Middletown transcript., 1901-01-19

membered that he had used almost the
same language when she had asked him
to renew the subscription to her maga-
zine
"Well, never mind" he answered,
"let me squander five cents on one this
morning. Come, hurry! don't keep the
boy waiting"
She leisurely took out her purse, slowly
counted out five pennies and dropped
them into his hand.
His next lesson in dependence was
learned on the way to church. Owing to
the crowded condition of the car he had
to sit some distance from his wife. When
the conductor came to collect the fare he
felt in his pocket, and then, with shame
faced look, pointed to his wife, who
smiled mischievously as she paid his fare.
The rest of the day passed uneventfully.
On Monday morning Grace took out
her purse with a business-like air.
''Now let me see how much you will
need" she said, slowly. "Fifty cents
ought to buy you a nice luncheon, and
you will need twenty cents for car fare"
Then she gravely handed him seventy
five cents.
'tWell,-er,-er but Grace" he stam-
mered, ''isn't that rather short allow
ance? There might be extras"
mo; I cannot think of anything else
you will need, and you work hard for
your money and ought not to spend it
foolishly"
He said no more, but hurried away,
half wishing that the week were over
before it had fairly begun.
The busy morning quickly passed, and
his keen appetite reminded him that it
was luncheon time. On the way to the
unch-room he met an old college chum
whom he had not seen for years. With
hearty clasp Of the hand and a glad
ring in his voice he cried
Jack, old boy! am SO glad to see
youW
His first thought was that he would in
vite him to luncheon; but a cold sweat
stood on his brow as he thought of the
small sum of money he had in his pocket.
After short chat he left his friend on
the plea of an important engagement,
and walked several blocks to reach an
other restaurant. Jack took another
route, but emerged from street just in
time to see Harry enter the eating-house.
GLOW stingy Harry has grown" he
soliloquized; "and he used to be such a
generousssfellow. I believe that engage
ment' was only bluff to get rid of me. "
Harry took up the bill Of fare, scanned
it carelessly, then gave the order to the
waiter; but, to his horror, he found he
had ordered a seventy-fve cent dinner
when he had only fifty cents to pay for
it. He dashed wildly after the waiter,
and gasping for breath said.
'Waiter, ,-er,-I want sausage in
stead of that chicken" With a vexed
expression he thought, "Hang it all?
did want that chicken"
On the way back to the store new
style of cravat in the window Of cloth
ing-house met his eye. "That's pretty
necktie," said he to himself, 81 believe
I'll invest" He went in examined the
neckties, and was about to say he would
take one, when he suddenly turned and
left the bewildered clerk, muttering,
"What fool | am!-trying to buy a
necktie with only ten cents in my
pocket"
The afternoon was drawing to close
when his friend Tom rushed in.
Harry, old boy," he cried excitedly
'iust lend me V, will you? am in an
awful scrape, left my money in my other
suit, and Madge expects me to take her
to the theater tonight and 1 haven't
time to go home. You know would do
as much for you, any time.'
Il am so sorry, Tom," replied Harry,
but, to tell the truth, have only ten
cents in my pocket, just enough to pay
my fare home"
Tom marched off with an offended air,
muttering angrily to himself:
Deuce take him! I believe he was
afraid wouldn't pay it. I shall never
ask favor of him again.
/ When Harry reached home that even
! ing his wife noticed his detection, but he
was non-committal regarding the cause.
The next morning he said, with an
apologetic air:
"say, Grace, saw such pretty neck
tie yesterday, 1 believe will get it. 1t
was only fifty cents.'
She did not reply, but went to the
drawer where his neckties were, and
slowly counted them. Then she said in
surprised tone of voice.
!, "Why, Harry, don't see what you
want of any more neckties; you have
twelve now. And then to pay fifty
cents for one!-I am sure you can get
very nice one for twenty-five"
'But, Grace, this is later style," said
he.
"Well, if you must have it all right.
Let me see; you will need just one dol
lar and twenty cents"
Tuesday morning passed unmarked by
any special event. Harry bought the
coveted necktie during his noon hour,
and then hurried back to his work. He
knew from the crowd collected in one of
the rooms that something unusual had
happened, Iand he heard exclamations
such as, ''Poor little thingp "Only sup
polt of her sick mother" and the like.
Pushing his way through, touching
sight met his gaze. A pretty little CASH
! girl, whom he had often noticed on ac-
count of her modest and ladylike
demeanor, was lying on a bed which the
clerks had made of their wraps, and the
doctor was bending over her. While
hurrying to answer one of the impatient
calls of the clerks she had slipped down