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

'SANxkF4NN the CITY papers III
Is&pST&pIA,A was only in a local
NTIpWe1IVlJDR~ journal, however, that
WI n list of presents was
given, together with a description OF the
BRIDES toilet and the statement that she had
long been a reigning belle of the region. In
congratulatory paragraph in another
column the bridegroom's abilities were ad.
verted 10 in a complimentary manner, and
the belief expressed that, though newly ad-
nitted 10 the practice of the law, it would
Dot be long before his influence was felt
Upon the bar In their neighboring city OF
Chicago.
ave will board year, or, at most, two"
said John Skipping, land by that time,
Maria / shall be able to give you homo Of
your own"
30 they began their welded life in q fine
brown stone boarding house on CrGsh
street.
To say they were young and hopeful
would not cover the case; they were young,
eppallingly 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 Ave hundred dollars
Maria's father had given her lasted, John
went radiantly every day to his newly
rented office, had an accent of iovial pros
perity In his voice. walked with the elation
Of good digestion, and TO those about him
who were grubbin2 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
a cheap lot OF gloves or an umbrella sacri
fee was 10 be found.
But to Johns amazemont first, and grow.
ing dismay afterward, his ONCE door re-
manned unshadowed by single client. He
had moments OF secret apprehension which
came with hungry void at heart, as il all
his courage had been digested and assimila-
ted aud without new supply he should
starve TO death. How should he cor TESS to
his wife that they we're living without in
comet
Did not her friends and his friends at
home believe they were walking the high
way Of prosperity' and how should he own
that, instead, IL was poverty's brambling
path along which he staggered so hopelesslyi
At the rate he was going IL 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 10 Maria that they must be
more prompt. John resented this, and they
Indignantly changed their quarters, he TAX
Ing care IL 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 moro 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. When Marias daily routine of
dry-goods, packages and bric-a- brac came
homo he asked rather pctulantly what
under the sun she expected to do with all
that rubbish.
"Maria, think IL we ever expect to be
rich we ought to deny ourselves some things
now, and lay up O little" he said
Maria could not help the look Of reproach
which flashed over her face as she an
swered: "0f course, John, you know I'm
naturally economical. II have any thing
to buy I always 60 TO the cheap places.
Pm just as prudent as can be-"
But why buy at ALL" John groaned in
worldly; but true to his manly reserve, he
said aloud:
II know you are prudent, my love. What
mean is, can't we out OF my salary in
come, ] mean, put little in tho bank each
year, against rainy dayi We ought to-"
why, OF course wo can, John, told you
I'm perfectly willing"
ut needs something besides being will
Ing" retorted John rather holly. Cant
wc-can't We retrench q little-in some
wayln
What John called the pepper-box in
Maria's chin began to appear-a little nerv-
~ q ILL
surface OF water before a squall.
He hated tears and made haste to explain
himself.
III am not scolding you, dear love- this is
only conference. am sad dog at spend
Ing money myself, and thought maybe IL
you would grow q little penurious IL might
be some restraint upon me. You know all
men who have grown rich attribute their
success TO their wives"
Such scenes as this became frequent as
Johns creditors grew moro bold and tor
menting Poor Maria almost dreaded to sec
him come home for fear Of lecture. She
grew wary, too, and instead of having her
packages delivered when she had made any
specially hne bargains, carried them herself
80 there need be no danger of their arrival
while John was there
She wondered what had come over him.
All he thought OF was money, money. She
eascd her desperate thoughts by wishing
hrst that she had some particular talent or
accomplishment by means OF which she
could earn her own pocket money, and
second that she was a man.
John was so absorbed In his own awaken
ing TO the world and in the dubious outlook
for them both that II kept him in ignorance
OF how unhappy he made her. He was de-
celved by her volubility, and set IL down TO a
childish lack Of judgment.
She could talk, always talk, and seeing no
visible signs that his economic homlies 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.
Ono day few weeks after the first ami
versary OF their marriage a bright idea
struck Maria. At one happy blow IL cut the
knot that had so long baffied her How
strange she had not thought 81 IL beforel
20, john" she cried. rs her husband en-
tered the room an hour before dinner, I've
such splendid Ideal"
"That soin said John calmly, shaking the