The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-02-08
cHApTER TX
A cncAoo INTERIOR.

buying so much on credit, George. 1t
Is very nice 20 have so many pretty
things about the house, but this easy
seeming installment plan may lead
into deep waters. There's the quarter
" payment on the house aud lot, the
assessments for insurance in the
Mutual company, and sixty cents n
week on the sewing Inachine-still the
books arc very elegant, and"
The speaker paused, standing with
her babe In her arms looking wistfully
Mt her husband, perfect type of m
American mechanics wife, young,
strong, healthy, handsome, and, what
would be considered in other countries.
educated utterly beyond her sphere.
The interior OF the room was worthy
of the pen of Willde. Humbly,
though cozily furnished, the floor
covered with substantial rag carpet,
the walls adorned with pretty chromos,
huge Connecticut clock ticking
merrily in the corner, cheerful wood
stove radiating warmth and light from
its glowing micas, and beyond, through
half-opened door, peep at an apart
ment of more ambitious nature--the
parlor, only 60 be used on state oc-
casions. But the browning figure Of
this homelilxc scene was the young
mechanic, George Harland, as he sat at
table with his three-year-old boy on
his knee. He looked at his wife as she
spoke, and a merry CLEAN lit his honest
brown eyes.
"Why, Nell, what freak of prudence
has bitten you now9 II master ship
wright. earning four dollars "a day aud
doesn't spend cent In drink, has cause
TO be scared at getting into book
agents debt few weekly installments,
why"
But, George, you might take sick,
and"
"Pigs might fly. Pshaw, girl, there's
not much of the interesting invalid
about me; now, is thcrep Then, there's
that prize-paclket ledger upstairs,
whom You seduced into paying a dol
lar and a half week for his room"
"ch, yes, he's very nice, isn't he? But
| fear he's out of work, and, though he's
such perfect gentleman, i don't think
we can rely on his stopping with us for
long"
George laughed with enjoyment at
his wife's forcbodings; II was rather
too good joke TO think that Chicago
shipwright Ia full pay couldn't afford
TO indulge in the purchase OF n picture
book
You are incorrigible, George" the
wife said with laughing lips. Then n
little seriously: us IL likely to be n
busy season at the dry-doclx?"
"You bet Why. Moore & Marston
have moro orders on hand than they
can ever I'll. The Red Star company
has the lines laid fer n hundred thou
sand dollar passenger boat. Burroughs
& Watts have given orders for two
first-class tugs and there are six bargcs
know viii be turned out Of our yard
this summer."
"Times should be good. George"
Never BETTER"
At that moment tho front door opened
and n young woman entercd-a tall.
shapely girl. with good features, and
fair hair lying on her forehead like a
cloud OF fcathery glory; vet, there was
n shadow OF unhealth In the ilnwless
transparency Of her complexion, and
her step lacked the lithencss and ac-
tivity of buoyant youth.
Alice Palmer's lines had not been cast
Ia pleasant places, except so far na she
was enabled 20 board with her sister,
Mrs. Hnrland. She ''clcrlxed" In a great
dollar bazaar kept by Hebrew mer-
chant. who cared nothing for the help
less girls who sold his glittcring wares,
knowing well that when ono broke
down-as, poor things. they were often
In the habit cfdoing-there were a score
20 take her place.
"You look tired tonight, Ally" the
mechanic said anxiously, as tho girl
took her place at tho table.
"Tiredl" she replied, II am clean
worn out. A big country excursion
came 10 tho city to-day. and the store
] was over-run. You'd be tired too.