Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1900-09-28
PERCY.

was at WORK.
We had been furnishing-my wife
- and |. We thought we had done 1t
cheaply, but few charming things in
the brica-brac line, added at the last
moment, had so overbalanced our ac-
count that | felt it imperative to make
up better check than usual that week
on the daily paper upon which earned
my daily bread.
So was hard at work.
But my wife had been hard at work,
too She had been to Paul Jones sale
Fwas remnant day"-and she had got
few little things which dear baby alb.
solutely had to have, besides few
@9Fe Snlaf &c RRdSn4Ft RdS he tst5p She had
been forced to confess, however, that
the weeks housekeeping money had
icn severely encroached upon, and
9h afraid | was not enthusiastic over
the Jones sale.
In fact | took some credit to myself
for my silence both over the Interrupt
tion and over the advisability Of the
ulu nOl tN Cu cuutuNOE
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 knew how to
dol had even heaved n sigh of relief
as the door slammed after her. But,
there, the bills were hanging over my
head. and had written one para
graph
SO | was hard at work, and within
sight of the end at last. when voice
on the stairs, shouting, Il know my
way" made me swear Il gentle oath
under my breath before the door OPEN
ed and one Percy Falmouth stood be.
fore me.
He was college friend-one of those
who always prevent one from working,
but to whom one Is never able to say
nay.
l smiled a 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.
whats the matter, old man?" said
|. You're down on your luck"
1t took him some time to bring the
trouble out, even to me. But at last he
managed 1t. He was In love.
"Is that all?' cried cheerily. "Well,
don't be alarmed. assure you, when
you have got over the beginning It
Isn't bad at ALL"
ut isn't that" said my friend gloom
lily, after a pause.
Isn't whatW | asked.
at isn't that mind being In love-
he explained, but how am | to keen
q wifeT
My chair spun around again OF Itself
"YOu" cried, almost fercely. "Why
haven't you got $500 year of your
ownW and vision OF the weekly
books and the monthly bills swan be.
fore my eyes and made me run my fin.
HtIo Niiuly thiOuSh NY uhl' lOu It
d nice one to talk"
Percy smiled sarcastically.
"Two thousand five hundred dollarsr
echoed he. why, 1t wouldn't keep heI
in frilled underwear and short silk pet.
ticoats"
looked grave Instantly. "Ov' l mur
mured.
"And 1t 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 tina
II should. What man cares to see hl'
wife looking trump, and dowdiel
than other women? And 1t isn't onl.
the clothes; It's the house, and the fur
niture, and the servants, and every
thing. Dinglness is out of date. Peo
pie don't cover up their carpets witt
washing drugget now, or let thei
wives 90 about in linsey- -wolsey gown
pnd dust the knick-knacks, or Civ