Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1900-09-25
PERCY.

Il and l. We thought we had done it
cheaply. but a few charming things in
the bric-a-brac line, added at the last
moment, had so overbalanced our ac-
count that l felt it imperative to make
up a better check than usual that week
on the daily paper upon which l earned
my daily bread.
So was hard at work
But my wife bad been hard at work,
too. She had been to Paul Jones' sale
1t was remnant day"-and she had got
a few little things which dear baby alb
solntely had to have, besides a few
more quite Indispensable trifies for her.
self-au of them dirt cheap" She had
been forced to confess, however, that
the weeks housekeeping money had
been severely encroached upon, and l
am afraid l was not enthusiastic over
the Jones sale.
In fact l took some credit to myself
for my silence both over the Interrupt
ton and over the advisability of the
purchases; l did not even endeavor to
stop her when she had quickly gather
ed up all her little soft parcels and had
deprived me of her presence.
Instead Of chasing the passing cloud
from her sweet eyes-as l knew how to
dol had even heaved sigh of relief
as the door slammed after her. But,
there, the bills were banging over my
head. and l had written one para
graph.
So | was hard at work, and within
sight of the end at last. when a voice
on the stairs. shouting, Il know my
way made me swear a gentle cath
under my breath before the door open
ed and one Percy Falmouth stood be-
fore me.
He was a college friend-one of those
but to whom one is never able to say
nay.
smiled sickly smile Of welcome
and pushed the cigarettes toward him,
but even as did so forgot his offense
in sudden alarm at his appearance
His face, that was wont to be fresh.
was sallow and gray. and his eye, that
was always merry, was dull and down
cast.
'AVhat's the matter, old man?" said
l. You're down on your luck
1t took him some time to bring the
trouble out, even to ME. But at last he
managed it. He was in love.
"Is that all?" cried l cheerily. "Well,
don't be alarmed. / assure you. when
you have got over the beginning it
Isn't bad at ALL"
isr't haf my frfn ry1n
lily, after a pause.
Isn't what" / asked.
at isn't that / mind being In love-"
he explained, but how am to keep
a wife,
My chair spun around again of itself.
"YourI cried. almost fiercely. "Why,
haven't you got $500 a year of your
own?" and a vision of the weekly
books and the monthly bills swan be-
fore my eyes and made me run my fin
gers wildly through my hair. You're
a nice one to talk"
Percy smiled sarcastically.
1.-Two thousand five hundred dollars"
echoed he. "Why, it wouldn't keep her
in frilled underwear and short silk pet
tcoats"
locked grave instantly. "Or' Imur-
INJURED.
.'And it wouldn't keep any Of them"
said my friend, rising and throwing
his cigarette away as he warmed to his
subject. "And one wouldn't wish that
it should What man cares to see his
wife looking a trump, and dowdier
than other women? And it isn't only
the clothes; It's the house, and the fur
niture, and the servants, and every
thing. Dinginess is out of date. Peo-
pie don't cover up their carpets with
washing drugget now, or let their
wives go about in linsey-wolsey gowns
and dust the knick-knacks, or give