Western news-Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1898-1900, 1899-01-12
PERCY.

7 was at work.
We had been furnishing-my wife
and ]. We thought we had done il
cheaply, but a few charming things in
the bric-a-brac line, added at the last
moment, had SO overbaIanced our &C.
count that I felt it imperative to make
up a better check than usual that week
on the daily paper upon which l earned
my daily bread.
SO I was hard at work.
But my wife had been hard at work,
too. She had been to Paul Jones' sale
1t was remnant day"-and she had got
q few little things which dear baby alb
solutely had to have, besides a few
more quite Indispensable trifles for her
self-aH Of them dirt cheap" She had
been forced to confess, however. that
the weeks housekeeping money had
been severely encrOached upon. and
am afraid 1 was not enthusiastic over
the Jones sale.
In fact I took some credit to myself
for my silence both over the INTERRUPT
ton and over the ACCESSIBILITY of the
purchases; I did not ever endeavor to
stop her when she had quickly gather
ed up all her little soft parcels and had
deprived me Of her presence.
Instead of chasing the passing cloud
from her sweet eyes-as l knew how to
dol had even heaved a sigh of relief
as the door slammed after her. But.
there. the bills were hanging over nv
head, and I had written one para
graph!
So l was hard at work, and within
sight of the end at last, when a voice
on the stairs, shouting, Il know nv
way" made me swear a gentle oath
under my breath before the door OPEN
ed and n Percy Falmouth stood be-
fore 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.
l smiled a sickly smile of welcome
and pushed the cigarettes toward him.
but even as l did so 1 forgot his offense
In sudden alarm at his appearance.
His face, that was wont to be fresh.
was sallow and gray, and his eye, that
was always merry, was dull and down.
cast.
Whats the matter, old MANI" said
/. 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.
us that all?" cried I cheerily. "Well.
don't 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 gloom
lily, after a pause.
Isn't what?" l asked.
"It isn't that 1 mind being in love"
he explained, "but how am l to keep
wife?"
Ny chair spun around again of itself.
"You!'I cried, almost fiercely. "Why,
haven't you got $1,000 a year Of your
and a vision Of the weekly
books and the monthly bills swan be-
fore my eyes and made me run my fin
gers wildly through my hair. You're
4 nice one to talk"
Percy smiled sarcastically.
1.-TWO thousand five hundred dollars!"
echoed he. why it wouldn't keep her
n frilled underwear and short silk pet
ticoats!"
l looked grave instantly. "Ow 1 muir
"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
t should. What man cares to see his
wife looking a trump, and dowdier
han other women? And it isn't only
he clothes; it's the house, and the fur
liture, and the servants, and every
hing. Dinginess is out Of date. Peo-
lie don't cover UP their carpets with
drugget now, or let their
wives 60 about in linsey-wolsey gowns
nd dust the knick-knacks, or give