Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1891-12-19

touched her forehead lightly with his
lips.
"a penny for your thoughts dear"
he playtully remarked.
That was a characteristic speech.
as characteristic as the present he
had once made her in her girlhood
days, when, after an absence OF sew
eral months, he paid h& an unex-
pected visit bringing with him sheet
OF music, a song, entitled "Ive
Brought Thee an Ivy Leaf, Only an
Ivy Leaf" Her brother Jack had
Thought it great JOKE, but she mad
resented his levity with becoming
indignation
She was not thinking OF that now,
however, and looking up into her hus-
bands eyes, as il called from dream
land, she naiyely remarked: "Indeed,
Tom, il would take more than
penny TO purchase my thoughts of
the last few minutes. was thinking
OF the many things we need this spring
10 make the home comfortable and
| habitable."
Toms playfulness dropped from
him suddenly, like hat from re-
yersed clothes hook, as he seated him
self opposite to her, threw his head
back against the chair cushions and
/ gravely surveyed the ceiling. "Ah!"
he responded at length with heavy
sigh. What is il now. Jennie. Al
ways something, Of course"
The sigh WAS calculated 10 depress,
but Jennie was So accustomed 10 his
lngnbrious groanings, when the ques-
ton OF expenditure was preached,
that they did not affect her as seri-
ously as they once had, so without
appearing 10 notice his tone she
calmly replied:
"Oh lots of things, Tom. In the
first place, weneed new carpets"
Carpets" interrupted Tom drop
| ping Ills head aud giving him curgory
glance about him. Why, what ails
this? | don't see that anything
Is the matter with il.
No, you wouldn't see it. and. in
fact, nothing Is the matter with this
one, excepting, OF course, that il is
dimgy and untashionRble But the
bedroom carpet is shockingly shabby,
and ] thought il we could put the
library carpet ~ there, put this one
IN the library aud buy new one for
this room IL would trcshen things up
wonderfully; don't you think so,
DEAR"
Undoubtedly, il you have the
1 money TO do il
But, carpets are very cheap. Tom,
they never were SO cheap before, =
Certainly not. Anything is cheap
il one can afford II"
But what are we to do, Tom2
These carpets were all your mothers s,
and have been on the floors for years.
IN the nature Of things perishable
they are worn out. What would
you suggest will be very willing to
act on any reasonable proposal"
well, Jennie, know, OF course,
there is truth in what you say, but
for all that do not feel like going to
the expense OF buying a new carpet
this spring. was Obliged to get me
AN oyercoat last winter that cost $40,
and really haven't the money TO
spare"
The reference to the overcoat was
the most unfortunate remark Tom
could have made Just then, for Jennie
remembered, with bitter heart burn
ings, how late in February, he had
come home one day in handsome
new overcoat, refusing her some tritle
upon which she had set her heart;
and of which she was really in need.
And the new coat was exactly like the
old one For her life she could see no
difference. excepting that it was a
little iresher about the collar. But
il was very selfish of him, and now
this self-same garment was brought
up as a pretext for not getting the
carpet. Really, it was too much.
She would not quarrel with him,
however, but would give him hint
OF her opinion, which until now, she
had kept to herself.
well" she said, and there was a
suspicious tremor in her voice when
she finally spoke, ~ know you got
the overcoat, though | confess do
not think you needed it as much as
needed the cape you refused to let me
have. However, that is your affair,
and IL you think we cannot afford a
carpet we can go without. can
live on a bare floor as long as you
can.
who asked you to live on a bare
hoor?m retorted Tom, surprised at
his wife's sudden display OF spirit. 81
never knew such woman. You al
ways flash out on the slightest notice.
Why the deuce can't you give man a
chance TO say word?" Then seeing
that his wife was snubbed he con-
tinued. 81 was going to suggest that
you make carpet. My mother used
TO make them, and see no reason
why you cannot do it il she could"
The maternal element had slipped
into the conversation, as it generally
did, but Jennie listened without UNI
due resentment, only remarking quiet
~ when he had finished; 'Iknow what
you mean, n rag carpet, Tom, but
really it does not pay to make them
anymore"
''why notP / should like TO k nowP'
because carpets are so cheap you
can buy them for what you would pay
for the warp and the weaving. "
ooh. yes, the old cry, buy, buy.