The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-11-22
HOW SHE HELPED HIM.
Through Her Efforts Her Husband
Was Saved from Ruin.

"Well, tell me about Henry Wood
ford. How did that match turn out?"
bad enough thus far He is the
same delightful, good-natured fellow.
as of old; always ready to do kind or
courteous act. But this woman will be
the ruin of him."
How? What is the trouble?"
''The trouble is, she fancies herself
an invalid, lies around, does nothing
but read Charlotte Braeme and Bertha
M. Clay-has every foolish within graft
fed, and in fact, l don't see how she
stands it."
''Dld she have any property"
''Not cent. 1t was an out-and-out
love match. She has expensive tastes,
is INDECENT and extravaganza Why, his
carriage hire is big item of itself.
She couldn't possibly walk block,
you know"
perhaps she is really sufferer"
Nonsense; she had that fall, you
remember, at the skating-rink. At
first her spine was thought to be Sc
riously injured. Woodford paid out
several hundred dollars to have her
cured, and the doctors discharged her,
well, they said. But it has pleased her
to drag around, load on his hands.
ever since. 1t is thought that he is
much crippled financially; 1 know
positively that he has lately mortgaged
his interest in the firm. If he can't
manage to make or save five thousand
dollars by the end of this year. it is all
up with him; and he will never do it
at his present rate of living"
why doesn't he tell herP Has she
no sense or feeling at alp"
''None. except for herself; and he is
SO fond of her that he will indulge her
to his very last cent
Il thought he looked a little down
as he passed us this morning"
''Yes, he is beginning to realize that
he has gone too far, and. poor fellow,
it is Juggling at him hard"
Did she hear arightP Was it of her,
Eleanor Woodford, that they were
talking? Swiftly she sped out of the
dark, heavily curtained back parlor of
the stylish clearinghouse and into her
room, gorgeous alcove apartment on
the first floor. She could not mount
the stairs on account of her weak
spine. Weak spinep She forgot all
about it as she paced the floor. angry
tears gushing from her large brown
eyes. 1t was shameful-it was wicked
TO be so abused. She had never in
her whole petted life been found fault
with. AS to money, what did she
know about itP Her father, before his
failure and death, had always gratified
her. Her husband had never made
any difference. These were friends of
his. Her bitter sobs ceased, and her
wounded vanity gradually lost itself in
better thoughts. Did all the world
think of her like the scathing criti-
cisms of those two chance callers, who
thus killed the time of waiting for
some one to come down to them? She
began to feel glad that she had over
head it. The merest accident had
sent her into the back parlor. Was it
trueP What could she do? Her dear,
kind husband in trouble and she the
cause. Oh. she must help him some
how. Long she sat buried in thought,
and when the well-known step sounded
ut the door her face was radiant with
q new resolve.
He came to her large easy chair with
step somewhat weary. but his kiss
was as usual. ''All right, Nellie. Had
q good day? Why, you look-let me
see-how do you look?" he said, cheer
lily.
Il look as if love my big boy very
much; don't Ip" she responded, mer-
rily.
His answer was another kiss, and "a
he turned towards his dressing closet
her heart ached with unspokeu ten
derness. Her dinner was brought nm
She was not considered strong enough
to sit at table For this service an ex-
ira charge was made.
Later, when he opened the evening
paper. she sat and watched him.
Surely those lines of care were new
now that he was not smiling fondly
upon her. Oh. foolish, selfish wife!
Rising gently. her long. handsome
teargown trailing behind her. she
stood beside him. one slender white
hand upon his shoulder. Then play
fully putting by the paper, she sat
down upon his knee.
well. dear, what now? Another
new gown" he asked, with his old
sweet smile.
She pressed her lips in u slow, rev.
erantlal fashion upon the broad white
brow, another pang at her heart.
Then she spoke:
Mot this time. Harry. dear, let's
60 to Mrs. Wickham's to board"
MRS Wickham's!' he echoed; why,
you wouldn't stay in her dull little
place week." But even as he spoke
there flashed through his mind. in
rapid calculation: Twenty dollars q
week there; forty. here; eighty dollars
month saved; nearly thousand dol
lars year."
''Don't you like it herep' were his
next words. as he glanced around the