Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-04-10

What is always SOL" he said "house
pianist Are the cat-tails almost ripe" as
she drew the blades of green through her
nervous fingers.
For answer she gave the leaves pettish
toss, and the heavy pot rolled over on the
floor.
"Whew!" said John, another blizzard
,omingl Rising, followed by falling bar
ometerr
John Skipping you're enough to pro
yoke saint" she half sobbed.
II have done so already" he said ten
derby. "Come, will be serious. You were
speaking about accounts. Lots not make
any account of that one, but proceed under
a suspension of the rules of the house."
Don't try to be funny, John, l am 50
much in earnest"
$50 am $50 am l."
II will begin this very day II you will
show me how. ought to have blank
book, oughtn't I!n
"A bank bookl wish to heaven you had. !"
mo, n blank book. Come, you rule it and
fix II for me.n
John gave her little memorandum book
from his own pocket, tried to instruct her
in double-entry, which she could not in the
least understand, and so for that evening
the subject was dismissed.
At the end of the month John found him
self in increasing perplexlty which his wife
did not comprehend.
Its dreadful times in business, Maria I"
he said gloomily.
"John," she said with trembling voice,
"You're not going to fail, are youl"
John hid grim smile With sudden
twirl of his mustache.
Better men than are going to tho wall
every day, Maria" he said solemnly.
Would she never find out he was not in
business for himself, nor ever had been
really, unless he fired il at her from oata-
pult' Would this precious feminine infant
never discover he was not the hero her
maiden fancy had painted him, aided by
fulsome items in the country newspapersl
To her the glamor had never fallen from any
thing but his disposition.
John Skipping" she murmured pal
pitatingly, don't keep any thing from me.
II ID my duty as your wife TO cheer you and
help you. Have you lost money, John"
'Not-much," another fierce twirl OF the
mustache being necessary to cover his
sense Of the righteousness of her question.
Not much, Maria, but you know upon
young man whose only capital is his brain
period OF such financial OPPRESSION as this
crowds pretty hard"
well, John, there's one comfort,
don't spend any money. For whole month
haven't spent a thing-only little car
fare, perhaps-and some-trifes."
by the way, my dear, how does the ac-
count book come on' Let's have a look at IL.
"All right, John. | set down every thing
III get it," rising with alacrity. "Of course,
l haven't added it up yet"
"H'm'mp' murmurcd John, as he cast his
I, he 4, aclr
of his chair, looking down over his shoulder.
The first entry was "car fare, ten cents; !"
the next, doctors bill, $780, John read
them aloud.
10 I don't think that DOCTORS bill ought
to count It's permanent you know. I
went to DR.. Sproggs about my catarrh."
Hot water bag, sl.75."
'But that's permanent, too, John; it really
isn't present expense
"Roses for friend, 81. So"
ut was very little bunch"
BOX candy, 30 cents kid gloves, 40 cont (;
cab, 25 cents; Turkish bath, sl.00; POSTAGE
sl.00: house plants, $780,"
"Just three bulbs aud glasses, John. OF
course could have done without them"
---"Ribb1ns for sachets, So 10; powder,
ditto, 80 cents; embroidered muslin robe,
$500; slippers, $500; candy, 10 cents; cara
mels, ~ cents; oranges, ID cents; Browning
Club, 500; candy, 80 cents; subscription
book, s3.00-good heavens l-thoater tick.
cts, 600"
Intcrspersed throughout this was car fare
every day, and quito rs frequent recur.
renee OF caramels. AS John read his wife
became silent, he could not sec her face.
He made rapid summary of the items,
no more embarrassed by sevens and mines,
Maria observed than she would have beer
by ives and oughts. Nor did she once dc
tcct him In adding by means of his fingers,
which gave her an increased opinion of his
business capacity.
lie announced the result, $3.50
20, John, why do you so delight TO tease
mel" cried Marir, with a nervous littlC
laugh, an can't b. ftf thai.n
John ado another agile computation
aloud 10 very tie brst; Mrs. Skipping
grew fairy dizzy at the buzz of the addition