Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-05-22
had sense enough to crush it down.

instead of anger. There was so much
that was good about Jonas. 1t was
terrible TO see this canker creeping
over ii all to see the pinched lines
about his mouth, the strange, anX-
ious look in his eyes.
Poor Sara remembered stories she
had read of misers; how they starved
themselves while they counted their
gold; how some OF them died in the
dark 10 save candles, and how.
through a long illness, one Of the
wealthiest Of these men refused To
have pillow bought for him, or even
a little saucepan in which TO heat his
porridge. Would Jonas grow to be
as bad as these Once or twice Of
late he had found fault with the
amount Of butter used. and moan,
over his butchers bill. But men gen
orally did something Of that sort, she
had heard and men knew nothing
about dress.
She arose softly and went out OF the
room. and brought back her bonnet
and shawl and put them on the table
before him.
Jonas. dear" she said, Il don't
want vOu to think me unreasonable;
look at these. see how shabby they
are They were nice when we were
married, but they were cheap, very
cheap-cheap things fade So | have
made everything | had, too, for two
years. did not like 10 ask. | have
not spent one penny Of your money
for clothes. You know you gave me
two pairs of gloves during our honey
moon-I have them still
What II good, careful girl, said
Jonas. caressing her dark hair, as she
came and sat on low stool beside
him.
YES, ! have been careful II is my
nature to be careful, said Sara. Few
rich mems wives would have done 30
much. Now look at these things, my
dear
Jonas looked. There came time
afterward when il seemed TO him that
the faded tint OF that shawl, its dingy
palm leaves of yellow brown, and the
bonnet had been scared into its brain.
I II nd
inglv. He knew his wife was reason
able, and that the things were, and
long had been, unfit for her to wear.
But hi. money tugged 1T his heart
strings.
Suppose you wear them one win
ter more, Sara, he said Just one.
The shawl is very thin, she said.
Il shall catch cold again, as ! did last
winter"
Poor girl" he said softly, and
looked toward the desk where hi.
cheque- book lay But the grip of the
fiend that rules miser's soul nipped
him sorely as he did so.
The momentary impulse vanished.
Beside, thought occurred to him.
They wear cloth jackets a good
deal, Sara don't they?' he said.
"Oh. they are very fashionable,
replied his wife.
Then couldn't you make one Of
that old billiard-cloth that is in the
trunk roomT' he said. My poor
mother bought it at an auction. She
meant to use it for II coverlet, but it's
very pretty green, don't you think,
Sara, and such nice material =
There is limit To a woman's pa
tence, and this suggestion measured
Sara's. She started to her feet, and
gathering up her bonnet and shawl,
walked out OF the room. After she
had gone, Jonas really looked at his
cheque book. and for at least two
minutes contemplated drawing a
large check and telling his wife he
had been teasing her But he could
not bring himself TO do it.
After a while his wife looked into
the room with her old bonnet on and
her shawl about her shoulders, and
said
Jonas. I'm going to spend the day
with my sister-in-law, but | shall be
home before dinner time
Il hope you'll enjoy yourself, my
dear, said Jonas. He saw her eyes
were heavy with weeping, and he
looked away, ashamed Of himself.
Then he betook himself 70 his Of
fec, where he ground out his money,
and during the day compromised
with himself. He would do no eI-
travagant thing, but when he went
home be would give his wife what
was necessary. And, after all, as he
said TO himself, it would have been
better to have doneit. He had grieved
her, and che was the only thing he
loved on earth.
He went home earlier than usual
that evening 10 make what amends
his soul would consent TO, and as he
walked briskly along, being light
upon his feet yet-for who ever heard
of miser growing fat?-he thought
that he never would bring tears to
those good kind eyes. Never, never
again, never again, and then-wbat
was that crowd? What had happen
ed? People were coming his way,
looking backward as they came.
Men. boys, women, little children, all
the rifr-raH that accident, or quarrel,
or an arrest will collect in the streets
and now he was in the midst Of the
throng and close to four policemen,
who. with set faces, marched in time,