The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-08-03

well, of course, that IS done with:
but you were asking me to invest four
dollars more; that is what was talk
ing about"
well, what am I to tell her when
she comes tomorrow? / can't tell her
that you won't have anything to do
with it: she'll think you are dreadfully
mean"
Il don't know that care very much
for her opinion, seeing that don't
know who she is or anything about her
mot even her name"
'.Bnt think you are mean not to do
what promised you would" retorted
my wife, with even more emphasis than
usual, although she generally lays spe-
cial stress on about every third word
Without another effort at resistance.
pulled out my pocketbook and count
ed out the four dollars
That settles the business, my dear"
I said, summoning all my gallantry to
the rescue; Il would not for four mil
lion dollars forfeit your good opinion.
But do you know anything about this
horse? Since there is one chance in
twenty that we may own him. l should
like to know the particulars"
Hes a bright bay. she said" my
wife replied, when she had duly ac-
kuow1edged this concession to her
wishes; '.and he's sixteen and half
hands high-that's pretty big horse,
isn't it?"
Every high" I rejoined
well, she said ne was splendid
horse, and shouldn't wonder If we
could trade him off for pair of ponies
that / could drive in a phaton- Or
maybe we could trade him off for one
pony and a phaton. Which costs the
more, Harry, horse or vehicle?"
well, that depends, my dear" re-
piled, decidedly at a loss to know how
to answer such a very indefinite ques-
ton.
''Oh, well, you know what mean.
If you were going to buy me horse
and surry or phBton for my own use,
which would be the more expensive
part of the outfit?"
Il rather think that the rig would
cost more than such a horse as you
would want TO buy" l ventured.
''Ohl now you're making fun of me,
because / should be afraid to drive a
fast horse. But think that this must
be very spirited animal from the way
she described it, and so it would be best
for US to sell it or trade it off for
gentler one. Don't you think we could
afford to keep turnout, Harry, if we
get one Tor nothing?''
''Well, I've been thinking of buying
one, but l said nothing, because /
wanted to surprise you," l admitted
30, you dear fellow" she exclaimed,
hugging my arm enthusiastically: but
it Will be ever SO much nicer if it doesn't
cost anything, won't it?'
WAY, certainly" 1 returned, ''for
then you could use the money that it
would cost in charity"
''Oh, bother charity" she cried; cit
begins at home We need too many
things ourselves to give that much in
charity. Why, the parlor curtains are
one mass of holes since they came from
the cleaners yesterday. | can't possi- |
bly, mend them again"
AT intervals after that my wife re-
Cured to the subject of the horse that !
she expected to win, and he rose in her |
as the days went by. She |
was content at first with very modest |
surrey and single horse; but gradual J
ly her ideas enlarged, and she decided
to trade him for a Lore prctentious rig
and pair of horses / don't know
where her notions would have stopped,
ha 81 r-.:1 hot
at certain place, on that very even
ing, the rattle would come off. She was
wild TO go, but l vetoed that PROPOSE
ton.
Il don't know very much about the |
my dear" / said, as
firmly as could; ''but am sure that |
it is not ft place for you to go. If !
you insist upon it / viii go and see that |
it is conducted all right and bring you |
the news of the result as soon as the |
affair is over
Il am sure that where you can go"-
she began. /
You cannot always CO." ! went on. !
AS had supposed, the place indicated {
by the specified street and number was
4 saloon. entered the back room, where
the rattle was TO take place, and
" atched the proceedings closely. Dice
were used to determine the result, each
owner of ticket throwing for himself
t he were present; the person who
seemed to be master OF cereno nies act
ng as agent for those who were absent
1t was with some disgust that heard
.he names of my children called in such
place, but / conquered the feeling, or
-ather concealed IT, stepped up TO the
able and threw for each OF them The !
hrows were all low. as was my own.
low had 10 wait until my wife's num-
Der. which was ninety-nine, was called.
II came at last, bat little hope re-
NAMED Number eighty-seven had
brown ffty-two in three casts Of the
lice. and there was small chance Of
1eating that Much To nay surprise,
ny first and second casts were eight
en each; the third was sixteen. II
vas tie.
The hundredth number was called,
nd some smaller throw recorded.
Then eighty-seven and nInety-pine
eere called again, tn decide which
hould o~n the horse will not deny !
hat IL was an exciting moment II IS
rue that bad only my wife's account
y which 70 judge of the animal, bat
iad it been clotheshorse rvould hare
Wished. under such circumstances. 70
,eat the man who bzd thrown the
2 r1c asI
He. Of course, was called upon f-~&
Ie threw twelve. eight. Efteen-totai.
aiTsy-ilTe- Feeling sure that luck
soGid net thus desert ne. stepped mp