Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1900-05-16
HARD TIMES.
BYY.Z z.

my wife. with q little, piquant eleva-
tion of her pretty brows. II began to
think he was somehow gifted with i'm
mortality"
':Dead at last," said ]. 'And what
do you think, Jenny? He has left us
S100."
ga hundred dollars!" echoed my
wife. clasping her hands together.
6 'tOh! Charles-a S100p'
Now all this may sound like two
pence-half-penny sort of affair to some
of my readers, as am very we'll aware.
But as I am only clerk on asalary of
5000 year-a SlOe drifting, as it
were, out of the sky, seemed a very
ness little sum to me.
Jenny and were both young peo-
pie, just beginning the world, with
no particular riches, except one apple
checked baby. Jenny did her own
work, made my shirts and cut and
fitted her own dresses. I walked to
and from business every day to save
the 20 cents omnibus fares. We did
our best to make both ends meet
and q tight pull we found it
So that you will easily see that this
500 bill represented considerable
more to us than its moro face value!
Old Uncle Moses Manson was NOR
tally offended when his niece, Jenny
Clifford, chose to marry me instead OF
wizened, bespectacled, old contem-
porary of his own. He had never
spoken to her since, and we naturally
entertained no very exalted hopes of
any testamentary recoilections on his
part. And the 500 bill, therefore,
possessed the charm of an agreeable
surprise into the bargain.
eCtarlie, said Jenny, under her
breath, "what shall we do with it?"
THAT is the very question, said /.
s.Do you. know, jenny" !.
I hesitated little here.
j "Yes?" she responded, interroga-
lively.
Every fellow in the bank, except
me, has a gold watch. I've been
ashamed of this old silver concern
more than once. And Seymour has
nice second hand one for sale that he
will-let me have for $40 if"
.sAnd turn the $10O into a mere
useless ornament!' cried Jenny, with
asstrong accent of disapprobation in
her voice. Charley, that isn't bit
like You"
sWell, then, what do you sug-
gest?"
81 should so like to give a social
party with it,, said Jenny, coa1ingly.
Only think how often we've been in.
yited out since we were married, and
never have had chancet to return any
OF the hospitalities of our friends.
! The musicians, the supper, and all,
would come within the $l0o."
And you are absurd enough to
wish to eat, and drink, and dance up
sa sum like that r. Iscried. No, no,
Jennette. it is entirely ont Of the
question. ,S
ga new velvet suit for the baby?n
suggested Jenny, pouting a little at
the emphasis Of my words.
How would it correspond with the
restlofgour; surroundings" I asked,
not without an accent of bitterness.
sYou had great deal better suggest
new winter suit and overcoat for
me. You never seem to observe how
shabby am getting.
s. "Nobodys notices q gentleman's
Dress" said Jenny. '.I can make
your overcoat look very nice with fresh
binding and new buttons-but how I
should like sealskin jacket!''
Jenny" said !. somewhat dis
gusted, 81 had no idea you could be
so selfish"
Jenny colored and tossed her head.
s'Selfsh, indeed" cried she. 81
would like to know whether you have
yet suggested anything which was not
for your own special benefit and use!"
We were both silent. I don't sup
pose either Of us had felt 80 vindic-
tive before, since our marriage. Clear
ly, the 500 bill had worked no great
benefit as yet.
'I'll tell You what Jenny" said I;
'1et's compromise. Let's buy new
sitting-room and stairs carpet. saw
beautiful pattern at Moody's yester-
day-pearl-gray, with vine of scar
; let moss all over it.
f., %'T don't care very much for new
carpets as long as we live on second
foor," said Jenny. Sand you don't
seem to remember, Charles, that I
haven't had silk dress since. we were
married. Black, silk is suitable for
all occasions, from wedding to
funeral, and I really think"
Z. 81 believe O woman's thoughts are
always running on Dress" muttered
], somewhat contemptuously. Sim
sure that black alpaca of yours is
beautiful"
.That's all you know about the
matter" said Jenny, elevating her
nose. "Well I don't care. Spend
the money as you. choose. Only, Uncle
Moses was my relative"
"And the money was left to me,
Mrs. Eyarts," said I.
Jenny looked at me with her eyes
full Of tears.
ss.Oh, Charles" said che, show can
You speak to me so?"
Because I'm brute, Jenny, "said
I, fairly raelted. forgive me, and
we'll fling the paltry old 500 bill into
the fire before we'll let it scatter the
seeds of division between US.
stNo, Charley, don't do that" said
Jenny laughing through her tears.
.Let's-put it in the savings bank"
. "Agreed," said I, sealing the bar.
gain with one of our old-fashioned
kisses. Sand apropos of savings
banks, did tell you about Greene?"
mo. What about Greene?"
'eWhy, he and his wife have just
moved into the prettiest little Gothic
cottage you ever saw, just the other
side Of the Harlem bridge, with
lawn and garden, and space to keep