The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-07-02
A VICTIM OF BARGAINS.
The Story Of a Man With an Eco
nOnlical Wife.


A short time ago / met man whom
had known for years as a prosperous
attorney, healthy and happy, not at all
wealthy. but reputed to be wise. 1t
was near the first anniversary OF his
wedding. / had been away from the
city for long time. and | had hardly
seen him since helped,to install him in
pretty uptown fat which he evident
~ regarded. in prospect. as little pri
vate paradise ] was startled to see
the changes which married life had
wrought in him. He had a haggard,
tired expression. he was ,shabbily
dressed and he was so thin that might
almost have suspected him of being i'll
fed Words, if they had been appro-
pirate. could not have conveyed my sor-
row; nothing could conceal the sur
prise which tried to hide under
CHEEKY salutation. / could see the pain
my expression gave him. He brought
the subject up Immediately.
Changed since you saw me last, am
not?' he said
/ admitted hesitatingly that he was
trif1e thinner Grip" l ventured TO
suggest He shook his head. We were
not twenty steps from noted restau-
rant where, in the days of his bache-
lorhood. we had often gone together.
Come into Cherbini's," he said, land
have bite of luncheon. 1t will seem
like old times.
Ten minutes later we had installed
ourselves in the private room which we
knew SO well. and our old waiter had
! spread a luncheon before us and smil-
| inglv taken his dismissal-and lib
eral tip. 1t was light luncheon, for l
had had late breakfast; and, in spite
of his hungry appearance, my friend
did not seem to have much appetite.
| He explained the dismissal of the
waiter by saying that he did not care
| to be stared at surreptltiously by one
who could not fail to notice the change
| in his appearance. Then he insisted on
/ hearing me talk about my travels. I'M
| til the luncheon was almost finished;
then he preached the subject of his own
affairs.
You wonder" he said, looking out
of the window and drumming on the
table with his fingers-'you wonder at
my changed appearance. 1t must seem
striking to you, who left me so well
and so happy year ago. Perhaps yon
will wonder still more when l tell you
that have not been sick. No, / have
not known days sickness since l saw
you last"
He paused, and sat silently waiting
for him to resume. Presently he said,
beginning slowly and very deliberately:
Il am rictim of the bargain counter
of the man who writes the insidious
advertisements which glare at you every
morning in the columns of your favorite
paper How hate the sight of their
five dollars and twenty-five cents
worth ten dollars and their less than
cost their bankrupt stocks and their
removal salesr You would hardly be-
lieve it, old man, but they have brought
me to what l am; and through the in
nocent agency of my dear little wife
There was tear in his eve, and he
stopped TO wipe it away. Then he con-
tinued:
They say that the world of cranks-
of men and women mentally unbal-
anced-is growing every day. The an
archist crank is becoming a serious
feature in the social world. We will
have new species of cranlls soon-the
bargain counter crank / cannot be-
lieve that Anita is the first OF the
species. Thousands of other homes, |
am sure, conceal a skeleton like mine.
- ;,.r
growth are limitiess.
''Its Development IN Anita began
soon after we were married. Her par
ents, as you know, were comparatively
poor people, though refined; and | sup
pose the habit of studying the adver
tisements in the daily papers to learn
where to purchase with the greatest
economy was the outgrowth of neceS-
sitv. 1t has always seemed to me a
harmless, but vain. occupation-this
study of the advertising columns. |
have seen my stenographer busy with
them at times when there was a hull in |
her work and have thought her rather
idle, purposeless young woman sup
pose she, too, is victim of the habit. /
Poor thing!
For the first two months after our |
marriage Anita and l were travelling, |
and nothing could exceed our happiness |
tried to make her contented in every !
way; and she was so pleased with every /
thing she saw and so grateful for ali /
that did tor her comfort.
cit had always been my theory that /
mans wife should know 10 more |
about business matters than is neces-
sary to maintain a feeling of confidence /
and of interest Anita came to me in /
the sweetest way. one day and said: /
Dear, you must tell me just what your
income is. so that / can know how much /
| may spend for dress and housekeep-
ing
Il smiled and kissed her That must
never worry your little head replied.
The housekeeper will look after ali the
expenses of our little home, and what
ever you want for yourself you must
buy and have the bill sent TO me
I shall not be extravagant. she re-
Piled, kissing me. lam poor mans
daughter, you know Poor little
Anita." He paused and shook his head
sadly as he repeated: Poor little
Anita"
After a moment he continued: az
know II was my fault In her own
home she had been restricted - z GER
tain allowance; she bad been compelled
10 keep the household and personal ex-
penses within a narrow limit should
have followed the same system; bet
could not bear TO thins OF holding my
wife down IN an allowance No