The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1899-02-16

had never been kno.b 10 ioviie suess
supper or coy other ms.L
The bachelors lace a ashsd dstp cfi'
son. For . monsnt be appeared 10
upsble 10 reply. fissliy bsrutssfed on
Well. 10 -cr. yes; I'm hin 'ss especsi
some one.
HIS neishbor observed bis oonfusio
and FASTENED 10 state the bnsiaess tbs
ptompt,d bis visit P,he did not ssk biz
10. and be departed viihoat obssinis
farther lish oo the csnse Of the preseoc
Of the extra cup and piss. The usishbc
hood pow bad . genuine mystery. Al
sorls Of vague ramor we're circulated
Bot the bachelor kept his secret.
s'pose Brown II tell wbss be ssso sn'
folks will talk some, bu, nobodylf sass
what i,'s oil .bou', be otnckled.
Il vent much sssinst the grain viii
him 10 cook twice - much u each ues
- be wonld have prepared for himsel
alone. Bat be consoied L.s scosouios
spirit BY feeding what Was left over 4
the hogs,
Tsin't lost. alter ell. be thought
The end OF the mootb srrived. He had
awaited the day With impstiepce' Tbs
evening be ate supper earlier than usual
He helped the extra plate and filled tb'
extra cup. representing the amount b,
would allow bis wife Ill be had one FOL
the last time Aud ~ be did II be pictuI
cd 10 himself the brown eyed Msbei gsyly
With bin across the table,
Wnsu / 6 had foished the mesl. be took
The old slate on which be bad done bis
[iauring since childhood sud 10 few min
utes had ssct risined TO = cent the cost OF
The extra portion.
Four dollars and nineteen cents, four
dollars aud min teen cents. he repeated to
himself, over and over again. His brows
we're knit. The chill OF svirice was creep
ng into bis heart.
And that don't include clothes. Bet !
.eckon she'd have enough duds to do her
'or awhile.
IL was the first rule OF the bachelors
lie 10 deny himself everything except sb
oIute nee sssities. For the first time he
vas dangerously near deciding to break
he law which hsd become almost second
nature to him. Few men there be indeed
Who would hesitate to invest "a 10 Q
month 10 tue keep OF 9 wife who supplied
q oil respects their ideal. Bot Pike had
,ourted the yellow gold SO long thst his
owe was not TO be obsDged easily.
Three days the battle endured within
lis breast. II was the most miserable
,erloi OF his existence. Even after be
I'D made up bis mind to seek the hsnd OF
he witching Mabel be found himself won
Iering at bis own recklessness. But be
pas 9 man OF stern resolve Oace deter
mined. 1t required more than human pow
/ TO turn him from his course.
On The morning Of the fourth day be
inish up the work about the place earlier
han was his custom and hitched Esau 10
be spring wagon.
It's purity nigh time ! WAS buyiu store
nit, Aod reckon this isIa proper occasion
or sich . purchase. be solilcquizsd as be
zen ed break In the mules bride with
piece OF twine.
40 hour later be WAS examining the
OF clothing in Smiths general
tore ct Hill Top.
What sort ofs suit ort ieller buy to
II married in' be asked the proprietor
18th 90 effort at smile.
The storekeeper received the inquiry %
Joke. The ides Of Pike desiring inform
lion OF such character to gu de him 10
,e selection Of 9 suit did not enter bis
rain.
Same sort you'd want you was expec,
, to be buried, replied Smith PsDtu
pat and We
Then both laughed at the homely with
ism.
The bachelor drew II on. OF the store
eeper without exciting suspicion that the
oung man who had participated 10 the
loet recent marriage 10 the neishborhood
sd worn frock suit
amt never had no tsil coat yit, he re
lsrked in q careless way. Believe III
ist Git one to surprise the neishbors.
He found a cutawsy suit thst plessed
i'm 10 every respect except price. -Four
zen dollars was more than be vas accus
,med to pay. But be sgsin conquered
is economical disposition.
Ill be bsck this wsy 10 . couple Of
ours and you c,L have the bundle resdy
u me, be said to the storekeeper and
dded. When l git IL, Ill pay you.
The drug store Vas bis neXt objective
oint The spothecsry was dumbfounded
hen tbs bachelor ssked for . dimes
'orih Of peppermint drops.
Got coldf inquired the ssllow faced
rugei.t
Pike hesitsted . moment.
No. but may GIT one, be replied. slyly
voidine 90 answer thst would lead 10 The
iscovery Of bis real purpose 10 purcbss
Dg the candy.
The package vas done up in piok paper.
Iith yellow cord about IT,
Won tbs, tickle Ter. thought unused
be purchsstr ss be slipped the package
to bis pocket
As he passed out Of the store be as =
roup Of men discussing some mst,.r vith
res, vipof 10 iron, Of the pos,office. He
over {, the little gsthefing.
Ttfee or four addressed him sim ultsne