The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-08-24

several easy cheirs gave an air of home
comfort, as delightful as it was novel
just what John Weston would have
said had his wife been alone it is i'm
possible to say. But being in some
what wholesome awe of his uncle. who
was bachelor and wealthy, he only
inquired:
What in the devil does all this tom
foolery mean, Alice?"
simply that 1 have reiuvested nv
half OF the bank Stock" she replied,
quietly.
''Iou don't mean to say that You
have dared to touch that money in the
bank" he roared. Its mine, every
cent of it l will not have it touched.
You could not get it without me. and if
anyone" darting an angry look at his
uncle, has been fool enough to lend
you money on the strength of it, I'll
See them hanged before I'll pay it
For ten minutes he ragged like wild
animal; then Alice spoke quietly yet in
a tone that calned even his anger
stop, John; now you must listen to
me Seventeen years ago, when we
were married, you had less than one
hundred dollars My father bought
this place, stocked IL and furnished
money for improvements. When he
died allowed you To do exactly as you
pleased with everything. You have
bought and sold to suit yourself. Your
stock nave been well sheltered, while
your family have lived in a hoveL
A nything to aid you in outdoor labor
has been freely purchased, and at the
same time simple necessities of life
have been denied us But this is a
thing of the past Henceforth matters
will rest on Il more equitable basis. and
we will live in accordance with our
means
There was ten thousand five hun.
dred dollars in the bank at B
drew five thousand five hundred dollars
of it You have over five hundred
from this years sale of produce and
the remaining five thousand dollars |
lay no claim to. Thus we start even
| work quite as hard as yourself, yet |
ask no division of given receipts. You
can go on just as you have and no one
will question your management. bnt
one-half of all the net proceeds must be
deposited to my order"
You don't mean to say that Won
have squandered five thousand dollars
since l have gomez he exclaimed,
angrily.
Il have squandered nothing. l have
properly expended some twenty-five
hundred. The house cost two Thousand
dollars, the furniture about five hun
dred more. The other three Thousand
/ have intact"
And you have got the money and
spent it?''
Il have got it and have spent por-
tion of it -
You signed my name to the Order?'
Il did
And if l refuse to let the matter
rest SO. and have you arrested for
forgery"
smile curled her lip for n moment.
Then in such an event, which / do
not anticipate, | should be forced to
have you arrested for attem pied fraud,
and let the farm to "a tenant who will
justly divide the profits"
The last was certainly a master
stroke, for he made no reply, and the
girl announcing supper, the subject
was not renewed
In the evening, how ever, when John
and his uncle went to the barn, John
asked him if he had set the thing go
ing.
Not at ALL" he returned, though
do not blame Alice Look at your fine
y
in the bank and it has all come through
her. Now let me advise you. Accept
the situation gracefully; Alice has
counted the cost carefully, and she
will never yield her position. And yet,
John, you have brought 1t upon your
self If you had treated her little
more Justly she would never have at
tempted this"
NO by Jove! l did not think she
had SD much grit I've lived with her
seventeen years, and | never heard her
scold until tonight"
Rather mild scolding that, think "
well. a pretty thorough overhaul
ing, then" John said. with faint at
.cmpt at a laugh. But. really" he
added, This places me in 4 bad fix
have bought the Allston estate, and
there are oil wells on 1t that make II a
big bargain | was To give ten thou
sand for the place, including tools and
stock This thing knocks my calcula-
ton endwise, for, as this place really
belongs to Alice, | cannot mortgage 1T,
and if the sale Is not completed 10y
Monday the whole thing falls through
.'You intended taking deed of this
place yourself?'
'.Of course" he answered, readily.
then had the grace to color as he caught
the twinkle in his unclc's eye.
You have said nothing to Alice about
it?"
NO: to tell the truth, | did not con-
slider il was any of her affairs i never
looked at things just as have tonight,
and did not think she would dare as
sert her rights. In fact. | think 1 had
forgotten she had any"
''She has dared, however, and honor
her for it Now, John. Tlstell you
what I'll do. IL you and Alice will take
a Joint deed of the Allston place I'll
lend her the two thousand dollars re-
quired and she can pay me when con-
venient Bu. 1t must he joint deed,
understand
Alice was delighted with the arrange
ment, and though surprised at finding
such smooth sailing felt duly grateful
to Johns uncle for his timely aid, and
found no future difficulty in maintain
ing the tInd she had taken.
As for John, he had always enter
tained an exalted opinion of John Wes-
ton, but from that night he entertained
a wholesome respect for John Weston S
fe-Chicago Journal
PROVERBS.
No reformation enters by the back