Griggs courier., 1893-06-23
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A VICTIM OF BARGAINS.
The Story OF q Man With an Eco
nomical Wife.

The Story OF q Man With an Eco
nomical Wife.
A short time ago met man whom
had known for years as . prosperous
attorney, healthy and happy, not at all
wealthy, but reputed to be wise. It
was near the first anniversary of his
wedding. had been away from tho
city for a long time, and I had hardly
seen him since helped'to install him in
. pretty uptown fat which he evident
~ regarded, in prospect, rs little pri-
vate paradise. I was startled to see
the changes which married life had
wrought in him. He had . haggard,
tired expression, he was shabbily
dressed, and he was so thin that might
almost have suspected him of being ILL
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 q
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 .
trifle thinner. "Grip?" 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.
y "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
Nspread a luncheon before us and snil-
ingly taken his dismissal-and lib
eral tip. It was light luncheon, for
had had a 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, un-
til the luncheon was almost finished;
then he broached the subject of his own
affairs.
"You WONDER" he said, looking out
Of the window and drumming ON the
table with his fngers-''you wonder at
my changed appearance. 1t must seem
striking to you, who left me SO we'll
and SO happy year ago. Perhaps you
will wonder still more when I tell you
that have not been sick. No, have
not known days sickness since saw
you last"
He paused, and I sat silently waiting
for him to resume. Presently he said,
beginning slowly and very deliberately:
Il am victim 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 sales! You would hardly be-
1ieve it, old man, but they have brought
me to whatl 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 cranks soon-the
bargain counter crank. l cannot be-
lieve that Anita is the first of the
species. Thousands Of other homes, I
ara sure, conceal skeleton like mine.
But the possibilities of the mania's
growth are limitless.
, '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-
sity. 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 lull in
her work, and have thought her rather
idle, purposeless young woman. sup
pose she, too, is victim of the habit.
Poor thing!
VI VIC AIoU C"O AAoAtllS d1 CcT our
marriage Anita and I were travelling,
and nothing could exceed our happiness.
4 tried to make her contented in every
way; and she was so pleased with every
thing she saw and SO grateful for all
that did for her comfort!
ut had always been my theory that
a mans wife should know no more
about business matters than is neces-
sary to maintain 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
81 smiled and kissed her. THAT must
never worry your little head, replied.
'The housekeeper will look after all the
expenses of our little home, and what
arver you want for yourself you must
buy and have the bill sent to me-
4 shall not be extravagant,' she re-
Piled, kissing me. 4 am o poor mans
daughter vou know Poor little