The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-09-10

Tom came home one night and went
into the parlor where his wife was sit
ting in a brown study. He noticed
her abstraction and bending down
touched her forehead lightly with his
lips.
"A penny for your thoughts DEAR"
he playfully 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 her an unex-
pected visit bringing with him sheet
OF music, q song, entitled give
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 if called from dream
land, she naiyely remarked: "Indeed,
Tom, it would take more than a
penny to purchase my thoughts of
the last few minutes. | was thinking
of the many things we need this spring
to make the home comfortable and
habitable." ."..
TOMS playfulness dropped from
him suddenly, like a hat from a. re-
versed 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 a heavy
sigh. "What is it now, Jennie. Al
ways something, of course" 81
The sigh was calculated to depress,
but Jennie was so accustomed to his
lugubrious groanings, when the ques-
ton OF expenditure was broached,
that they did not affect her as seri-
ously as they once had, so without
appearing to notice his tone. she
calmly replied ~ e.. "a.
"Oh, lots OF things, Tom. In the
first place, weneed new carpets
"Carpets!" interrupted Tom drop
ping his head and giving him cursory
glance about him. Why, what ails
this? I don't see that anything
is the matter with it.
"No; you wouldn't see it, and, in
fact, nothing is the matter with this
one, excepting, OF course, that it is
dingy and unfashionable But the
bed room carpet is shockingly shabby,
and [ thought if we could put the
library carpet in there, put this one
in the library and buy a. new one for
this room it would freshen things up
wonderfully; don't you think so,
dear?"
y, o oId't gu 2a ?1y5 if you have the
"But, carpets are very cheap, Tom,
they never we're so cheap before"
certainly not. Anything is cheap
If one can afford it,"
"But what are we to do, Tom?
These carpets were all your mothers,
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 I do not feel like going to
the expense OF buying a. new carpet
this spring. was obliged to get me
an overcoat last winter that cost $40,
and really I 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 a handsome
new overcoat, refusing her some trihe
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 fresher about the collar. But
it was very selfish of him, and now
this self-same garment was brought
up as q pretext for not getting the
carpet. Really, it was too much.
She would not quarrel with him,
however, but would give him a. 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, II 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 if you think we cannot afford a
carpet we can go without: I can
live on a bare floor as long as you
can"
"Who asked you to live on a bare
foor?" retorted Tom, surprised at
his wife's sudden display of spirit. II
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 a word?" Then seeing
that his wife was snubbed he con
tinued. II was going to suggest that
you make a carpet. My mother used
to make them, and l see no reason
why you cannot do it if she could.'
The maternal element had slipped
into the conversation, as it generally
did, but Jennie listened without un-
due resentment, only remarking quiet
ly when he had finished: "Iknow what
you mean, a rag carpet, Tom, but
really it does not pay to make them
anymore"
why not? I should like to know?'
p. "'Because carpets are SO cheap you
can buy them for.what you would pay
FOR, Tho