Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-02-25
IT WAS NOT TO BE.
BY A. URBAN EVERETTE.

"John, when will you order the new
carpets?" I want them ready to put
down as soon as we get through with oul
housekeeping.
"Georgie, I wish you would put of
that bit of expense few years longer.
Really"
"Put it off! Not put down new car
pets this spring? Keep them old
things through another summer? You
don't think of it, or if you do, [ don't.
Look at Grace Fulton's room. Do you
want your house to look worse than
theirs? Certainly you can afford the
expense as well as Sam Fulton can"
"For that matter, my dear wife, I
think I can afford it better than Sam
can; for he is in debt, and am not.
There! What did I tell you? I
knew you could afford it. And now
we'll have the carpets. Don't be mean.
Don't for mercy's sake let our house be
a fright to everybody any longer"
George, our rooms are, at this
moment, far better, in every way
better furnished, and better carpeted,
and far more inviting, than were those
of our parents, which you and I in
our childhood, thought so grand.
Carpets, they had none. And fun ther,
those carpets are not worn to look badly
at all Not worn spot is to be seen.
In fact, they are as good and as service
able as they were when firstput down. "
20, bah! One thing you can depend
upon; those things will come up when
we begin to clean and paint, and they
won't go down again!" And the femi-
nine foot came down with stamp, and
the feminine lips were shut with an
emphatic tightness.
George, have you any idea what
good Brussels carpets will cost?"
81 don't know, and I don't care! If
we can't have 'em we can go without. I
can stand it if you can"
George" still calmly and kindly,
but with mighty effort for self-con-
troll, ut required very nearly eighty
yards of carpet for our two best rooms.
They are very large. You know Brus-
sells carpeting is not yard wide. For
rooms and stairs we may safely esti-
mate one hundred yards. Between
forty and fifty pounds will be the ex-
pense. One more thought and I give
it into your hands for you to do with it
as you please. You know that I have
settled antipathy against so-called life
assurance or insurance. Never mind
what my objections are. They are SO
strong-so much part of my nature
that cannot overcome them. But
will do what is better, if you will help
me. You know that I do not squander
money. Ihave no expensive habits be-
yond the absolute necessaries of life.
Every pound can save will be put in
the bank, there to remain and accumu-
late until need not to be otherwise
met, shall demand it's withdrawal.
Really and truly, the money it would
save is for my little ones Every penny
now laid away will be in store for fu-
ture use; do not like to talk of dy-
ing; yet we must meet the fate when |
the call comes. If I am called first, it |
will brighten the passage more
than 1 can tell, to know that !
[ leave my little ones in |
comfort; that is the one thought that
influence me when look to the regu-
lation of my expenses. So my own
dear wife, it is not alone who must |
pay for the luxuries of our home. I'll
comes from the bank account of the |
family. Don't say any more now,
please. Think of il. Sleep upon it. /"
And thus speaking. he arose and left
the room-and left the house.
The speakers were John and George
Mellen, husband and wife. The former
was 30 years of age, holding the re-
sponsible position of cashier in one of
che large city banks; the latter was two
years his junior, and one of the very
best and most efficient of housekeepers.
They had been married seven years.
and had three children-three bright
eyed, happy, healthful, laughter-lovine
children. the light and Joy of the home.
There had been another occupant of
the room. and istener-Aunt Jane
Sleeper Georges aunt, Johns aunt,
and everybody's aunt who knew her.
She was widow, sister of Goorgie's
mother. her snowy hair and deepening
burrows indicating near approach to
the late evening OF life.
sGeorgie, I am going to tell you =