The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-03-28

'&AAXZnN>HN. the city papers, 1t
NMTSMSJEjEaAs, was only in local
NfetEg| aQgl|RW journal, however, that
wv list of presents was
given, together with description of the
brides toilet and the statement that she had
long been reigning belle of the region. In
congratulatory paragraph in another
column the bridegroom's abilities were ad.
verted to in a complimentary manner, and
the belief expressed that. though newly ad-
mitted to the practice of the law, it would
not be long before his influence was felt
upon the bar in their neighboring city of
Chicago.
I'VE will board a year, or, at most, two"
said John Skipping, land by that time,
Maria, shall be able to give you home of
your own"
So they began their welded life in fine
brown stone boarding house on Crush
street.
To say they were young and hopeful
would not cover the case; they were young,
appallingly ignorant and perfectly assured.
John faced the world with college gradu-
ate's all-conquering egotism, and Maria
lived in him.
As long as the five hundred dollars
Haria's father had given her lasted, John
went radiantly every day to his newly
rented Office, had an accent Of joval pros
perity in his voice, walked with the elation
Of good digestion, and to those about him
who were grubbing hard in the forests of
difficulty seemed always to be in Extensively
high spirits.
Maria wore her pretty country toilets,
looked out the bargain sales in the daily
papers and shopped assiduously wherever
cheap lot of gloves or an umbrella sacri.
fee was to be found.
But to Johns amazement first, and grow
ing dismay afterward, his Office door re-
NAMED unshadowed by single client. He
had moments Of secret apprehension which
came with a hungry void at heart, as if all
his courage had been digested and assimila-
ted and without a new supply he should
starve to death. How should he confess to
his wife that they were living without in
comet
Did not her friends and his friends at
homo believe they were walking the high
way of prosperity? and how should he own
that, instead. it was poverty's brambling
path along which he staggered so hopelessly?
At the rate he was going it could not be
long before he would be rent to tatters,
weary and even bleeding with scratches and
flint cuts.
At the end Of six months their landlady
began to insist upon weekly payments; she
even limited to Maria that they must be
more prompt. John resented this, and they
Indignantly changed their quarters, he TAX
ing care it should be in a less expensive es-
tablishment
The next step was the abandonment of
his office down town. After a week or two
of vagrant days he at length secured re-
pOrter's position on an evening paper,
where more money could be made than at
the law; utter collapse was averted by this
timely good fortune.
But all this while John had been growing
morose. Wien Maria's daily routine of
dry-good>, packages and brio a. brac came
home he asked rather petulantly what
under the sun she expected to do with all
that rubbish.
maria, think if we ever expect to be
rich we ought to deny ourselves some things
now, and lay up little" he said.
Maria could not help the look Of reproach
which flashed ov.r her face as she an
swered: "Of course, John, you know I'm
to buy 1 always 60 to the cheap places.
I'm just as prudent as can be-"
but why buy at ALL" John groaned in
wardly; but true to his manly reserve, he
said aloud:
Il know you are prudent, my love. What
mean is, can't we out of my salary in-
come, l mean, put little in the bank each
year, against rainy day! We ought to-"
"Why, OF course we can, John, told you
I'm perfectly willing"
ut needs something besides being will
ing" retorted John rather holly. Cant
we-can't we retrench a little-in some
way?"
What John called the pepper box in
Maria's chin began to appear-a little nerv-
GUS culver very like the wrinkles on the
surface of water before squall.
He hated tears and made haste to explain
himself.
u am not scolding you, dear love, this is
only conference. I am a sad dog at spend
ing money myself, and thought maybe if
you would grow little pcnurious it might
be some restraint upon me. You know all
men VINO have grown rich attribute their
success to their wives"
Such scenes as this became frequent as
johns creditors grew more bold and tor
--menting. Poor Maria almost dreaded to see
him come home for fear of a lecture. She
grew wary, too, and instead of having her
packages delivered when she had made any
specially fine bargains, carried them herself
so there need be no danger of their arrival
while John was there.
QUO WOuuoTou WnaG mad come over him
All he thought of was money, money, She
eased her desperate thoughts by wishing
first that she had some particular talent or
accomplishment by means Of which she
could earn her own pocket money! and
second that she was man.
John was so absorbed in his own awaken
ing to the world and in the dubious outlook
for them both that it kept him in Ignorance
of how unhappy he made her. He was de-
ceived by her volubility, and set it down to a
childish lack of Judgment.
She could talk, always talk, and seeing no
visible signs that his economic homilies had
taken root, he went on preaching and dwell
ing upon the need OF saving and self-denial
until there was scarcely any other subject
preached between them.
One day few weeks after the first ami
vcrsary of their marriage bright idea
struck Maria. At one happy blow it cut the
knot that had so long bafled her. How
strange she had not thought Of it before!
20, john" she cried. a. her husband en-.
tered the room an hour before dinner, 'sI've
such splendid idea!''
'sThat so1'' said John calmly, shaking the
snew from his hat into the coal seuttle, tax.