Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1905-08-02

L should be d%readfully mortified not
to do as much for Elise as Charles does
for his children. Well, not exactly as
much iii every way, no. Of course, we
really couldn't expect her to have so
much jeWelry and as many neW frocks.
But to have Elise look Old fashioned
and not have suitable thing> for her
little parties-Why it is positi, ely en-
barrasSing to her and humiliates me-"
William Soliday avoided his wife's
gaze, and methoGically arranged his
nccktie. He was a plain man. with
a kindly smile when he was not dis
turbed by his ambitious wife and
daughter.
Wei William. can't you tell me
whether you can let me have two
hundred dollars or not this week."
I don't see how I can, Eliza. I've
had a hard winter at the store and a
good many accounts overdue. [ wish
l could make as much none as
Charles. but I can't seem to do it. any
way. lie is a good ta!ker and smart.
You know, Eliza, that I've worked
hard for the last twenty-five years,
early and late"
oh, ! don't accuse you of being
lazy" remarked Mrs. Soliday, tartly:
what | would like to see is something
to show for all your work. Charles
doesn't get to his office till nine and
is always through at five. and makes
at least Il hundred dollars Il week in
salary and COMMISSIONS
I'll tell you right now, Eliza, that
though Charles is my cousin. | would
not be in his line of business for a
Thousand 4 week. It's no use to con-
tinue this talk any longer. Eliza. l
hope 20 be able to supply you and Elise
with ali the necessaries of life, and a
little more, but as for fitting out Elise
so she can run around with the set that
her cousins belong to, I cannot even
attempt it."
This closed the conversation for that
morning, and while Mrs. Soliday sat in
her room finishing her daughters grad
uating gown, her mind dwell bitterly
on her cramped life with its petty
economies.
She lad really loved William Soil
day, thirty years ago. He was a clerk
then, in her fathers store. and a genial,
honest young fellow. But when the
business was his, he did not seem to
know just how to make it pay. He
bought a good line Of stock, and he had
to sell at a close margin to compete
with the cheap articles displayed by
his rivals. Then he paid his help a
fair price, and his roomy, Well-ventilat-
ed store cut still deeper into his profits.
She suspected that some of its old
customers had not paid their bills for
a long time; in fact, when a man was
out of work or there was sickness,
William never would push his claims,
and sometimes he lost a good deal that
way.
As Eliza Soliday thought. her cheeks
burned and the s~mouldering fire of dis"
content burst into q brighter blaze.
She had not minded the Scrimping so
much when Elise was little, her clothes
cost such a smaH amount, and she had
nOL begun 10 nave HeI SOCldl dIlDlliouo
awakened till the last year or two.
The other girls in the class were to
have either q handsome piece of jew
elry or a gold watch as a souvenir of
graduation day, and there were pho
tographs, spreads, class pins, dances.
and the usual accomplishments of the
festive time.
Charles Soliday's twin daughters had
everything that any one had, and fal
more. Their father was to present
them with watches, suitably engraved
and their mother had promised them
elegant gold bracelets, with diamond
studded clasps. They were to enter
tain the entire class at an 1nforma
dance. followed by a supper, at Whlcl
each guest would be presented with
specially designed favor.
The girls gowns were to be made o5
their mothers fashionable dressmaker
and nothing would be lacking to com
plete their stylish appearance. The
dotted Swiss muslin which Mrs. Soil
day was rapidly finishing looked coarse