigars"
"Well, hero are two ten.cent pieces !;
try to make that do. Did you over
reckon up how much your cigars cost
you in the year. Let us see. You
smoke at least two day., at an aver
age Of ten cents piece, which
amounts to one dollar and fifty cents
4 week. Now. tifty.two times one for
ty makes seventy five dollars and eighty
cents year, to say nothing of those
you give your friends. A hundred dol
lars will scarcely cover your expenses
in that line"
GAS our old friend, Abigail Stillman
says, who'd O. thunk it, said Mr.. Gray,
laughing; but he was surprised to find
the sum so large.
The next morning Mr.. Gray had
gone some distance from the house be-
fore he remembered that lie had only
twenty-five cents.
"Ili riik it," said he to himself; "per-
haps I'll not want to buy anything.
I'll show Annie that man can do with
out money"
Hello, Gray!" cried voice, inter.
rupting his reflections. "What is the
brain study about"
It was his old friend, Frank Ray
mond. The two men had not met
since Mr.. Gray's marriage. and rs Frank
was to remain in town for week, Mr..
Gray invited him home. He lit a cigar,
and handed it's mate to Frank, as he
did this.
The two conversed of old times until
they reached Mr.. Gray's place of bust
ness, when they separated, Frank agree
ing to be at the Gray's at six o'clock.
Annie was appraised Of his coming by q
note from her husband.
Going home that night, as was his in
variable custom, he ran into Benton's
to buy some cigars. Benton was sur
prised to see him drop the dozen he had
taken up.
care they not good?" inquired the
dealer. 1--WE think them our choicest
"They are good. But on second
thought I will not take any tonight. "
Mr.. Gray had always purchased his
cigars as he used them; but now he
wished he had box at home. How
ever he decided to ask his wife for some
money, and run out and fill his case
without his friends knowledge. Twen-
ty-four hours had passed, and he had
already begun to experience feeling of
shame, and disinclination to ask for
money. A thought of Annie crossed
his mind. "Pshaw! she doesn't have to
treat friends to cigars" he muttered.
Frank Raymond was already at, his
house, and Annie had a tempting little
supper fol-. them; and Annie was look
ing her prettiest.
When supper was over, he took An
ME aside and asked for dollar, which
she gave him grudgingly. Then he ex-
cused himself for moment, and bought
some cigars. They were wretched af-
fairs, however, and filled the house with
villainous odor, for he had to get
them at new place, Benton's being
too far off. -. =.
The next day tho two friends started
out together when Mr. Gray, with an all
OF having forgotten something, said,
Excuse me- = minute"
"I'll go back with You if you have for
gotten anythiAg," said Mr.. Raymond.
Mr.. Gray clapped his hands on his
pocket. II thought I had forgotten
my pocket book, but J. Vhaven't,"
he said $50 It's all right" And
then he hurried on, his cheeks
tingling with shame at the deceit. But
he could not risk having his friend go
back with him and stand by while he
asked for money. It,.
Mr.. Gray was lucky that day. He
had no calls for money, and he had q
half dozen of those horrid cigars left,
a couple of which he smoked on the
street after Ills friend left him. In fact,
he concluded to risk another day in the
same way. But on this day he realized
the old adage, 1T never rains bun it
pours," for from being asked to change
bill, to getting his coat ripped and
asking for credit at his tailor's, the day
was series OF notifications.
Annie was unaware of all this. In
fact, she thought her husband was fail
ing to realize the situation. SO when,
at night, Mr.. Gray asked her for money
to spend the next day, she wickedly put
him off with some excuse, and ingen-
iously evaded the request until he was
forced to prefer it before his friend.
You want a dollar or two? What
do you want with dollar or two?"
There, Annie, don't bother fellow.
I'm in u hurry" ..=.-@
But with grave deiberation she drew
out q quarter and laid it down, then an
other, and another, next two dimes:
Let me see three quarters seven
ty-fve, ten is eighty five ten ninety
five, and here is . 3-cent piece ninety
eight cents. Will that do 2"
Il Eyes" And Mr., Gray hustled them
into his pocket, and hurried from the
room. ss IL .. .s5 b & (. }.
h He was in hopes his friend would in.
quire into the cause Of the scene, when
he would tell him Of the compact, and
how it originated IT would then pass
as Joke. But Mr.. Raymond did not
make any remark. Instead he thought
to himself \: b 81 Il
s God gracious! What . girl she is.
And I thought her SO pretty. ] never.
supposed that Albert would make such
q meek husband. Catch me getting
married and having quarters doled ont
to me in that way ! !" s.
He pitied his friend s embarrassment, 4