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

MdTla, L am tWenty-SlX years old, anc
YOU well, il you were man you could
vote. Now don'tlct's be children any longer
We are at odds and acting foolish only be
cause am not candid with you. Don't cry
another tear, but come and sit by me-"
She went gladly TO the chair he indicated
docile always when he chose TO be serious
"You see. Maria, fellow likes TO be
thought we'll OF. He don't want TO announce
TO the world, nor TO his wife, since both con.
cede him to be young, strong, gifted, edu.
Gated, prosperous, that he failed miserably
in his boosted profession, and that he now
gets only Sl5 per week. 1t sounds anoma.
lous. 1t reflects on his capacity. It lowers
his standard. It's far pleasanter to be
thought pocketing big fees, and to be looked
upon as the possible guiding spirit in some
stupendous public scheme, isn't iti'
II suppose So"
"a fellow In college has plenty of time TO
initiate himself It's only after experience
has punctured the wind bag that It Is pos
sible to know It's true size or carrying
capacity. Since graduated the world has
heard no voice from me except that Of
escaping gas. You and the friends In
Clover-camp thought II the music of the
spheres. In Chicago they call me blow
hard It's vulgar, but it's pretty near the
truth, guess"
30, John"
"Why, Maria, l thought l was great
man. didn't deceive YOU any moro than
did myself. thought tho whole world was
waiting for me- and that ! could pick up
riches with one flexile condescension Of my
spine. had only TO stoop--so, gaily, and /
had pocket full But tho world wasn't
waiting-I had to scramble hard for my SIS
per week placc-precarious at that"
"Why didn't you tell me, Johnm
~ was my own dupe, and in my egregious
vanity / dragged along with me you, my
little winsome country sweetheart You
believed | was great mana man Of
affairs, didn't you, Maria"
~ believe yet you will be, John. am
sure you will"
81 ought to be TO justify your faith, but
never shall. am just an ordinary, COM
mon-placc fellow, we'll and hearty, and
dcucedly-yes, deucedly poor.n
"But-John-don' you practice-law."
maria, never had a client / do odd
jobs whenever can, to exc out my scant.
wages. I'm in debt, and just manage to
keep soul and body together"
1t took many minutes for Maria to adjust
herself to this confession.
"Why didn't you tell metz was all that
she could say
IL have often thought IL we had a little
home-ever so little, II would be more like
living"
20, John, that's what say, ever so little,
out on the prairie-any where, except in
this coopy, dingy little room and with those
dreadfully common people. I could econo-
mize there-I know could. You can get
such beautiful bargains In tin things, and
china is so cheap"
70, but there's no chancei ! couldn't
rent dry-goods box, much less buy one.
And If could we'd have to live in the Gran.
MES with the mice for couldn't furnish it,"
"But papa could, and he would, too. You
know he said on our wedding day, when we
were ready to live in good, sensible, old.
fashioned way he would help us. I'll write
him this very day."
And she did; and the plain old country
squire came TO the city, roamed through
the suburbs, bought a little Queen-Anue
dove.cote, and settled his bird Of daughter
and his promising but impecunious son-in-
law in It, feeling greatly relieved to know
they had home.
The furnishing made gala days for Maria,
and when they were finally established John
said
"You can keep accounts you know, Maria,
I'll add the figues for you. and what we save
now will be for the benefit Oh" this he
whispcred-"John Skipping. Jr."
CLARA DorY BATES.