The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1888-10-26
A WlFE's ECONOMY.

-~Anonyasous.
/. A WIFE'S ECONOMY.
Mr.. aud Mrs. Blossom were new
stars OF a fine brilliancy, but of small
magnitude, in the society Of Warrens-
burg. Alexander Blossom and Minnie
Blossom had been married for one short
year, which time seemed to them lust
one long sammer's day. There are
several married people unlike Alex
andcr and Minnie, for these were never
happy except when they were to-
gcther, aud when they were together
never unhappy for a moment: Whom
Alexander came in from business he
always instituted a search for the
brown-haired, brown-eyed girl who
was waiting for him, and when he be-
gan to despair she would start out Of a
certain passageway with a gay laugh
and ask him where his eyes were. OF
course, under these circumstances, it
was necessary for her to take q good,
square look at his eyes to determine if
they were the same as ever, aud then
occurred some of those manifestations
which foolish people call foolishness,
and which only stopped when the
genial housemaid came to announce
that dinner was served. OF course. the
housemaid did not say: "Dinner is
served" her proclamation verbatim
was: Come now" but the meaning
was the same. haze omitted to say
that Minnie was not very tail; that she
was remarkably healthy and delicious
ly plump. Her lips were as near
bursting with fullness as cherries after
II rain; her forehead was low and her
eyebrows. heavier than the ordinary,
made her just $ q much the moro
magnetic. There was nothing won
derful about Alexander. You will
comprehend Alexander ut once when
] say that he received 300 8 month,
which he did not L However. he
firmly believed that in some mysterious
way his labor brought large returns to
his employers.
With 500 Il month the Blossoms had
to live. Fortunately they had no rent
to pay; the market books, figured up
reasonably, and the domestic was kind
enough to demand but $15 n month.
One day Alexander came home from
his alleged business looking nice and
sweet, and also looking for Minnie.
The latter rushed out from the unex-
pected place in which she always hid,
and caught him around the neck,
asked him where his eyes were, put q
rapturous kiss just below Ills camel's
hair mustache, and cried, "What do
you Think"
The sagacious husband implanted q
rapturous kiss Just below where
Minnie would have had u splendid
brown mustache had she been in that
line, and replied that he didn't know.
He also demanded advice as to what it
was appropriate to think. Minnie then
explained that a letter had come adj
dressed to him that looked like wed
ding cards; that she had-had opened
1t. and it wasn't wedding cards after
all.
Some men hearing of a mysterious
letter opened by q loving wife, would
have experienced a feelinggof vague
unrest Not 80 Alexander. He silent
ly weighed the merits of some hasty
falschoods and inquired bravely what
the letter was.
"An invitation 10 join the Warrens-
burg Social Club said Minnie, land
have been thinking of it all the
afternoon" So she had, in herwoman-
y way; she had been thinking what
dresses she would wear. ''fsn't it
nlreP' she cried. Now, say we can
60"
"Of curse we can 60"
The unguardedness of this answer
was essentially masculine. Women,
on the contrary. always begin by re-
tusing, aud afterward allow them
selves to be argued into anything what
ever.
Then you must get a dress suit"
said Mrs. Blossom.
These We're, indeed. strange words.
They conveyed the revolving idea that
the fashionable Alexander had nothing
IN dress more formal than cutaways or
Prince Alberts. How then. had he
been married. The explanation throws
light on 4 very dark passage in Mr..
Blossoms life-his dress suit had been
pawned: and worse the tilnc of redemp-
ton had expired.
II can't co. he said resigning him
self to Fate with a large +.
That's it," cried Minnie. DELIGHTED.
I've bcen figuring it all up, and you
a go" Here she ran into the next
room. and in one second returned with,
4 sheet OF legal cap bearing very
lii~egni-looking figures. Nov, look at
this!''
Alexander looked; and I have to
record that he vas not shocked. The
figures aud their method were about as
nearly like those of an ordained book
keeper as Mr.. Blossoms own.
We've got to be economical fortwo
months. You sce." said Minnie. s.Thcrc
1t is. all on paper"
The indisputablc document ran
thus:
Grocer. $50; Jane, SO; butcher,
Sl5; coal, So; everything else. 80; al
together, $7S-$7S out of 500 leaves
$22-say $50; two months, 40"
One of thess suits doesn't cost more
than that, does it?' she asked. con
iidently.
Costs s75," replied the gloomy
Alexander.
''Humph!' cried Minnie. Cant
you manage? If it We're a $50 dress,
$40 would be plenty"
Alexander shook his head.
But the club meets early in the
evening"" persisted Minnie. Couldn't
you get one that would do-realv
made, OF soncthlugs"
Alexander was panied. He said lie
trusted she did not speak in earnest.
"Dear!" cried Minnie in despair,
what can we dop We can't take
boardcrs. and you can't be - book
agent. l wish somebody would leave
lis some money!
$50 do IL murmurcd Alex with feel
ing.
~ know what" cried Minnie, with
sudden brightness.
Don't yon ask your father for
money" said Mr.. Blossom, stern!y.
II don't intend to-"
alexander seemed tothink she might
have been a little more willful on this
point. But he tried to look much re-
lieyssd. and issued another command
that she was notato go in debt. Her
assent to this was Immediate. Alex |
ander had no more to say.
The next day Minnie, i'll pursuance