The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-07
Career of a Capitalist.

l had long had desire TO become
capitalist Lucille seemed 10 think 1t
smart TO laugh al me for this extremely
laudabie and perfectly natural ambition.
As for her, she wasted her substance in
rlotous living. spending every cent OF her
salary on opera tickets, imported toilet
articles and Iorton biscuit with a reck-
less disregard for the future that could
only mean one thing. namely, matrlmon-
ial hopes.
1 was very young indeed when I first
formed my ideas as 10 the desirabillty of
wealth 1t was way back IN my child
oood when Old Mr.. Higginson used 70
come 10 church in his great fur-lined
overcoat and dirty linen, and l observed
how the minister and the elders crowded
around him to shake his hand.
on, Higginson has got a lot Of money
out at interest" my father would say
when 1 ventured 10 wonder why people
made such a fuss over a dirty and dis
agreeable old man.
And so at that early age I was made
acquainted with the potency OF wealth,
should have money al interest"
When l was made head stenOgrapher
in big law office I considered by am
oiton as good as realized. It had seemed
so FAR away before that I'd never tried
10 save very much. but now that It was
fairly within my reach began TO lay up
money at a frantic rate.
IF you get another raise in your SAL
airy you'll be so stingy youn take to
lunching out Of the mucllage bottle and
wearing your bicycle suit TO church" de-
clared Lucille in disgust.
But l just let her jeer and kept on
ecOnomizing and AT last there came a
day when I had $500 in the bank. Mr..
Adams, friend Of my fathers, invested
it for me in a first mortgage on a sub
urban cottage, and when the papers
were signed I went home flushed and
triumphant.
Congratulate me. Lucille" I cried.
throwing myself into chair and my hat
on the couch. I hat investigated mein
moneys"
Lucille wa strimming hat to wear to
the theater that night.
Huh she exclaimed, st believe you
think you've done something really fine.
Sara Dunning, if you don't look out, your
nose will grow hooked just like Mr.. Dun
kelspieps down at the pawnbroker's
shop
What do I care?" I retorted gayly.
I've got money out at interest, Lucille.
Do you realize what that means?"
1T means that you've worked like a
slave and denied yourself all pleasure for
a year an da half to get it, and you're
d n.
SO went on putting money in the
bank and looked eagerly forward to the
time when the interest from my invest
ment would begin TO come in.
1t was paid promptly enough the first
quarter and the second. Then 1t lapsed.
Six months went by and no interest.
1T seems to me-" remarked Lucille
one day, that you'd better investigate
that money in dead earnest"
Ia 7 I'D
snappishly. l was nervous of late, and
besides, Mr.. Higgnson was allowed to
be as cross as he liked, I remembered.
well, it's a great thing 10 have money
out ar interest" she responded arily.
At the door she met some one coming
in. A pale. forlOrn-looking Old woman,
with a pinched face and an appearance
Of having cried six months.
rs this Miss Dunning?" she asked.
I assured her it was, and she proceeded
ttmidly: Il called to see you about that
mortgage"
"Ah, yes" I said, fastening to shut
the door on Lucille
'SWe've been unable to meet our pay
ments lately" went on my visitor in
depressed tone, "and yesterday your
agent sent me word you intended to fore
close Oh Miss Dunning, don't. Please
don't be hard on us. My poor husband
has been sick in bed for year, and if
We lose our little home ii will kill him"
Here the poor creature burst out cry
ing, and I reached for my handkerchief
feeling somehow that being a capitalist
wasn't such fun as I'd imagined.
ooh, Miss Dunning," proceeded my
guest, as soon as she was able TO speak,
''if you knew how hard we worked to
build that house We put the savings Of
years into it. thinking that in our Old
age we'd have roof over our heads.
And now we must lose it all"