The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1900-08-08

ana III L could afford IL you should nave
fifty blue dresses. but you spend near
ly all our ready money at Tape Il Ia
bourets. and an income of f150 year
won't stand that, you know"
"Oh, lecture me well, pray dol" re-
tolted Lefty. viciously cracking an egg.
II didn't know I'd married screw
and a Methodist preacher both in one"
Lefty" said Frank Darrell, in a
hurt tone.
Lefty looked little ashamed.
For the first time in all the years
since we married" continued the hus-
band, "we owe both butcher and baker.
Our landlord is pressing for money.
and two of our dodgers are in arrears.
But there. l can't wait to argue the
matter with you. Here's the omnibus"
And for the first time since their
marriage he departed to the city bank
where he was engaged without giving
his wife n farewell kiss.
Lefty silently watched the heavily
laden omnibus, bound citywards, until
1t was out of sight. Then her heart
sank.
He never kissed mer' she sobbed,
"and l do love him so.'
Then she sat down and dried her
eyes, poor loving but wilful young
wife.
IN Just make him nice little toad
in.the-hole' for his tea dinner" she
thought, "and as to that horrid blue
dress that has caused all this bother,
why, I'll let Mrs. Thatcher have It..
She offered to give twenty-eight shil-
lings for it, SO l shall only lose two,
and dear Frank will be pleased, and
then-and then"
And the tears began to roll again
down Letty's cheeks, and tender
smile lighted up her face as she
thoughtsof her young husband and the
little new life that was shortly to
brighten up their home.
After her husband was gone she sat
still for some little time pondering
over the events of the morning. At last
bright idea struck her.
"I'll just run around and see Mrs.
Thatcher about THAT unlucky blue
DRESS" she thought.
Mrs. Thatcher was the wife o: q
young fellow clerk of Frank Darrell's,
and who was as thrifty and economi-
cal as Lefty was careless and extrava-
CANT.
No sooner thought than done. Mrs.
Darrell arrayed herself in n costume
which, however becoming, was, It
must be caDdidly admitted. far too ex-
pensive for the wife of simple bank
clerk, and, leaving word with Sally
where. she was going, set off to pay
her visit.
The important affair of the blue
dress was settled to the satisfaction
Of both parties. Lefty had never worn
1t, SO Mrs. Thatcher considered she
had saved two shillings, and Lefty was
equally glad to lose two in order to
get back the rest of the purchase
money.
With the twenty eight shilllngs snug.
ly in her portemonnaie and with q
lighter heart she arrived at her own
door.
But how great was her CONSERVATION
when Sally opened it to find that dusty
but faithful and hard-worklng hand
maiden in a state of much excitement
and wiping away the tears from heI
red cheeks with her grimy apron.
"Why, Sally, what on earth" be
gan Lefty.
But Sally interrupted her.
"Oh, if you please, ma'am, here's
such horrid man come into the
kitchen and sat down and made him
self ut home, and says he won't so TIL
he's seen master"
"Impertinent wretch cried Lefty
hotly.
"Oh. yes. ma'am, and he's called fol
bread and cheese and beer, and says
as we're bound to give it him."
''The man must be mad" calculated
Lefty.
NO, please, ma'am, don't thinl
he's that" replied Sally. IL thinl
there's summat wrong, ma'am."
81 think SO. too, indeed" said Lefty
Indignantly. ''when people walk int
my kitchen and call for Refreshments
whether invite them or not. don
keep public house."
And into the kitchen she walked FOL
lowed by Sally.
There sat stout red-faceG man o
about fifty. eating bread and chees'
and drinking beer out of jug rs /
he had tasted for fortnight. He wa
attired In an old green shooting coat
gaudy waistcoat and drab trousers
and had a coarse red cotton handker
chief round his bull neck. On the tabl
lay thick stick and battere,
widcawake
"Well. I'm surew exclaimed Lefty
completely taken aback. "and VIII
may you be. II you pleaseY'