The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-06-03
.Tom, will you prove it if I'll think of

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''Oh, no /! That would spoil everything
Promise me you won't ever try to replace
my money!"
"Well, | promise, said Mr.. Delameter,
laughing at her earnestness.
Then he looked thoughtful for several
minutes.
''How long must the experiment last to
convince you ?"
"Well, think month would do, don't
you?'
II think it would" he answered dryly.
Mr.. Delameter forgot his agreement till,
just as he was being paid off the next day,
and then, being man of his word, he
stopped on the way home and emptied his
pockets into the Golfers of the bank, carry
ing away with him solitary nickel, which
he had overlooked in the pocket where he
carried his car fares. Then the whole af-
fair slipped from his mind.
The next morning he parted with the
nickel to the car conductor with cheerful
Inconsistencies and realized not that he
was penniless.
He was opening his lunchbox at noon,
when, as luck would have it, there sud
denly appeared before him friend of his
boyhood days who had grown rich and
aristocratic in the years since they had
met Mr.. Delameter, in an exuberance
of hospitality, Immediately conducted him
to the highest priced restaurant in the vi
cinity, ordered dinner in keeping with
the place, leisurely discussed it with his
friend, and at its close complacently drew
forth and opened his pocketbook. His
feelings at that interesting moment may
be better imagined than described, as the
novelists say.
That night he was glum all supper time
and afterward buried himself in the day
befores newspaper till bedtime. When
morning came he fingered about after
breakfast was over with no ostensible rea-
son, at last made feint at starting and
then came came back again.
'Oh, by the way" he said, with fine
air of carelessness, 81 had to borrow some
money yesterday
GLOW much p asked his better half,
with little blush.
Give dollars
"What for?" trembled on Mrs. Della
meters lips, but she did not say it. She
simply handed him the exact sum.
II guess you'd better let ME have lit
tie for car fares while you're about it."
A ten-cent piece was carefully selected
and laid in his palm.
Mr.. Delameter did not forget his strait
ened condition that day. He remembered
it, of course, when he sent the bill to his
friend. He felt it when he passed fruit
stand on which were displayed some par
ticularly fine oranges. 1t was called to
his attention when the little lame boy with
candy made his usual round of the Office.
1t was painfully presented to his mind
when man with a subscription paper,
whereon figured the name of Delameter,
came to collect the money subscribed, and
the lack was keenly appreciated when he
had to forego buying his usual evening
paper.
The third day he braced up, and with
reluctance he was wholly unable to con-
ceal requested the means wherewith to
buy pair of light trousers. He secretly
decided to go without the necktie and
socks he had intended getting at the same
time till another month, and as the gar
ment was of cheaper quality than he had
originally thought of having he had
enough money to carry him through the
day.
The fourth day was Sunday. Mr.. Della
meter thought of the contribution box and
decided he wouldn't attend church His
head ached he said.
The fifth day the grocer called at the
Office for his pay, and Mr.. Delameter
mumbling something about 'pocketbook
in other pants" sent him to the house,
though in former days he had pooh
poohed the idea of that being the more
convenient way and had decreed that the
grocer should come to the Office for bis
money.
The sixth day Mrs Delameter, with np-
looked for generosity, gave him 30 cents
when he asked for car fare, and on the
strength of this he hailed man with
strawberries on his way home at night,
bought two bpyes and found he was six
cents short.
The seventh day Mr.. Delameter real
lied that the experiment wasn't working
quite in the way he meant it should, so he
pulled himself together and boldly asked
for SO bill.
@what for p queried his wife, asthOugh
with an effort.
"I-well, want to get pair of boots.
"Men's boots come high, don't they ?"
faltered Mrs. Delameter, with an artificial
smile as she opened her pocketbook.
'sOh the boots won't be more than 81
probably, but guess | can make away
with the rest"
Mrs. Delameter hesitated, blushed, bit
her lip, then slowly handed ont two s2
bills and silver half dollar.
'I guess that will do you this time,
she murmured, with downcast eyes