Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-07-25
JEANS HOUR OF TRIUMPH.


that is, all but Jean. She insisted that
it could, even Tough Jack ranged him.
self on the side of those who called her
scheme impracticable and foolish.
And Jack was the Young fellow, a
telegraph operator, to whom she was
to be married the next week.
When marriage was seriously dis
cussed as the end of their long court
ship, it had been suggested that they
should either live with jeans father
Jacks folks being in Connecticut-or
take couple OF pleasant furnished
rooms until they saw their way to go
to housekeeping. Then it was thlt
Jean gave the first curious proof Of
her woman's impracticability
No" she said, Il want to go TO
housekeeping as soon as we are
married.
80 do l." said Jack, but how are
we to manage it? Setting up house.
keeping means turning your rooms
into kitchen"
mo. l don't mean that sort of make
shift housekeeping" interrupted Jean.
Il mean taking a small fiat, furnishing
it, and beginning life as housekeeperS
on our own account"
Jack laughed rather uneasily.
Its all very well to talk of furnish
ing" he said, but you know very well,
Jean, l haven't any money for fur
niShing a fiat, and I'm sure you
haven't"
''Wel, l don't know about that"
said Jean. You keep what little
you've got saved UP, Jack. and add to
it as much as you can, dear. III fur
nish the fiat
'EYou?"
"Yes, sir, I. I've got 800 saved up,
and with 500 I'll furnish a fiat of
four rooms-parlor, bedroom, dining
room and kitchen-and I'll furnish it
so nicely that Well neither of us be
in it,
At this Jack burst out laughing and
thought it was sc good joke that he
told the old folks, and thav had great
sport at jeans expense.
That's all right" said Jean. u
don't read the newspaper advertise
ments and look into the store windows
and visit bargain counters for nothing
l want to tell you folks that right here
in New York you can furnish four
rooms comfortably, nicely and neatly
for $780,
Eyes" said her mother, with a 1ot
Of secondhand stuff"
NO" replied Jean. Il mean with
all new good material, and without es
pecially hunting for bargains, either
"Well. now, look here, my girl" said
her father, maybe you're right
maybe you're wrong. Certain it is
that things are wonderfully cheaI
nowadays, but $1OO-my, but that's q
small sum to do anything with in New
York. Now, see here, Jean, I'll tel
| you what I'll do. You go ahead, pick
! out your fOur-roOm fat with Jack
and then if you furnish it for 500 Sc
that it looks neither cheap nor poor
why I'll give you another hundred dol
lars, just to cultivate home talent, OF
the presentation of a receipt9d bill TO
every article in the apartment"
''Ill do it," said Jean, stoutly, land
more than that, I'll do it in three days
and / won't ask a cents worth of as
| sistance or advice from any Of you
not even Jack"
| That was on Sunday. The fiat wa!
| found by Wednesday afternoon, an(
| they saw very little of Jean for thu
next three days. She was very quie
and very tired each evening, but he
mother took charge Of her simple
| trousseau SO as to give her some rest
ing time, and on Saturday evening
when they had all sat down to tea
Jean said very quietly that she should
be very glad if they would go over
with her to Fiftieth street to see hel
house.
They saw that she was rather nerv,
ol1s, and so spoke of other things as
they walked over from Sixth avenue
When they reached the fiathouse, Jean
who knew the value of effect, asked
the janitor if he would not light up fol
her before she took her people UP
stairs, and the janitor, WHO had been
taken largely into her confidence, and
was not bit like most janitOrs, will
ingly ran ahead to attend to the
illumina ton.
1t had been a weeks hard work OF
finding and fitting for Jean, but she
was amply repaid when she saw the
look of surprise which the folks wore
when they walked into her parlor grow
into one of wonder as they passed into
the bedroom, and deepen into one OF
anazement as they saw the dining
room and kitchen.
''Well, must say it beats me- said
Jeans mother, while her father pulled
hard at his cigar and felt for the check
in his vest pocket as he walked from
room to room, and Jack gave her hug
right before them all and said he al
ways knew she was a wonder.
''Now, then, my girl" said her father,
when they had made the grand tour,
tell us how you did it ALL
SO Jean took them to the parlor, and
while the others sat Down she moved
around, pointing out each thing, show
them all around.
''Those curtains" she began, ''are, of
course, imitation Nottingham, but the
pattern is copied from the real article
and they are good enough to begin
with. The two pairs cost So, and the