The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-21
THE HAPPIEST TIME
VII-llrs. Ahzv0ods Outer: Raimeut.
BY MARY STEWART CUTTING.
Copyright 1903, by Mary Stewart Cutting)


~~,OW much will a new suit cost,
- Jo?" Mr.. Atwood held his fin
u gers ref1ect1vely on the rubber
& band of his pocketbook and
IA1t glanced as he did at the
round brunette face of his wife, which had
suddenly become all flush and sparkle.
ooh, Edward!'
"Well?'
you oughtn't to give me the money
for it now-you really oughtn't. There
are so many calls on you at this season of
the year, l don't see how we can meet
them as it is. The second quarter of Jo-
sephines music lessons begins next
month, and the dancing school bill comes
in, too-besides the coal. Everything just
piles in before Christmas. I meant to
have saved the money for coat at any
rate, this summer out of my allowance,
but was obliged to fit Josephine out from
head to foot-she grows so fast, she takes
as much for dress as do But it doesn t
make any difference can do very we'll
for while with what I have-really!'
How about the Washington trip with
me next month? 1 thought you said you
couldn't go anywhere without a new suit
well, 1 can't but"
THAT settles it,
Mr.. Atwood pulled off the rubber band
from the pocketbook and laid it on the
table before him as he extracted roll of
shabby article, worn brown at the edges,
but it had been made of handsome leather
to begin with, and still held together, in
spite of many years of service. Mrs. At
wood would hardly have known her hus-
band without that pocketbook 1t repre-
sented in its way, the heart of a kind
and generous man.
His wife always experienced mingled
feelings when that leather receptacle APP
peared-a quick and blessed relief and a
sharp VINCE as if it were really his hearts
blood that she were taking.
He paid no attention now to her mar
ticulate murmur of protest, but asked, in
a business-like way: ..
How much will it take?"
II could get the material for a dollar a
yard" Mrs. Atwood sat with her hands
clasped,s feeling the words wrung from
her-'I could get it for a dollar a yard,
but I suppose it ought to be heavier
weight for the winter
Have it warm enough, whatever else
you do" interrupted her husband.
1T would take seven yards, or I might
get along with six and a half, it depends
on the width. It's the Innings that make
it mount up so much, and the making.
You can get a suit made for SO; Cynthia
Calender did, and hers looks WE'LL but
Mrs. Nichols went to the same place, and
will $50 be enough?" asked Mr.. At
wood.
"Oh, yes; I'm sure it will be, t.
Chen here's fifty" He counted out
five tens and pushed them over to her.
Get a good suit while you're about it,
too
"Oh, Edward, don't want
Make her take it," said a girl of 16.
rising from the corner where she had been
sitting with a book in her hand, very
tall and thin and pretty girl, brunette like
her mother, with a long black braid that
hung down her back. She came forward
and threw her arm around her mothers
neck. bending protectingly over her.
Make her take it, papa. She buys every
thing for me and the boys and goes with
out herself, so that I'm ashamed to walk
out in the street with her; it makes me
look so horrid to be all dressed up when
she. wears that old spring jacket. When
it's cold she puts a cape over it. I wish
you'd see that cape! She's had it since
the year one. She doesn't dare wear it
when she goes out with you, she just shiv.
ers." "r..
Hush, hush Josephine said the
mother embarrassed yet laughing, as her
husband lifted his shaggy eyebrows at her
mock severity. "You needn't say any
more, either of you. I'll take the money
She paused impressively, and then gently
pushed the girl aside and went over and
kissed her husband.
IF I were only as good a manager as
some people! I don't know what's the
matter with me. try, and I try, but
Eyes, yes, ! know said the husband.
"All T ask now is that you spend this
money on yourself; it's not for other
needs. Remember, you are to spend it
all on yourself
Eyes. I will" said Mrs Atwood, with
the guilty thrill Of the perjured at the
very moment of her promise She knew
very well that some of it would have to
be spent for other needs. She had but SO
cents left Of her allowance to last her
until the end of the month, five lond days
away. No one but the mother of a fam
fly of moderate means realizes what the
demand for pads, pencils, shoestrings,
lunches, postage stamps, hair ribbons,
medicines, mended shoes, and such like
can amount to in that short time She
had meant to ask Edward to advance her
q little more on the next months allow
ance-already largely anticipated-but she
had not the face to after his generosity to
her now. A couple Of dollars out of the
fifty would make very little difference,
and she did not need it all, anyway. She
almost wept as she thought Of Josephine S
championship Of her, and her husband S
thoughtfulness.
Mrs. Atwood adored her husband and
her three children. She firmly believed
them to be superior in every way to al!
other mortals; sacrificing service for them
was her joy of joys, her keenest affliction
the fear that she did not appreciate them
half enough. 1t is certain that the chill
dren, truthful, loving and obedient as
they had ben trained to be, would have
been spoiled beyond tolerance if it Sere
not that the very strength of her admira :
tion made it innocuous. They were Sc
used to being told that they were the
loveliest and dearest things on earth that
the words We're not even heard. AS they
grew older the extravaganza of her de.
votion was beginning to rouse the pro-
tective element In them, to her wonder
and humility.
Mrs. Atwood, at 20. the time of her mar
rage, had been a warm-hearted, fervent,
loquacious, impulsive child. At SO she