Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-03-07

| STRIFE"
Their "dlBner of herbs' was grow
ing nearer than they thought.
Roderick one day came in from q
call on Mr.. Maclagan whose hospital
tiles they had also shared, and 81
lence, with her sweet nature and wide
power Of sympathy, had persisted that
even Mrs. Maclagan was, when you
came to know her, not so black as she
was painted, Mr. Macagan, RodericlS
allowed, was always liked and Ikea
| ble-till now She saw Immediately
that something had gone seriously
wrong.
"What Is it? Your mother"
mo, dear; not my mother this time.
She Is well and happy in England. L
may safely forget her, as she does me.
1t Is only-oh, Silence! did you ever
know what it was to owe lot of mon7
ey and not have half-penny to pay 1t
WithI At least, | don't mean we are
Mt our last half-pcnny but we-that Is,
I-have been spending II good deal
more than | ought and Maclagan has
just told me so, and-but this is child
ish-you must not heed it, darling"
said he, trying to hide his extreme
perturbation.
He leaned his head on mis- hands in
deep depression. Silence came and
knelt beside him. She was very young,
very childish. or childlike, in many
things and hitherto her husband had
treated her like Il child; an idol GER
tainly, but still child Now their
positions seemed reversed. He looked
up at her for moment, then laid his
head on her shoulder with a sigh of re-
lief,
"Oh it would be such comfort to
tell you everything"
"Do so, then"
The everything" was not very Sc.
rious, but it seemed so to him. who had
never in his life known what it was
to want anything he wished for.
81 am an idiot l know | am, to feel
so keenly the lack Of q few pounds;
but never was used to this sort Of
thing. Maclagan asked me to show him
my accounts Why, l never kept ac-
counts in all my days! My mother
allowed me so much year, or half
year spent it, and when it was done
l came to her for more. Not that was
extravaganza; she knew that-but, oh,
Silence! money seems to slip through
my fingers in the most marvellous way.
AS Maclagan told me, and could not
deny it, no more know how to make
the best of small income than if l
were a baby. Do you"
He, looked up in such a piteously
helpless fashion that she could have
smiled, had she not felt so infinitely
tender over him. But it was the ten
derncss which is born of utmost rever-
ence. Without any urging she answer
ed simply, Suppose l try" and be-
gan looking over the mass of papers
before him, and which he himself re-
garded with an expression almost of
despair. Poor fellow! he had got into
what women call "a regular middle"
like many another man who, neg
leCting despising the small economies
which result in large comforts, and
regardless of the proportion of things
and the proper balance Of expenditure,
drifts away into endless worries, anx-
ieties, sometimes into absolute ruin,
and all for want of the clear head, the
firm, careful hand, and, above all, the
Infinite power Of taking trouble, which
is essentially feminine,
ROderick watched his wife slowly
untying the Gordan knot which he,
man-like, would have liked to dash his
sword through.
"What patience you have" he said.
do throw it all aside. You must be
very tired"
"Oh, no; it is my business; l ought
to have undertaken it before. My
mother used to say it was the mans
part to earn the money, the woman's
to use it, | can, n little Mamma let
me keep house ever since l was II.
| managed all her affairs. Perhaps, if
you would let me try"
"To manage mine, and me?"
"Now little Indignantly. II am
afraid should despisc the man l man
aged But l would like to take my
fair half of the work of life. Yours is
outside mine inside, VIII that do? Is
1t bargain?'
"My love, yes
"Now"-with pretty imperiousness
-"you must give me all the money you
have, and all the bills you owe, and
tell me exactly how much you have
year. Then, take book and read. No"
passing her hand over his forehead,
which was burning hot--"go and lie
down for an hour. When you wake up
you shall find all right"
TO DE CoNTINUEDI
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How IL Came to an TntimeIv End