Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1906-05-16
The Housekeeper'S
Check
tcopyright, 1905. by Joseph u. Bowilcs.
BY ALBERT BICELoW PAINE

new demand would be presented,
new hydra head to be smitten off, a
eW wound to be scared over and for
ptten. A big brace for the tall new
Iimney was an extra" of course.
likewise the storm windows and a
ew patent damper for the furnace,
Guaranteed to save anywhere from
hine to ninety-nine per cent. OF the
coal used, and to supply at least dou-
BILE the heat The spark-screen, and
irons, and other adjuncts for the fire
place-these too, were outside the
contract, and good deal easier to buy
than to pay for even when the buy
ing meant housing about in dusty an
tique stores, and the paying simple
matter of drawing a check.
1t is easy to draw checks when the
account is replete-in fact, it is rather
pleasure to do SOL am sure the
Little Woman used to regard me with
an admiration akin to awe as | care
lessly filled in the figures and name
of payee, and signed my name with a
neat flourish on the line below.
suppose she wondered why never
let her do it, and very likely consid-
cred me selfish in conserving to my
self this important and rather agree
able duty. though l did not think of
tbs at the time.
1t presently became less agreeable.
When the third figure of our balance
waned into the perspective until 1t
became thin line that would become
vanishing point at the least touch,
the construction of check became a
serious matter 1t was no longer light
ly conceived and carelessly put to-
gether with decorative scrolls at the
end, like a spring lyric 1t became a
thing of forethought and reflection
to be wrought at last with a grave dig
nifty that savored of the epic's solemn
close-with that feeling of sadness
and longing that marks the end of
each and every waning balance in the
bankers till.
AS was saying, our balance became
a feature of consideration, even dis
cussion. There were a good many
things we still needed in the way of
furniture and decorations, now tsat
our habitation was to our liking. We
also needed clothes. When we sat
down in our rather imposing rooms in
which there were a few good old
pieces of furniture, and some truly an
tique rugs, the fact that our apparel
was also good and old did not give
pleasure to the Little Woman
She became almost disagreeable
about it one day, when was arguing
for a new chair and declared that we
looked like trnmps that had got in
while the folks were away.
still urged the chair l said that
clothes were matter of display and
vanity. Also that they were transient
and fieeting, while the chair would be
the comfort of lifetime. Whereupon
the Little Woman stated that there
were certain garments that were not
used for display, except in magazine
advertisements, and that these as well
as the chair we're matters Of comfort,
and needed good deal more. She in
sisteo that we had laid out enough on
extraneous Injuries for one year, and
that there were q few things we might
forego, in order to be decently clad.
To do the Little Woman justice.
may say that believe her general ten
dency is rather toward furniture than
raiment--this being the true collector
spirit, and to be commended She had
smothered her better inclination, this
time, and was ready to sacrifice the
chair for a silk waist and something
to 20 under It, She meant to have
garments, whatever the cost. You
shall see how she was punished.
We went together. Neither could
quite trust the other alone in the de-
partment store revel that was to fol-
low the purchase Of the waist. The
fascinations Of a department store are
too great to be resisted singly. Even
working together and in full accord,
we yielded oftener than was good for
our balance sheet, or for the prospect
Of the new chair any time within q
period when we might reasonably
hope to need comforts for the flesh.
We didn't pay as we bought There
is great saving Of time in getting
transfer card, and . greater certainty
Of prompt delivery in having goods
come g. o. D. When we got through
We had bought most Of the things we
could think Of, and good many We
never would have thought Of without
seeing them, and that we couldn't
think OF again when we got outside
and were on the train going home.
had not counted the exact amount
Of our debauch, but had run the ig-
ures up loosely and literally, and
realizing that the end was now inevi- I
table. drew 4 check next morning for
our full balance. Then went away.
leaving the check and the obseQuies
IN the hands Of the Little Woman. II
the amount was not quite enough she
was to make Il up out Of her weekly
purse. II It was too much she was to
keep the change.
BY some dnirk Of fortune It was too /
much. 1t was several dollars too much.
Yhe Little Woman was elated until
the driver regarded the check rather