Wichita eagle., 1888-07-21
A WIFE'S ECONOMY.


Mr. and Mrs Blossom were new stars OF q
1ne brilliancy but of small magnitude in the
society of Warrcnsburg. Alexander Blossom
and Minnie Blossom had beer married for
one short year, which time seemed to them
Just one long summers day. There are sew
sral married people unlike Alexander and
Minnie. for these were never happy except
when they were together, and when they
were together never unhappy for moment
When Alexander came in from business b
ALWAYS instituted a search for tho brown
haired, brown eyed girl who was waiting for
him, and when he began to despair she
would start out OF certain passageway
with a gay laugh and ask him where bis
eyes were OF course, under these circurn
stances, it was necessary for her to take a
rood. square look at his eyes to determine
If they were the same as ever, and then
occurred some of those manifestations
which foolish people call foolishness, and
which only stopped when the genial house
maid came to announce that dinner was
served. OF course, the housemaid did not
saw. Dinner is served" her proclamation
verbatim was, Come, now" but the mean
ing was the same have omitted to say THAI
Minnie was not very tall; that she was re
markably healthy and deliciously plump Hell
lips were as near bursting with fullness al
cherries after a rain: her forehead was low
and her eyebrows, heavier than the ordinary,
made her just 50 much the more magnetic
There was nothing wonderful about Alexan
der You Will comprehend Alexander al
once when | say that he received 500 8
month, which he did not earn. However, he
firmly believed that in some mysterious way
his labor brought large returns to his en-
Ployers.
With 800 month the Blossoms had to
live. Fortunately, they had no rent to pay
the market books, under Minnie's care, fig
urei up reasonably, and the domestic was
kind enough to demand but S15 a month.
Ono day Alexander came home from his
alleged business looking nice and sweet, and
also looking for Minnie. The latter rushed
out from the unexpected place in which che
always hid, caught him around the neck,
asked him where his eyes were, put raptur-
Gus kiss just below his camels hair nIustache,
and cried, What do you thinkP
The sagacious husband implanted a rap
turous kiss just below where Minnie would
have had a 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 letter had come addressed tc
him, that it looked like wedding cards, that
she had-had opened it, and that it wasn't
wedding cards after all.
Some men, bearing Of mysterious letter
opened by loving wife, would have expert,
faalfnc- of trpYact Not
Alexander. He silently weighed the merits
of some hasty falsehoods and inquired bravely
what the letter was.
IAN invitation TO join tie Warrensburg
Social club said Minnie, land have been
thinking of it all the afternoon" So she
had, in her wonsnly way; she had been
thinking what dresses she could wear. isn't
1t nicer she cried Now, say We can co.
"Of course we can 60"
The unguardedness Of this answer was
essentially masculine. Women, on the con-
trary, always begin by refusing, and after
ward allow themselves 10 be argued into any
thing whatever.
Then you must get dress suit, )" said Mrs,
Blossom.
These were, indeed, strange words. They
conveyed the revolving idea that the fashion
able Alexander had nothing in dress more
formal than cutaways or Prince Alberts.
How, then, had be been married! The ex-
PLANTATION throws light on very dark pas
sage in Mr.. Blossoms hfe-his dress suit had
been pawned; and worse, the time Of redemp-
ton had expired.
- can't CO." be said, resigning himself to
Fate with large r.
That's it." cried Minnie, delighted; Tive
been figuring it all UP, and you can CO."
Here size ran into the next room, and In one
second returned with a sheet Of legal cap
bearing very Illegal looking figures. Nov,
look at thisl"
Alexander loH1-ed, and have to record
that he WAS not shocked. The figures and
their method were about as nearly like those
of an ordained bookkeeper as MIR. Blossoms
own.
We've got 10 be economical for two
months, you see" said Minnie. There it is,
all on paper"
The indisputable document ran thus:
..Grocer, $50; Jane, SIS; butcher, SIS: coal,
IS; everything else, $40; altogether, s7S-S1S
out of 500 leaves S2222-say $50; two months,
$40"
lone Of these suits doesn't cost moro than
that, does itr she asked, confidently.
costs SIS" replied the gloomy Alexander.
"Humphin cried Minnie Cant you man.
ages Ii it were ss5 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-ready made, or something's
Alexander was panied lie said he trusted
she did not speak in earnest.
Dear" cried Minnie in despair, what csn
we doi We can't take boarders, and you
can't be book agent. / wish somebody
would leave Us some money"
$50 do l." u1urmured Alec with feeling.
II know what" cried Minnie, with sudden
brightness.
'Don't you ask your father for money
said Mr.. Blossom. sternly.
81 don't intend tor
Alexander seemed to think she might have
been little more willfm on this point But
he tried to look much relieved, and issued
another command that she was not TO 80 in
debt. Her assent to rIis WAS immediate
Alexander had no more 10 say
The next day Minnie. in pursuance Of her
Idea went by stealth to the clothing en-
porium of Warrershurg and demanded the
price of dress suits. The answer was s2a
Size then asked the price Of tie cloth. This
was a great surprise to the tailor He
affected to solve en- intricate problem, and
finally coming out with nashematicaI
flourish of his pencil, said: Twenty dollars
How much for cutting outF
"Well,n said the tailor, "henl let me see.
You wouldn't want it made up here, you
thinki Well, coat, vest and-about $3.50"
Il should like TO get the cloth and the cut
ting both for $50, if you could" said Minnie,
g.