The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-02-05
/ Their Hundred Dollar Bill I

SO o HE'S gone al last, has he ?" said
my wife, with a little elevation
of her pretty eyebrows. Il began to
think he was somewhat gifted with i'm
mortality
dead at last" said l. And what do
you think, Jenny? He has left us hun
dred dollars"
"A hundred dollarsl" echoed my wife,
clasping her hands together. 20,
Charles-a hundred dollars!"
Now all this may sound like a two
pence-half-penny sort OF affair to some
of my readers, as am very well aware.
But as / am only a clerk on salary of
5000 year-a hundred dollars drifting,
as it were, out of the sky, seemed a very
neat little sum to ME.
Jenny and | were both young people,
Just beginning the world. with no par
ticular riches, except one apple-cheeked
baby. / walked to and from business
every day to save the 20-cents fares.
We did our best to make both ends meet
and tight pull we found it.
Old Uncle Moses Manson was mortal
~ offended when his niece, Jenny Cliff
ford, chose to marry me instead of
weakened, bespectacled old contempt
rary of his own. He had never spoken
to her since, and we naturally enter
tanned no very exalted hopes of any
testamentary recollections on his part.
And the 500 bill, therefore, possessed
the charm of an agreeable surprise into
the bargain.
Charles" said Jenny, under breath,
''what shall we do with it?"
THAT is the very question" said 1.
'Do you know, Jenny"
/ hesitated little here.
"Yes?" she responded, interroga-
lively.
Every fellow in the bank, except me,
has gold watch. I've been ashamed
of this old silver concern more than
once. And Seymour has a very nice
secondhand one for sale that he will
let me have for $50 if"
And turn the 500 into a mere use
less ornament!" cried Jenny, with a
strong accent of disapprobation in her
voice. Charley, that isn't bit like
YOU"
"Well, then, what do you suggest?"
II should so like to give social party
with it," said Jenny, coaxingly. only
think how often we've been invited out
since we were married, and never have
had chance to return any of the hos
FATALITIES of our friends. The must
clans, the supper, and all, would come
within the hundred dollars"
"And you are absurd enough to wish
to eat, and drink, and dance up sum
Like thatl" / cried. mo, no, Jennette,
it is entirely out of the question"
"A new velvet suit for the baby ?"
suggested Jenny, pouting little at the
emphasis of my words.
How would it correspond with the
rest of our surroundings" asked, not
without an accent of bitterness. "You
had a great deal better suggest new
winter suit and overcoat for me. You
never seem TO observe how shabby am
getting"
Nobody notices a gentleman's
dress" said Jenny. II can make your
overcoat look very nice with fresh bind
ing and new buttons-but how should
like sealskin Jacket"
Jenny" said /. somewhat Disguised,
81 had no idea you could be so selfish. .
Selfish. indeed" cried she. II would
like 10 know whether you have yet sug-
gested anything which was not for
your own special benefit and use!"
We were both silent. don't suppose
either one of us had felt so vindictive
before. since our marriage. Clearly the
500 bill had worked no great benefit as
yet.
I'm tell you what, Jenny" said 1;