The St. Mary banner., 1905-07-01

Il must do one thing or the other
cannot mix Matters" she insisted yer,
quietly.
III l give up my place at the banl
some one else would get it, and when
got ready to go back to work ther,
would be no opening for me-
| IF | conld make so much more WHY
should you go back. to work at all?"
| Because | have some pride! l viii
not have it said that am mollycoddl,
enough to let my wife support me-"
| VERY well. then" she said with +.
sigh. Il suppose we simply will have
I! to go on as we are, with you frettins
over every dollar l spend and me mis-
cradle over having to ask you fol
money"
He hesitated before replying. The
thought of comparative ease from
money worries and the assurance that
she could make it SO easily was ap.
pealing to him strongly. At length, he
said. with the air of one making up his
mind to a doubtful experiment. that
he would try the plan if she insisted
upon it,
"Well, then, I will sign the contracts
Tomorrow" she answered. briskly.
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 a
visible increase in the bills. but as she
had promised there should be 10
scrimping, she made no remark about
this. Mr.. Elton at first was delighted.
His nerves were OH edge from long
confinement from laborious desk work.
and although he missed his wifo'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 wistful look in her eyes.
but she wore stately air of determine
alton that her husband could not uil-
derstand. Matters went on very
until late spring. Mr.. EltGn
had about worn his wardrobe down 10
the frazzle edge and she saw that lc
was going actually shabby. He would
trim down the edges sf
collars and cuffs in her presence ard
complain about the shine and threat
baroness of his suits. 1t was a tempta-
ton to hand over the money for this
as she had for all other
needs. cheerfully and without demn...
out she wanted him to learn to look 1t
'amily finances from the standpoint e
lad compelled her to have, and so size
would look indifferently away and faH
o take any hints. One morning lie
'ame in from the lawn with a great
rack in the side of his shoe.
Just look at this!' he said, indi'.-
lantly. IF I don't get some shoes
Don. l will be barefooted."
"Oh, my dear" replied his wifF.
Do you need shoes? Why didn't you
all it to my attention before this!"
she drew her purse from her poke.
nd laid fiye-dollar bill before him.
Call your attention! l wonder what
lse l have been doing for six weeks
'ast! l have scarcely decent gar
lent to my back. and no matter how
nuch I say about them, you seem too
much taken up with your own con-
erns to pay any heed at air.
why, James," came the reproachfui |
nswer, II would willingly have given
ou the money any day"
"YOu seem to think it is small mat
er for man to have to ask his wife |
or things! l haven't had smoke |
ince you began work, simply because |
wouldn't ask you for cigar money"
"Oh, l am sorry she said, with
absence of mind. "You
ught to have spoken. l don't suppose
our cigar money would amount to
lore than my own pet indulgence does
my lyceum tickets. OF course, what |
; yours is mine, and what is mine is
ours. You really ought to have
poken."
A vague recollection Of past sparring
yer lyceum tickets seemed to trouble
'lton's mind for moment, but it
uickly passed, for she had brought out
encil and paper and was insisting
nat he should make a catalog of his
artorial needs at once. He complied
18th very bad grace, and then she
yrote out a check of generous dimen-
ions.
Now, DEAR" she said, sweetly, 81
hink this will cover all of it, and you
lay just hand me any balance that is
1T over. OF course, would like to
ee' the bill"
1.-THE dickens, you wouldr' he explod-
d angrily. She looked at him in pained