The Saint Paul globe., 1899-02-26
HIS WIFE'S BARGAINS.
I was at work.

| I was at work.
| We had been furnishing my wife and I. We
thought we had done it cheaply but few
charming things in the bric-a-brac line,
acded, at the last moment, had so overbal
anced our account that I felt it imperative
to make up a better check than usual that
week on the daily paper upon which I earned
my daily bread.
| So was hard at work
But my wife had been hard at work, too.
She had been to Paul Jones' sale-it was
remnant day'-and she had got a few little
things which dear baby absolutely had to
nave, besides a few more indispensable trif1es
for herSelf-all of them dirt cheap" She
had been forced to confess, however, that the
weeks Housekeeping money had been severly
encrcached upon, and I afraid 1 was not
enthusiastic over the Jones sale.
In fact took some credit to myself for my
Silence both over the interruption and over
the advisability Of the purchases; did not
even endeavor to stop her when she had
quickly gathered up all her little soft parcels
and had deprived me of her presence.
| Instead of chasing the passing cloud from
her sweet eyes-as 1 knew how to dol had
even heaved sigh of relief as the door
slammed after her. But, there, the bills were
hanging over my head, and I had written one
paragraph!
So I was hard at work, and within sight
of the end at last when 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 a college friend-one of those who
always prevent one from working but to
whom one is never able to say nay
1 smiled sicl1ly smile of welcome and
pushed the cigarettes toward him, but even
as did so I forgot his offense in sudden
alarm at his appearance.
HIS face, that was wont to be fresh, was
salow and gray, and his eye, that was al
ways s!yy, merry, te " was dull and downcast.
! you're down on your luck"
1t took him some time to bring the trouble
out, even to me. But at last he managed it.
He was in love.
"IS that all? cried l. cheeriIv 'sWe11 don,+
be alarmed. 1 assure you when you have
got over the beginning it isn't bad at ALL
1T isn't that" said my friend gloomily,
after pause.
Isn't what?" I asked
1t isn't that 1 mind being in love-" he ex-
planned; but how am 1 to keep a wife?"
My chair spun around again of itself
| "You!" [ cried, almost fiercely "Whv
haven't you got s., 500 year of your n?''
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 nice to TALK"
Percy smiled sarcastically.
1.-TWO thousand five hundred dolars.''
echoed he. Why it wouldn't keep her in
frilled underwear and shot silk petticoats!''
| l looked grave instantly.
! '.O'' murmured.
And it wouldn't keep any of them" said
my friend, rising and throwing his cigarette
away, as he warmed to his subject "And
one wouldn't wish that it should What man
cares to see his wife looking a trump and
dowder than other women? And it isn't
only the clothes; it's the house, and the fur
niture and the servants and everything
Dinginess is out of date. People don't cover
up their carpets with washing druggit now.
or let their wives give their friends herring
and mutton chops for dinner. Ca ne Sc fait
plus, and you know it,.
| I sighed Yes, I did know it-more or less
IF I were to marry on $1,000 year. con-
tinued Percy emphatically; II should be in
debt in two months and my wife and would
have quarreled forever"
Why didn't I smile? I had been married
mere than two years, and, though 1 had
certainly been in debt most of the time, my
wife and had not quaTeled-yet:
dimmed blue eyes uncomfortably before
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 meany supposed that
morning-too many.
.sBut a man work. said l. as bravely
as l could, drawing my papers toward me.
Work." echoed Percy bitterly. That's
all very we'll if you've got brains. 1 have no
qualifications for earning money, and love in