The Afro-American advance., 1900-10-20
t Their Hundred Dollar Bill
20 O HE'S gone at last, has he ?" said

20 o HE'S gone at last, has he? said
my wife, with little elevation
of her pretty eyebrows. II began to
think he was somewhat gifted with i'm
mortality"
Dead at last" said /. "And what do
you think, Jenny? He has left us hun
dred dollars"
"a hundred dollars!" echoed my wife,
clasping her hands together. 20,
Charles-a hundred dollars!"
Now all this may sound like two
pence-half-penny sort of affair to some
of my readers, as am very well aware.
But as l am only a clerk on a salary of
5000 a year-a hundred dollars drifting,
as it were, out of the sky, seemed very
neat little sum to me.
Jenny and were both young people,
just beginning the world. with no par
ticular riches, except one apple-cheeked
baby. l walked to and from business
every day to save the 2o-cents fares.
We did our best TO make both ends meet
and tight pull We found It,
Old Uncle Moses Manson was mortal
ly offended when his niece, Jenny Cliff
ford, chose to marry me instead of a
weazensd, bespectacled old contempo-
rary of his own. He had never spoken
TO her since, and we naturally enter
tanned no very exalted hopes of any
testamentary recollections on his part.
And the 500 BILL therefore, possessed
the charm of an agreeable surprise into
the bargain.
aCharIas enid Tapnv ,,pdar hraatb
what shall we do with IL %
That is the very question" said i.
do you know, Jenny"
hesitated little here.
"Yes?' she responded, interroga-
lively.
Every fellow in the bank, except me,
has a gold watch. I've been ashamed
of thSs old silver concern more than
once. And Seymour has a very nice
secondhand one for sale that he will
let me have for 500 if"
"And turn the 500 into n mere use
less Ornamentl" cried Jenny, with a
strong accent Of disapprobation in her
voice. Charley, that isn't bit like
you"
Well, then, what do you suggest?'
II should so like to give a social party
with it," said Jenny, coaxingly. "Only
think how often we've been invited out
since we were married. and never have
had u chance to return any of the hos
pitalities of our friends. The musi-
clans, the supper. and all, would come
within the hundred dollars"
And you are absurd enough to wish
TO eat, and drink, and dance up a sum
like thatl" cried. "No, no, Jennette,
it is entirely out of the question"
"A new velvet suit for the baby ?"
suggested Jenny, pouting little at the
emphasis of my words
How would it correspond with the
rest of our surroundings ?" asked. not
without an accent Of bitterness. "You
had q great deal better suggest new
winter suit and oyercoat for me. You
never seem to observe how shabby am
getting"
Nobody notices gentleman's
dress" said Jenny. II can make your
overcaat lock very nice with fresh bind
ing aad new buttons-but how I should
like = sealskin Jacket"
Jenny" said I. somewhat disgusted.
Il hfd no idea you could be so selfish"
Selfish. indeedl" cried she. II would
like 10 know whether you have yet sug-
gest<d anything which was not for
youI own special benefit and usel"
We were both silent. don't suppose
either one of us had felt so vindictiye
befete, since our marriage. Clearly the
siea bill had worked no great benefit as
yet
III tell you what. Jenny" said I;
let's compromise. Let's buy new sit
tina room and stairs carpet. / saw
beautiful pattern yesterday"
x don't care very much for new car.
PETS - long a. we live on q second
hoor. saId Jenny "And you don't seem
70 Remember. Charles. that / haven't
nad silk dress since we were married.
Black silk Is suitable for all occasions,
from wedding 10 funeral. and real
iy thtrk--~
believe woman's thoughts are al
ways running on Dress muttered ],
se~ewhAt sSniemptuously. I'm sure