Wichita eagle., 1889-02-13

SIT does seem q shame" she said, few
days afterward, "to spend so much money
on this house. That's very handsome and
expensive paper that we looked at, and to
substitute an archway for the folding doors
will cost something''-this was the first I
had heard of the archway-"and then those
lovely carpets cut up to fit these small
rooms, tool"
Eyes, it is a shame" replied, hardly
credIting my senses. Not all had been lost,
although much had been in danger.
clam so glad that you think So" returned
my wife, briskly; ~ was sure that you
would agree with me that it would be wiser
for US to find house that suits US better,
and buy right away. Real estate is cheap
now, they say-there's SO much in the
market"
She tried to put on knowing look; if she
had known half as much about that subject
as about managing me, should have felt
impressed. As it was, weakly objected:
t'My dear, don't know where in the
world Icould get the money to buy larger
and better house-any house at all, in fact"
'You could sell this" she replied, moth
ing daunted
'sBut if real estate is drug on the
market, do not want to sen, retorted,
u
upon herself.
There are those shares Of stock, then"
t'But that stock is going up daily; if /
wait SIX months, can get double what it
would bring now; or hold it, and draw big
interest on my investment"
well, what else are you going to do?
You said yourself that we must have a
larger and better house,
Y
farewell to the stock and the money which
had expected to make by holding it. My
wife occupied her leisure time for the next
three weeks in looking for residence
which should be in all respects suitable for
the furniture we were going to buy. What
she would desire next l could not guess,
unless she should become thoroughly dis
satisfied with me.
At the end of the period mentioned I
came home one evening to find her in tears.
Aunt James dead" she sohbed; "the
poor old lady died this morning. I have
Just come from her house"
As Aunt Jane had been at the point of
death for the past six months, was hardly
surprised to hear this bit of news l did
my best to CO. fort my wife, however, and
comported myself Like dutiful pephew-iE-
law at the mournful ceremonies following
the death.
When returned home the day after the
funeral, my wife met me at the door, her
face flushed, her eyes blazing.
What do you suppose that old crank has
done!" she demanded.
"What old crank!" inquired, wondering
~.
"Why, Aunt Jane, of course"
'rm sure 1 don't KNOW returned,
mildly; 'but you should remember, my
dear, that"
ooh, l know she's dead. She wouldn't
give her things away under any other cir
cumstances. She's left me hundred
dollars in cash, and that dear old silver to
my second cousin, John Scott He'll sell it,
and spend every cent on liquor and cigars
and horses, know he will.''
Then the blaze in her eyes was quenched
by food of tears. did my best to soothe
her, but my efforts were useless. Iassured
her that if her cousin sold the silver, we
would buyit. q
II don't want it," she declared; 81 won't
have livery acknowledgement won't
get single new thing in the house, or a
new dress, or that sealskin, or any thing.
I'll just stay here with things as they are,
and John Scott can keep his silver, and YOU
can keep your building association money
and stock, too. So there, nown
After that, did not try to assuage her
grief; / was afraid that consolation might
be costly.-Miriam < Davis, in Good House
keeping.