The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-11-27
My Friend Percy,


brac line added Al the last moment, had
so overhalanced our account that I felt
it Imperative 10 make up a better check
than usual that week on the daily paper
upon which I cared my daily bread
So 1 was hard at work
But my wife had been hard at work,
too She had been 10 Paul Jones sale
Il was remnant day"-and she had got
d few little things which dear baby alb
soiutely had 70 have. besides few more
quite Indispensable tribes for herself-all
OF them dirt cheap" She had been forced
TO confess. however. that the week
housekeeping money had been severely
encroached upon, and / am afraid 1 was
not enthusiastic over the Jones sale
In fact. I took some credit % myself
for my silence both over the interruption
and over the ACCESSIBILITY OF the purchas-
es; did not even endeavor 10 stop her
when she had quickly gathered UP all her
little soft parcels and han deprived me
OF her presence.
Instead Of chasing the passing cloud
from her sweet eyes-as I knew how fC
dol had even heaved a sigh of relief
as the door slammed after her. But.
there, the bills were hanging over my
head. and / had written one psragra pm
So L was hard a work. and within 81 ht
OF the end al last. when d voice on the
stairs, shouting. Il know my way" made
me swear a gentle oath under my breath
before the door opened and one Percy
Falmouth stood before me.
He was college friend-one of those
who always prevent one from working.
but TO whom one IS never able 20 say
nay
! smiled sickly smile OF welcome and
pushed the cigarettes toward him. bue
even as l did so l forgot his o1ense in
sudden alarm al his appearance.
His face, that was won't 10 be fresh.
was salow and gray. and his eve that
was always merry, was dull and down
cast.
What's the matter, old man?" said I.
You're down on your luck"
II took him some time TO bring the
trouble out, even TO me. But az last
he managed it. He was in love.
is that alp cried !. cheerily. We'll,
don't be alarmed. ] assure you. when
you have got over the beginning II isn't
bad at all"
1t isn't that" said my friend, after a
pause.
Isn't what?" I asked.
1T isn't that I mind being in love" he
explained, but how am I to keep !
wife?"
My chair spun round again OF itself
"Your" l cried, almost fercely. why,
haven't you got $3.50 a year os your
own?' and a vision of the weekly books
and the monthly bills swan before my
eyes and made me run my fingers wildly
through my hair. You're a nice one 10
talk!'
Percy smiled sarcastically.
Two thousand five hundred dollars
echoed he. why. it wouldn't keep her
in frilled underwear and shot silk petit
ccats!"
1 looked grave instantly. 20" I muir
And it wouldn't keep any OF them"
said my friend rising and throwing his
cigarette away as he warmed 10 his sub
ject. And one wouldn't wish that il
should. What man cares to see his wife
looking like a trump, and dowdier than
other women? And Il isn't only the
it's the house. and the furniture.
and the servants. and everything. Dingi-
their carpets with washing drugget now,
or let their wives go about in llnsey-
wolsey gowns and dust the knick knacks,
or give their friends herring and mutton
chops for dinner. Ca ne Sc fat plus. and
you know it."
I sighed. Yes, I did know it-more or
less.
IF were to marry on 8, 800 a year"
continued Percy emphatically. Il should
be in debt in two months. and my wife
and 1 would have quarreled forever
Why didn't 1 smile? / had been married
more than two months. and. though l
had certainly been IN debt most Of the
time, my wife and 1 had not guarded
yet
But a vision of pouting mouth and tear
dimmed blue eyes rose uncomfOrtably be-
fore me: instead of smiling it was I now
who sighed.
Perhaps my wife had not brought home
small. soft parcels enough from Jones
sale instead of-as l had meanly supposed
that morning-toO many
But a man can work" said I. as brave I
IS as 1 could, drawing my papers toward /
me.
Work. echoed Percy. bitterly. That's (
all very well IL you've got brains. 7 have /.
no qualifications for earning money. and +
owe in cottage isn't good enough nova +
lays"
Somehow this speech restored me 20 my 1
balance.
He smoked another cigarette. and then I
he took up his hat, and breathed sigh /
II relief.
IT'S a devil OF a mess for a fellow 70 .
,e in" he said gloomRy.
yes" said I. I'm afraid you'n have .
o find a wife who can work on her own 4
account There are a good many OF them 4
about nowadays"
He looked at me douotfully. 30. hate +
hat sort" ne said. a girl with money .
PETER. but that won't help me just now,
so I supposed " said I. And Jet him
,ut. 7 had sworn al his entrance, but be /
lad brought me luck.
The words literally few from my pen
when I sat down again; there vas some
hing squirting me on-there was goal
2 iGht that I knew or.
And when I had put my name 10 the
asr sheet ard was free ] sought g.
Upstairs iu The nursery my wife sat
,eside the cradle. she had our child IN
,er arms and was iulling him 90 sleep.
Ter ewes shone as she looked Up a. ne,
Ter face was fresh and she was as dainty
i any man could wish in a plain. white
rock-ready 20 welcome me so dinner az
ar rnv work. As I bent down 20 kiss her
said gayly: I've made up a splendid
week. daring. so you needn't worry about
ne purchase
And SIZE laughed, saving There weren
n many. after aH YOU know only few
o'lars- worth But I shouldn't have in-
errur-ed you while you were making
hem.
And then we went together % ~ dainty
neal Of her frugal ordering. and ] vas
o-ry that Rad rot been able % explain
o Percy what &c vas th4t ulede .l good
1ouga. Exchange.
American Machinery in Lsej-
Al irnrersa cycle factory g beng con-
.,etsd az Leeds Big hy the forkshore
-o-r-v Cycle company. Limited. v1icl
-ni BE- ore - r1e largest Ga The Kingdom
re premises Vii have a frontage ~ 80
re.r.- -~.zrs1 r ErrrrarE .