The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1899-03-16

ridiculous in it. 1t was business mat
ter with him, and he prided himself
that he had hit upon method OF satiszs
tying his avaricious instinct on the
stubborn question of expense. He-ims
parted his scheme to no one. This sVas
mot unusual He had never been known
to talk Of his affairs
Some discussion was caused in the
town store when it was noted that his
purchases were precisely double what
they had been. This started the gossips,
and it was common talk that the bache-
lor had loosened his purse strings.
Must be expectin somebody ter, visit
with him, suggested Jason Drifting
ham, a grocery store whittier.
Most likely he's lookin fer the price
of coffee and sugar to go up soon, - was
the observation of Lihu Strong, the
town wag. Il
No one guessed the truth.
One evening arneighbor dropped in
unexpectedly onrthe lone bachelor at his
home. Pike was in the kltchen.4 me-
hurried to the door at the sound of the
knock and opened it just wide enough
| to discern the identity Of the caller
The latter thought he detected embar-
rassment in Pixies manner. When he
caught an unintended glimpse of the
supper table, he was astonished beyond
measure There were two cups of coffee
and two plates, containing pork and po-
tatoes. One cup and one plate had been
partially emptied The other cup and
plate looked as if they had not been
touched. =
LOOT company he blurted out, be-
fore he thought what he was saying.
Pike had never been known to invite a
guest to supper or any other meal 81.
The bachelors face flushed a deep
crimson. For moment he appeared to
be unable to reply. Finally he suffered
out:
well no-er, yes: I'm kinder ex-
pectin some one.
His neighbor observed his confusion
and FASTENED to state the business that
prompted his visit. Pike did not ask
him, in, and he departed without OBJ
tanning further light ON the cause of
the presence of the extra cup and plate
The neighborhood now had a genuine
mystery. All sorts of vague rumors
were circulated. But the bachelor kept
his secret. ri. sst
''S'pose Brown IL tell what he seen
and folks will talk some, but nobody'l II
Eguess what it s all about he chuckIed
1t went much against the grain with
him to cook twice as much at each meal
as he would have prepared for himself
alone. But he consoled his economical
spirit by feeding what was left over to
the hogs.
"'Tain't lost, after all, he thought
The end of the month arrived He
had awaited the day with impatience
That evening he ate supper earlier than
usual He helped the extra plate and
filled the extra cup, representing the
amount he would allow wife-if he
had one-for the last time. And as he
did it he pictured to himself the brown
eyed Mabel gayly chatting with him
across the table.
When he had finished the meal, he
took the old slate on which he had done
his figuring since childhood and in a
few minutes had ascertained to a cent
the cost of the extra portion.
-Four dollars and nineteen cents.
four dollars and nineteen cents, he re-
peated to himself, over and over again.
His brows were knit. The chill OF
avarice was creeping into his heart
''And that don't include clothes. But
I reckon she'd have enough buds to dc
her for awhile >
It was the first rule of the bachelor
life to deny himself everything except
absolute necessities. For the first time
he was dangerously near deciding tt
break the law which had become almost
second nature with him. Few meI
there be indeed who would hesitate te
invest o.. 10 q month in the keep of 8
wife who supplied in ell respects Their
ideal. But Pike had courted the yellow
gold SO long that his love was not to bt
changed easily.
Three days the battle endured withiz
his breast. 1t was the most miserable
period of his existence. Even after h,
had made up his mind to seek the hand
of the witching Mabel he found himself
wondering at his own recklessness. Bul
he was man Of stern resolve. Ono,
determined, it required more than hui
man power to turn him from his course
On the morning Of the fourth day b,
finished up the work about the plac,
earlier than was his custom and hitchet
Esau to the spring wagon.
"It's purity nigh time i was buyin (
store suit, and reckon this is prope,
occasion for SIGH purchase " he solilo
quized as he mended break in tn,
mules bride with piece of Irvine.
An hour later he was examining tn
assortment of clothing in Smith gen
eral store at Hill Top. s....s-
''What sort of a suit ort 3 Teller bus
to git married in!" he asked the pro
prietor with an effort at a smile.
The storekeeper received the inauir.
as joke. The idea of Pike desiring in
formation of such a character to guild
him in the selection of q suit did no
enter his brain. .@
''Same sort you'd want if you wa
expectin to he buried. replied Smith
pants coat and vest.
Then both laughed at the homel,
witticisn.
The bachelor drew it ont Of the store
keeper without exciting suspicion tina
the young man who had participated il
the most recent marriage in the neigh
borhood had worn frock suit
II amt never had no tail coat yit, :
he remarked in a careless way. '@Be1iev
I'll just git one to surprise the neigh
bors. ss.T. I'D. W r'.~E
He found q cutaway suit that pleasee
: him in every respect except price. Four
teen dollars was more than he was &C
customed to pay. But he again con
J quered his economical disposition.
''I'n be back this way In couple O