The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-10-11
A FINANCIER'S WIFE.

mIHs AuOlpllc hO1lilntT 1hu Hluut
mp her mind that if was her duty tC
become II sacrifice. If there was one
thing that this worthy woman pridcd
herself on il was her mind, and when.
ever that organ reached II decision il
clung to it with tenncity worthy OF
almost any cause. Mrs Mortimer
will power never slipped it's trolley.
She had decided in this instance, to
cast herself rs an Offering on the ntni
of her husbands higher welfare. She
had watched him grow morbid, self
absorbed, restless; and, nftera tedious
but, on the whole, satisfactory process
of ratiocination, she had reached the
conclusion that it was incumbent upon
her, as his better half, to revive him,
to enliven his dropping spirits by the
refreshing waters of her own mental
ity.
Having established herself firmly
upon this proposition she east about
her for some effective method whereby
she could bring the old sparkle back
to his eye, the color to his wan cheeks,
the smoothness to his wrinkled brow.
"He is very silent at meals, she re-
fected. 'He reads his newspapers
and letters in a fidgety. despondent
way he goes out enrly in the evening
and remains late ut his club. Then,
again, seem to bore him. That is
very strange. He used to take SO much
interest in all my affairs. Now what
can he find at the club that he cannot
have at home? set out to give him
all the comforts of n club. How have
1 failed? Perhaps my conversa-
ton bores him. ALI, that's it, Ny
range of topics is too narrow. /
really must pay more attention to
the current news Poor Johnl When
uio hiihu is iuii VI busiHCSS cares L
bother him with my chatter about
books and thenters nd-and-things
What he needs is home where he can
get in small doses the mental tonic he
finds on the exchange and at his
club. I'll read the newspapers every
day and surprise the poor fellow with
my wisdom The idea of my talking
about bonnets when he is thinking
only of bulls and bears. Its alb
surd I"
Mrs. Mortimer began her expert
ment that evening Mt dinner They
had eaten their soup in silence and the
anxious wife had been nerving herself
for the conversational plunge that she
had determined to make for the sake
of her poor, dear boy. Finally she
asked:
"How wns the market today,
Adolphe?"
The broker looked at his wife
sharply,
"What market? Jefferson? Wash
ington? What do you mean, Gene
vieve?"
"The stock market, dear. Was il
easy2"
Easy as n sum in fractions" he an
swered, GROSSLY, helping himself to the
fish and relapsing into moody
silence.
"Vulgar fractions" she was tempted
to retort, but stayed her tongue in
time. After a while she made another
attempt to rebuild his shattered con-
stitution.
"How was the bank statement to-
day, my dear?"
"Whose?" he asked nervously.
"Why, anybody's - everybody's.
You know what / mean, darling. Are
things looking up?" Her voice trem-
bled slightly. but she smiled sweetly.
He glanced at her questioningly, but
remained silent.
She was growing discouraged, but,
~ have said before, Mrs. Adolphe
Mortimer had will of iron and re.
fused to give up the fight. 1t was
something gained, at all events, to
cause even CLEAN of surprise in her
husbands weary eyes.
"Are you long or short, Adolpheg'
she ventured at last.
"Of what?"