The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-03-22


thought of comparative ease from
money worries and the assurance that
she could make it 50 easily was ap-
peaing to him strongly At length, ne
said. with the air OF one making up his
mind to a doubtful experiment that
he would try the plan if she insisted
upon II.
well then, l will sign the contracts
tomorrow" she answered, brlskly.
you must give warning at the bank,
and we will begin the new arrange
ment with the opening of the fall term
at Holleyworth."
The new plan was entered into at
once. There was almost no balance at
the bank in Elton's favor, so his wife's
salary was in demand from the start.
She was perfectly good natured about
it all, but insisted upon knowing how
every dollar was spent. There was
visible increase in the bills. but as she
had promised there should be no
scrimpinG. she made no remark about
this. Mr.. Elton at first was delighted.
His nerves were on edge from long
confinement from laborlous desk work.
and although he missed his wlfe's
presence all through the day he kept
busy at one thing and another.
Sometimes Nora would come in at
night tired and exhausted and there
would be a wistful look in her eyes,
but she wore 4 stately air Of determin-
alton that her husband could not un-
derstand. Matters went on very
smoothly until late spring. Mr.. Elton
had about worn his wardrobe down to
the fraZzle edge and she saw that he
was going actually shabby. He would
ostentatiously trim down the edges of
collars and cuffs in her presence and
complain about the shine and thread
baroness of his suits. 1t was a tempta-
tion to hand over the money for this
emergency as she had for all other
needs, cheerfully and without demur,
but she wanted him to learn TO look at
family finances from the standpoint he
had compelled her TO have, and so she
would look indinereutly away and fail
to take any hints. One morning he
came in from the lawn with q great
crack in the side Of his shoe.
lust look at this" he said, indig-
nantly. "If 1 don't get some shoes
soon, will be barefooted.'
"Oh, my dear" replied his wife.
"Do you need shoes? Why didn't you
call it to my attention before this?"
She drew her purse from her pocket
and laid a five-dollar bill before him.
"Call your attention. / wonder what
else have been doing for six weeks
past l have scarcely n decent gar
ment to my back, and no matter how
much I say about them, you seem too
much taken up with your own con-
Germs to pay any heed at allr'
"Why, James came the reproachfui
answer. 81 would willingly have given
yoa the money any day"
you seem to think it is a small mat
ter for man to have to ask his wife
for things l haven't had n smoke
since YOU began work. simply because
l wouldn't asl. you for cigar money"
"Oh, I am sorry" she said, with n
well-feigned absence Of mind. "You
ought to have spoken. / don't suppose
your cigar money would amount to
more than my own pet Indulgence does
my yceum tickets OF course, what
is yours is mine, and what is mine is
yours. You really ought TO have
spoken"
4 vague recollection Of past sparring
over lyceum tickets seemed 70 trouble
Elton's mind for n moment, but it
quickly passed. for she had brought out
pencil and paper and was insisting
that he should make a catalog Of his
sartorial needs at once. He complied
with very bad grace and then she
wrote out a check of generous dlmen-
slons.
"Now, dear" she said. sweetly, 81
think this will cover all Of II, and you
may just hand me any Balance that IS
left over OF course, would like to
see the bill"
THE dickens, you would" he explod-
ed angrily She looked at him In panied
surprise, and seeing that he was about
to ease his mind, she hurriedly gath
cred up her outdoor things and music
roll, ana with murmured excuse
about being late, she left him.
One evening the postman brought
letter TO Mr. Elton, postmarked at his
boyhood's home. He read it over
gloomlly, and contrary to his usual
custom. folded 1t up and placed it in
his pocket, without showing 1t to his
wife. She looked surprised, but said
nothing. In few days another letter
came, and still another, from the same
place. At last she spoke.
what in the world Is Edgar writing
so often to you abont? she asked. as
she handed him the fourth. Without
word he gave her ,he unopened letter.
She broke the seal and read aloud:
"Dear Jm-This II the fourth time |
have written TO you, and cannot un-
derstand your silence. Surely you wish
to help the other children In making
the golden wedding OF our parents an
occasion they will remember with n
glow the rest Of their liyes-short as
that time must be. None of us are
rich. and so we cannot get the golden
remembrance we have agreed upon
without your $25. Send It II possible.
old boy. even II you have to rstrench