The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-08-20

Even now, with the weight OF debts
hanging over them, and first one and
then another OF the purchases taken
away with the loss OF all that had
been paid on them, whenever any
money came in there was big spread
OF luxury for Sundays dinner, sec
ond feast on the warmed-over goodies
for Monday, and trust to luck for what
ever could be procured later on. With
five dollar bill in the house they
were in a paradise OF plenty, unable
to see the end OF it, and Just as likely
to secure new purchase on the week
ly payment dodge, with the
pleasant assurance to Raddle: ave
shan't feel the trumpery trihe one
bit;;" when. with smile that was
equal to an exhaustless deposit in
bank, Raddle would pull at his pipe
and say, That's sol" as contentedly
as ii he had never known aset back in
| the world.
Just about the time the host OF in
stallment payments had nearly sunk
them to the dregs OF poverty, and dry
| bread and mush was rather the rule
than the exception. Mrs. Raddle re-
ceived a legacy from distant relative
The next | knew they had made u
payment on house and lot, furnish.
ed the house in grand style, kept a
horse and buggy, and We're altogether
in tip top shape. Surely, l thought,
they will now arrange to regulate their
expenditures to suit their income. Not
at all. Asaneighbor remarked, they
were bound to go along i'll the ''happy-
go-lucky" style OF living with
not a thought beyond the present
hour. 1t seemed to make not an
atom OF difference whether there WAS
$50 a week coming in or only $40; in
each case the income was swallowed
in feast while the money lasted, fol-
lowed by stinted shortcomings when
it was gone. While yet triHe of the
legacy remained in bank, Mrs. Raddle
paid a hundred dollars on piano for
Lucinda, with the purpose to have
that dear child take lessons at $40 a
| quarter. "We shant feel such q tritle
one bit, you know, William," Mrs.
Raddle said, land the payments on
the plano-only a trumpery $40 a
month-we shall never know it."
Certainly not" Raddle believed
it; even after the house was lost, and
the horse and buggy and the piano
were dragged out OF the house, he had
full confidence in Mrs. Raddle's easy
going way OF making ngpurchases. When
they finally sank down to three rooms
in rear tenament, and there was no
income but Raddle's six dollars a
week, they went in for solid blow
out OF pie and fried sausage on pay
night, an extra baked dinner on Sun
day, and weak tea and coffee during
the close OF the week.
The very last time / was in their
dwelling was only the other day, Rad
die had borrowed trifle on his watch,
and brought home a pound OF porter
house steak for supper. SAID Mrs.
Raddle, as they reveled in the tempo
rary feast, to be followed next day by
mush and molasses:-
81 do wish you'd been here with the
money a little sooner, William. There
was peddler with the loveliest vases,
onlya dollar a pair-just dirt cheap.
And all he asked was fifty cents down,
and the rest in payments OF ten cents a
week. We should never have felt the
payments no more than nnothing."
'That's son' was the cheerful con,
viction OF Raddle, as he felt sorry he
hadn't got back with the money in
time. Then he pushed the dangling
sleeve OF his shirt from his fingers to
enable him to grub in the corners o.
his pockets for a few scattered crumbs
OF tobacco. as he added that perhaps
the peddler would call again. whei
Amanda must borrow fifty cents and
secure so p-izable bargain.