The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-20

remark IN which tnOuSandS OF POUNDS are
mentioned. but still a certain reasonable
amount Three hundred pounds! Yes. 1t
would 60 our furnishing very we'll"
You've been calculating il? You're a
dear girl" cried Charlie Sim enthusiastically
ly. catching her hand and kissing it. ct was
for the fifteenth time. though neither of
them had been mean enough to count the
exact number)
ooh. yes. I've calculated II: this is the
first chance 1 had Of putting my mathe-
Iuatical attachments to a practical use,"
said she. 1T was a very small achieve
ment."
'I don't suppose for a moment that it
made great demand upon your knowledge
OF the higher mathematics said he; st
don't suppose that they would have brack-
sted you with Fourth WrangIer If you had
not been able TO go a good deal further
than that
"Alas-alas! that even the most exhaus-
tive acquaintance with higher mathema-
tics viii not enable girl to make three
hundred pounds do duty for four" said
Nelly.
But my three hundred will be enough"
said he.
Yes, to do the furnishing" she replied
you say that rather mournfulIy. my
dearest"
THAT Is possibly because I feel IT to be
rather mournful. Charlie
cit would be more mournful IL your cal
culations had turned out the other way.
What is there to be mournful about, /
should like TO know?''
She shook her head.
ALAS. Charlie, we cannot live upon three
hundred pounds worth OF furniture," she
said.
You won't be asked to do So" he cried
cant we live on my hundred and ffty?"
Can you manage TO live on il single
handed?" she asked. smiling
Certainly can. 1 don't owe five pounds
to-day" he replied. I'm never more than a
pound or two to the bad at the end of nv
financial year"
quite so; you can just manage to scrape
through"
And what's enough for one is enough
for two"
"Ah. that's where my knowledge of the
higher mathematics comes to my aid It's
a gross error to fancy that two people
and cheap servant-the cheap ones are
the dearest in the long run, believe-can
live on what one of the three can only with
the greatest difficulty subsist on"
You're an iconoclast, Nelly; you have set
yourself to the business OF overturning the
most cherished convictions of the impecun-
ious"
I'm not an iconocIast; but I'm practical
oh. terribly practical I'm awfully in love
with you. Charlie"
Keep away for one moment until I de-
fine my position-our position. I'll never
marry anyone except you. Charlie; but L
won't marry you to bring difficulties upon
you"
were by my side. Nelly"
II know that you wouldn't, dear; that's
Just what makes me doubly careful,
Charlie. A hundred and fifty pounds a year
IS not a large enough working capital. as
the critics of shaky prospectuses say
IT see no chance of getting any more, for
some years at any rate"
And even then you'll only get an ad-
vance OF five pounds
May be seven. if old sowerby is gener-
GUS"
Even If he were to be generous. which
IS to assume a good deal more than you
entitled to assume. judging from the past.
the extra two pounds would not place us
on any more substantial basis"
He shook his head gloomiIy
II suppose you're right, Nell" said he.
'That's the worst about you. you're in
variably right. suppose that's where your
mathematical training comes in. But what
are we to do! have three hundred pounds
in hand, and a hundred and fifty pounds a
year by way of salary. We want to get
married. but you decline because you won't
admit that what's enough for one is enough
for two. Isn't that defined like a propo-
sition in Euclid?'
1T could not be better"
en- as nothing can possibly come of
our engagement do you suggest that we
should break it orr"
IF you dare TO suggest such a thing
I'll bring an action against you for breach
OF promise"
After this there was a silence OF some
seconds. and when, with great adroitness.
due to long practice. she had succeeded in
releasing herself from his arms. looking
charmingly rosy. he whispered insinuating
ly:
make the most of what we have-the three
hundred pounds. Nelly"
She shook her head.
For my sake you will consent, Nelly?"
For your sake I will not consent" she
cried at want to raise you up. not to drag
you down. Charlie"
Then tell me what am to dc, and IN
do IT."
'.I,can't tell you what to do; it's always
a great deal easier to say what you
shouldn't do Still-well. don't you think
that you could put your three hundred
pounds into something that would make
you better return than furniture?"
IT believe that nothing that's quite safe
pays more than per cent. and per cent.
on three hundred pounds is
"Oh, I don't mean that kind Of invest
ment. Are there not now and again good
businesses 70 be bought flor three hundred
pounds?"
'sBusinesses7"
Yes Wouldn't II be better for you TO
start with your capital In some business
for yourself at once than to resign yourself
10 be a clerk for the rest OF your natural
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