The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-03-23

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| 80 JOHN, I'VE SUCH A SPLENDID IDEA! J"
John pulled off his rubbers, expecting Of
course the whole story would be forthcom
ing without effort on his part. But Maria
who sat rocking in her little willow sewing
chair, did not proceed, and the only sound
in the room was the ticking of the two dol.
lar clock John had given her for Christ
| mas present.
"An idea, eh!" John repeated, wiping the
moisture out of his blonde mustache and
standing over the register.
"Yes, it came TO me all in twinkling."
"Something in the tidy lne!"
'No it's something about saving money
You'd never guess if you should try thou
sand years"
| Then hadn't better try" said John, not
as piqued as she could wish.
tIf you don't caro- to know" she ven
tured.
80, but / do" he averred. ''Tm IA
nous dullard at guessing, though, you
know"
She had risen now and taken hold of one
of the buttons of his coat. 1t was her habit
in her thoughtful moods to travel up these
buttons, one by one, slowly, with minute
examination, until she had reached the top,
when their eyes were sure to meet, and she
to laugh and call him gooselet or grizzly,
as his and her mood CHANGED to be.
"Well," she bcgan-"but you wont say
it's just like woman, will you!"
81 hope it is just like woman, for then
it's sure to be very sweet"
"Fol-de.rol, John, Pm too old for that
kind of flattery."
"what diplomatist you are though! you
reveal by concealing You show so much
hapin In yOn' hpap n
ming in debt"
She ignored this suggestion.
"John, it's just the beginning of the year.
Now what do people do the first of the
year,"
"Swear off," John ventured timidly.
"Nonsense, don't mean cigars"
"Upon my sacred word l haven't touched
my pipe"
0Nor pipe, neitherl It's about my own
expenses. I'm planning to save in little
things-the dimes and nickles, you know"
.sMaria, wish were a Mormon and that
YOU had dozen sisters. There's such good
material in your family for wives. Go ahead,
though"
''There's only one way to do it, and that
is to keep account of every penny"
'Good heavens, journalW
mo: lust an account Pm going to set
down every cent spend, and add it all up
at the end of the year and sec how much it
is"
John laughed. Maria had not heard such
a roar from him since before they became
economical.
'It's always so, John Skipping" she CRIED
abandoning the buttons and going over to
the plant that stood by the window, and
pinching dead tip from one of the long
green leaves.
John tried to smother his amusement.
"What is always sol' he said, 'house
plants2 Are the cat-tails almost ripei" 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
comng Rising followed by falling bar
ometerw
"John Skipping, you're enough to pro-
woke a saint" she half sobbed.
81 have done so already" he said ten
derly. "Come, / will be serious. You were
speaking about accounts. Let's 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, am SO
much in earnest"
$50 am I.-so am l."
81 will begin this very day if you will
show me how. / ought TO have blank
book, oughtn't II"
IA bank book? wish to heaven you had"
"No, blank book. Come, you rule it and
fix it for me-"
John gave her little memorandum book
from his own pocket, tried to instruct her
in double entry which she could not in the
-. 81. sl.nN Inc.
the subject was dismissed.
AT the end of the month John found him
self in increasing perI.exity which his wife
did not comprehend.
sits dreadful times in business Maria" {"
he said gloomily
"John," she said with trembling voice,
"You're not going to fail, are youi"
John hid grim smile with sudden
twirl of his mustache.
'Better men than are going to the 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 II at her from cata-
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 newspapers
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 mo.
1t is my duty as your wife TO cheer you and
help you. Have you lost money, John"
'Not-much," another fierce twirl OF the
nlustache being necessary TO cover his
sense of the ludicrousness of her question.
Not much Maria but you know upon
young man whose only capital Is his brain
period of such financial depression as this
crowds pretty hard"
swell, John, there's one comfort,
don't spend any money. For whole month
haven't spent thing-only little car
fare, perhaps--and some-trifies."
"By the way my dear, how does the ac-
Count book come onl Let's have look at 1t. !"
"All right, John. set down every thing.
I'll got it," rising with alacrity. "Of course,
haven't added it up yet"
"H'm'ml" murmured John, as he cast his
eyes over the pages. She stood at the back
OF his chair, looking down over his shoulder.
The first entry was ''car fare, ten cents 4"
the next, doctors bill, $780," john read
them aloud
10, don't think that DOCTORS bill ought