Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-12-04
DAILY. STOR Y.
PRACTICAL MARRIAGE.
[Original.1

Ralph Barnard married a girl who
| thought more of her present comfort
than keeping her husband in those
channels for which he was fitted. No
sooner did he begin to win a compe
tence in one field than she proceeded
to remove him to another. She dis
liked the country, so she made his life
miserable till he pulled up stakes and
went to the city. Then she took it into
her head that she preferred to live in
the same place with his mother, and
they moved again. A rolling stone
gathers no moss, and the Barnard
family gathered only debts.
One day a young woman of pleas
ing appearance called at Bawnard's Of
fee to collect a debt OF long standing
Barnard asked her if she knew where
he could borrow the money (S1O0) on
his note. 'At what INTEREST,"" asked
the girl. I'll pay as high as per cent
month"; was the reply. For how
long" "Oh, as long as you like
three years" The girl thought awhile,
then said she would lend him the mon
ey herself. Give me your note for
ST. she said, land we will be square,"
Barnard asked her what she meant.
The amount loaned is 500, the in
tereSt Sos. You will owe me IS and
get no money
Barnard was taught lesson that he
never forgot.
Five years passed. Barnard was a
widower. From the time of his wife's
death he managed his affairs with
proper care and got them in fair con-
To Int |,
was untrammeled. and it was posi-
BILE fer him to remain in one place and
accumulate. The Only drawback finan-
cially was that he had no one to at
tend to the buying of household sup
plies, which needed constant attention.
since prices were rising with frightful
rapidly. His capital was still limit
ed, and he was not yet very quick pay.
This kept him from that financial good
standing which enables man to get
on.
One day the same woman collector
who had called upon him before came
to his office to collect Il debt. She
looked tidy and thrifty, and what little
she said was to the point. Barnard
kept her talking as long as he could.
He had the money to pay with. but he
did not care to pay. He was thinking
what valuable woman the collector
was. Barnard chatted with her good
naturally and drew her into common
place affairs, quietly drawing her out.
He soon made up his mind that she
was very practical as we'll as at
tractive young woman. Thus he won
her sympathy by telling her his trou-
bles. assured her that he was doing
the best he could and ended by offer
ing to pay up the Indebtedness by in
stallments. If she would call every
Saturday afternoon he would pay
something on account till the matter
was settled To this she agreed and
took her departure.
The next Saturday she called. and
Barnard in addition to the installment
had few flowers for her, an acknOwl-
edgment. he said. of her kindness, her
trouble and her patience. She accept
ed them gladly and warmed to the
donor. The next Saturday after that
a buggy was standing at the door, and
he invited her to take drive. He
said she would oblige him by doing
SO; that he was not very well, he need
ed recreation and had no companion
unless she would go with him. To
show her that he was not using money
that should go to pay his account he
gave her double installment.
During the ride he told her that he
had two nice little tots at home, but
had no suitable person to take care of
them. She piHed the poor widower
and said she would like to see them.
He gave his home address. and during
the next week she went in and spent
an hour with them. Then followed |
some toys. On her next coming to the |
office she gave him an invitation to |
call upon her.
Barnard called and was impressed |
with the pleasant appearance of the |
home, which was under the care of the |
young woman herself. He was espe |
cially struck with the homemade cur
tains, tablecloths-indeed, all articles |
that could be produced without being |
paid for. He made several calls and |
with each call was still more of the |
opinion that some young man who con- |
siders merely a pretty face and coy |
ways the proper attributes for house |
keeper was losing an opportunity.
The next saturday AFTERNOON Wnen |
the collector called Barnard being |
alone in the office, handed her the re |
mainder of the money due and took |
her receipt for the account in full. |
Then he said to her:
"Since our acquaintance began with |
q matter of business / wish it to con- |
tinue as matter of business. Usually |
affairs between men and women begin |
with love and end with business. That |
is the reason why marriage is said to |
be lottery. 1 have observed that you |
are q sensible, frugal woman. with |
good business qualifications. / offer |
you the position of wife and house
keeper. If you accept you may be sure /
Of my love.
The offer was accepted, and Ralph |
married his second wife In her he |