Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-11-07
ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS.
How Tt Bought a Pretty Cottage
Home.


elevation of her pretty brows. 81
began to think he was somehow
gifted with immortality"
Dead at last, said I. And
what do you think. Jenny? He has
left US one hundred dollarsi''
"a hundred dollars?" echoed my
wife, clasping her little hands to-
gether. tOh, Charlesi A hundred
dollarsi"
Now, all this may sound ike
two-pence-half-penny sort of affair
to some of my readers, as I am very
well aware. But as I am only
clerk on a salary of nine hundred
a year, one hundred dollars drifting,
as 1t were, out of the sky, seemed a
very neat sum to me.
Jenny and I were young people,
just beginning the world. with no
particular riches, except one apple
checked baby. Jenny did her own
work, made my shirts, and cut and
lift her own dresses. I walked to and
from business every day to save
twenty five cents omnibus fare. We
did our best to make both ends
meet-and a tight pull we found it.
So you will easily see that this hun
dred dollar bill represented consid-
cradle more to US than its mere face
vaIue.
Old Uncle Moses Manson was
mortally offended when his niece,
Jenny Clifford, chose to marry me
instead Of wizened, bespectacled
old contemporary of his own. He
had never spoken to her since, and
we naturally entertained no very ex-
allied hopes of any testamentary rec
elections on his part. And the
hundred dollar bill, therefore, pos
seSsed the charm of an agreeable
surprise into the bargain.
Charles. said Jenny, under her
breath, what shall we do with it?''
That is the question, said 1. do
you know, jenny
hesitated little here.
''Eh9" she responded. interroga-
lively. =
Every fellow in the bank, except
ma, has a gold watch. I've been
ashamed of this old silver concern
more than once. And Seymore has
a very nice secondhand one for sale
that he will let ne have for ninety
dollars if"
And turn the money into a mere
useless ornament cried Jenny, with
a strongaccent of disapprobation in
her voice. Charley, that isn't bit
like you"
well, then, what do you sug-
gest?"
Il should like to give a social
party with it, said Jenny, coaxing-
ly. Only think how often we've
been invited out since We were
married, and never have had
chance to return any of the hos
FATALITIES Of our friends. The must
clans, supper and all would come
within the hundred dollars.
"And you are absurd enough to
wish to eat and drink and dance up
d sum like that?" ] cried. ''Oh,
no, Jenny, it is out of the ques-
tion!"
ga new velvet suit for the baby?"
suggested she, pouting little at the
emphasis of my words.
Glow would it correspond with
the rest of our surroundings" I
asked, not without an accent of
bitterness. You had q great deal
better suggest a new winter suit
and overcoat for me. You never
seem to observe how shabby 1 am
getting"
Nobody notices a gentleman's
dress, said Jenny. Il can make
your overcoat look very nice with
fresh binding and new buttons; but
how l should ike a sealskin Jacket"
Jenny" said I, somewhat dis
gEsted, 81 had no idea you could be
so selfish"
She colored and turned her head.
Selfish, indeed" she cried. Il
should like to know whether you
have yet suggested anything which
was not for your special benefit and
use?"
We were both silent. l don't sup
pose either Of Us had felt so vim
dictive before since our marriage.
Clearly the hundred dollar bill had
worked no benefit as yet.
I'll tell you what" said I, ''let
Us compromise. Let Us buy new
sitting-room and stair carpet. saw
q beautiful pattern at MOody's
yesterday pearl gray with vine
Of scarlet moss ali over it-a perfect
beautyp
= don't care very much for new
carpets as long as we live on a
second floor" said Jenny. And !
you don tseem to renember, Charles,
that l have not had silk dress since