The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1900-12-14
THE MAN IN THE MOON, j

MAY l ask what you are talking
about:'
Il am talking about your extrava-
gance," said her husband, in his best
House-of- Commons manner. IF it con
tinues you will simply bust up the show" 20
he added, relapsing into slang.
'I'm afraid your theatrical friends are
demoralizing your English"
The English language has nothing to
do with the conversation" he snapped.
mot with your conversation, dear, y
said his wife, sweetly.
'And I'm tired Of these dark illusions
to my theatrical friends. It's absurd tC
imagine that because 1 take a girl to
supper that-that there's anything in it
She was an old friend.'
! II should hardly call her DID," said
Mrs. Portland Rhodes critically. Sup
pose we say middle-aged?"
ANY way, we are drifting from the
point''
"What is the point of this dialogue?'
inquired his wife, with extreme affabil
ity:
Your extravaganza. cannot stand the
pace. What's to be done with these
things?" Indicating little pile of bills
I'm afraid 1 have no head for bust
ness" said his wife, looking tired
But how are we going to meet them ??
| Mrs. Rhodes shifted her smelling bottle
with an air of extreme PATIENCE:
''Why not write out check?' she muir.
INJURED.
Write out check?' he gasped
IF you wish the servants to know all
our private affairs, III ring the bell
said his wife. But don't shout, dear
| because it makes my head ache''
There was only one reply for an indie
pendent British husband. Mr. Portland
Rhodes, NJ: p. gathered up the pile OF
bills, housekeeping and otherwise, placed
them by his wife's plate, and stalked tc
the door.
you've made very poor breakfast
Charles,' said his wife. sympathetically
And you'll make me very pool
man." he muttered.
I'm sorry, dear. 1 forgot how many
calls you have upon your private purse
This was the last straw. The Mem.
ber' banged out of the room, muttering
expressions which would not be per.
mltted even at a religious demonstration
1t was pretty piece of acting on he1
part-the airiness, the nonchalance, the
magnificent contempt for debit was al
| put on. She was in complicated fratae
OF mind. She was jealous of her hus,
| band on account of an innocent ''spree'
Of his, which green glasses had made
hideous: She was uncomfortably con.
scious that she was on the high road to
making a fool of herself. She was mr.
to her pretty little ears in debt, and
| above ALL she was in a funk about it.
In short, Mrs. Portland Rhodes, wife
of the member for Tattenham Corner
had cast herself for an unsuitable role
At the bottom of her heart she was q
| romantic little creature ridiculously in
love with her husband. with philanthrop.
ness for ''dressing decently''
There is no more pitiable sight than
that of a scrupulous person trying to be
! INSCRIPTIONS. She hated to owe money
but to keep level with the times she ran
headlong into debt, and suffered agonies
She adored her husband, and quarreled
with him. She despised married hirts
tons, to say nothing of mysterious one
at the mere thought Of which she trem
bled. In short, she was poor, worried
| little women, who was walking in sin
perry places, and expected to come crop
per every minute.
A week before she had attended fan
cy dress masked ball given at the Am
the Morning Star, and paired off with
the Man in the Moon. She believed hel
partner to be a certain Percy Ladbroke
whom she counted among her admirers
| They became quietly confidential, anc
Mrs. Rhodes rather let the cat out of the
bag with regard to her financial scrapes
The Man in the Moon was sympathetic
He had had ''stralgnt tip from
Threadneedle street-should he put bi
on for her? Mrs. Rhodes hesitated fo1
a variety of reasons, one being that SHE
had no spare cash to lose, and was al
ready out of her depth.
"Ill tell you what I shall do" sale
the Man in the Moon; II shall have q
futter myself, and I'll buy a few shares
get it back for you some other time
But it's too good to miss; you must bF
in it,
This arrangement sounded very com
Portable, and Mrs. Rhodes assented.
Her first shock was received next day
Moon was not by any means Percy Lad
broke, as that young gentleman wa!
away in the country. The next shocl
was polite letter Of congratulation from
the Man in the Moon, inclosing a note
for $3.50. The dabble in Angelicos hat
succeeded beyond her expectations.
It was a curious position for mar
man she did not know. for he had no
even signed his name, probably think
ing she already knew it, had sent he,
round sum of money. He might b.
| mad, but who would believe the story
Would any sane person, especially a mer,
husband, believe that a stranger would
hand her share of a speculation il
which she had not staked a farthing?
On the other hand, she gave a sigh Of
relief when she recollected that, moi
knowing who he was, she could not re
turn it. That fact, combined with the
pile of bills and her husbands irritation
on financial subjects, decided her, anC
she cashed the note, and utilized it tt
stop the mouths of her hungriest credit
ors. But it seemed as if she was doomed
to face the unexpected. 1t happened
that night that, for a wonder, she anl
her husband dined tete-a-tete. He was
gloomy and silent; she as airy and flip
pant as usual.
II have had lucky speculation ir
Angelicos," he said, quietly, when the
servants had left the room.
''You don't look as if you had,'' she
| said, cracking a nut.
| "And I hoped to give you pleasant
SURPRISE" he added; $50 I drove around
to some Of your people this Afternoon
to pay your bills"
She went white, and nearly pinched E
finger instead of a nut.
II was rather surprised to learn thai