The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1889-05-11

bedroom carpet" she remarked, insinua
tingly, 'dont you think we could afforc
new set of furniture?'
"No, l DON'T" l returned, savaRelv
whereupon she burst into tears and called
me heartless monster. To pacify her
had to promise the furniture, together
with new silk and sealskin, that the
mistress of the house might be as fine as
her dwelling.
ut does seem a shame" she said, q
few days afterward, "to spend SO much
money on this house. That's very hand.
some and expensive paper that we looked
at, and to substitute an archway for the
folding doors will cost something"-this
was the first that l heard of the arch.
way-"and then those lovely carpets cut
up to fit these small rooms, toor'
Eyes, it is shame" replied, hardly
crediting my senses. Not all had been
lost, although much had been in danger.
81 am so glad that you think so." re-
turned my wife, briskly; II was sure
that you would agree with me that il
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 a 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:
My dear, don't know where in the
world ! could get the money to buy a
larger and better house, any house at all
in fact"
"You could sell this" she replied. moth
ing daunted.
But If real estate is drug on the
market do not want to sell, retorted,
thinking cunningly to turn her own
weapon upon herself.
There are those shares of stock then"
"But that stock is going up daily; If
| wait six months can get double what
1t 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
larger and better house."
Thereupon mentally babe a regretful
farewell to the stock and the money
which l had expected to make by hold
ing it. My wife occupied her leisure
time for the next three weeks in looking
for residence which should be in all re-
spects suitable for the furniture we were
going to buy. What she would desire
next, could not guess, unless she should
become thoroughly dissatisfied with me.
AT the end of the period mentioned !
came home one evening to find her in
tears.
"Aunt James dead" she sobbed; "the
poor old lady. died this morning. Ihave
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 comfort my wife, how
ever, and comported myself like duti-
ful nephew-in law at the mournful cere-
monies following the death.
When l returned home the day after
the funeral, my wife met me at tho door.
her face flushed, her eyes blazing.
"What do you suppose that old crank
has done?' she demanded.
"What old crankr' l inquired won
deringly.
"Why, Aunt Jane, of course"
''Pm sure don't know" returned,
mildly; "but you should remember, my
dear, that
ooh, know she's dead. She wouldn't
give her things away under any other
She's left me 500 in
cash, and that dear old silver to my sec
ond 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 flood of tears. did my
best to soothe her, but my efforts were
useless. assured her that if her cousin
sold the silver we would buy it.
81 don't want it," she declared; "I
won't have it"-very vehemently-"and
won't get q single new thing in the
house, or new dress, or that sealskin,
Or anything. 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, now"
After that l did not try to assuage her |
grief. / was afraid that consolation |
might be costly.-Good Housekeeping.