River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-06-18

Cigars"
''WeIl, here are two ten-cent pieces;
try to make that do. Did You ever
reckon up how much your cigars cost
YOU in the year. Let us see. You
smoke at least two a day, ut an aver
age of ten cents piece, which
amounts to one dollar and fifty cents
q week. Now. fifty-two times one for
tv makes seventy-five dollars and eighty
cents year, 20 say nothing of those
you give your friends. a hundred dol
lars VIII scarcely cover your expenses
III that line
As our old friend. Abigail Stillman
says, who'd a-thunk it, said Mr.. Gray,
laughing; but he was surprised to find
the sun so large
The next morning Mr.. Gray had
4 gone some distance from the house be-
fore he remembered that he had only
twenty-five cents.
"IIi riik it, said he to himself; "per-
haps III 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"
Ii was his old friend, Frank Ray
moud. The two men had not met
since Mr. Gray S marriage and as Frank
was to remain in town for week, Mr..
GRAY invited him home. He Int a cigar,
and handed its mate to Frank, rs he
did this.
The two conyersed Of old times until
they reached Mr. Gravs place of bust
ness. when they separated, Frank agree
ing to be at the Gray'a 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 Bentons
to buy some cigars. Benton was sur
prised to see him drop the dozen lie had
taken mp.
Are they not good :" inquired the
dealer We think them our choicest.
"Thev are good. But on second
thought | will not take any tonight"
Mr.. Gray had always purchased his
cigars as he used them; but now he
wished he had a box at home How
ever lac decided to ask his wife for some
money, and run out and fill his case
without his friends knowledge. Tween
ty-lour hours had passed, and he had
already begun to experience a feeling of
shame, aud Discrimination to ask for
money. A thought Of Annie crossed
his mind "Pshawi she doesn't hive to
treat friends to cigars" he muttered.
Frank Raymond was already at his
house, and Annie had tempting little
supper for them; and Annie was look
ing her prettiest.
When supper was over, he took An
ME aside and asked for a dollar, which
She gave linn grudgingly. Then he ex-
cused himself for a moment, and bought
some cigars Thcv 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 of
The next day tho two friends started
outto2ethor when Mr.. Gray, with an air
OF having forgotten something, said,
Excuse me minute"
"I'll 90 back with Won if you have for
gotten anything said Mr. Raymond.
Mir. Gray clappcd his hands on his
pocket Il thought ! had forgotten
my pocket book, but ] haven't, T"
he said so its all right" And
then lie hurried on, his cheeks
tngling with shame ut the deceit. But
lie could not risk having his friend go
back With him and stand by while he
asked for money.
Mr. Gray was lucky that day. He
had no calls for money, and he had q
half a dozen Of those horrid cigars left,
couple OF which he smoked on the
street after his friend left him. Ia fact,
he concluded to risk another day in the
same way. But on this day he realized
the old adage, 1T never rains but it
pours," for from being asked to change
a bill. to getting his coat ripped and
asking for credit at his tailor's, the day
was Il 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-
iouslv evaded the request until he was
forced to prefer it before his friend
"You want dollar or two? What
do yen want with dollar or two?"
There, Annie, don't bother fellow.
Tn In a hurry"
But with grave deIiberation she drew
ont quarter and laid it down, then an
other, and another, next two dimes.
let me see three quarters--seven-
tv-fiye, ten is cighty4five-ten ninety
five. and here is a Scent piece-ninety-
eight cents VIII that dO?"
YES" And Mr.. Gray hustled them
into his pocket, and hurried from the
room.
He was in hopes his friend would in
quire into the cause of the scen6, when
he would tell him Of the compact, and
/, how it originated. 1t would then pass
as a Joke. But Mr.. Raymond did not
make any remark. Instead he thought
r to himself:
Good gracious! What girl she is
And thought her so pretty. [ never
) supposed that Albert would make such
meek husband. Catch mo getting
married and having quarters doled out
to me in that way"
He piticI his friends embarrassment,
but did not appear to notice it. Instead,
he chatted unconcernodly of old friends
and past times Suddenly turning q
corner, they met two mutual acquaint-
auccs Hand shakiugs and inquiries
followed and the four had so much tC
say that Nj Gray decided to send &
note 70 his partner, and spend the fore
noon with his friends.
The party now adjourned to a restau-
rant. and Mr. Raymond, aware of the
exact amount of hfs-Mr. Gray's-
funds, ordered lunch.
Before separating. n little excursion
to Beech Island was proposed for Mon
dav. Mr. Gray invited them, mean
time, to spend the evening at his
house. The evening passed was pleas
ant one Annie was in excellent spirits
sang and played. and was altogether
charming Mr.. Raymond, remembering
the money, decided that matrimony was
q snare when women were so deceptive.
The next day, which was Sunday,
Mrs Gray, without being asked, grave
IL handed her husband fifty cents.
Mr. Raymond was present, but did
not appear to notice it. He was appar-
emily engrossed in the book he was
reading but nc heard Mr.. Gray ask:
whats that for? Oh, the contribu-
ton hox Thank YOU" he said. But to
himself he added:
Why not save it to so with the
twenty tive cents | have already, so as
not 70 lee compelled to ask for money on
Tuesday? Then can succeed in getting
some for Mondays trip without the
knowledge of my friends, and this alb