Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-03-06
The Housekeeper's
 Check
Copyright, ls0s, by Joseph '. Borles.
By ALBERT BICELoW pAINH

paying TOT It. A number or times, when we thought we had settled the last and final bit of our liabilities, new demand would be presented, a new hydra head to be smitten oil, a new wound to be scared over and for gotten. A big brace for the tall new chimney was an extra" of course. Likewise the storm windows and a new patent damper for the furnace. guaranteed to save anywhere from nine to ninety nine per cent. of the coal used, and to supply at least dou- ble the heat. The sparkscreen, 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 check.
 It is easy to draw checks when the account is replete-in fact, it is rather a pleasure to do sol am sure the Little Woman used to regard me with an admiration akin to awe as l care lessly filled in the figures and name of payee, and signed my name with a neat flourish on the line below.
 l 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 th.s at the time.
 It presently became less agreeable. When the third figure of our balance waned into the perspective until it became a thin line that would become a vanishing point at the least touch, the construction of a check became a serious matter. It was no longer light ly conceived and carelessly put to- gether, with decorative scrolls at the end, like spring lyric. It became a thing of forethought and reflection to be wrought at last with 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 I was saying, our balance became 2 feature of consideration, even dis cussion. There were good many things we still needed in the way of furniture and decorations, now that our habitation was to our liking. We also needed clothes. When we sat down in our rather imposing rooms in which there were 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 tramps that had got in while the folks were away.
 still urged the chair. I said that clothes wefe a matter of display and vanity. Also, that they were transient and feeting. while the chair would be the comfort of a 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 we'll as the chair were matters of comfort, and needed a good deal more. She in- sisted that we had laid out enough on extraneous luxuries for one year, and that there were a few things we might foreso, in order to be decently clad.
 To do the Little Woman justice, I 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 go 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 Vaccinations 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 az we bought. There is great saving of time in getting transfer card. and greater certainty of prompt delivery in having goods come c. o. D. When we got through we had bought most of the things VIC could think of. and a good many we never would have thought of without seeing them. and that we couldn't think e again when we got outside and were on tho train going home.
 had not counted the exact amount of cur debauch. but had run the fg- urss up loosely and literally. and realizing that the end was now inevi- table. drew a check next morning for our full balance. Then I went away, leaving the check and the obsequies in the hands of the Little Woman. If the amount was not quite enough she was to make it up out of her weekly purse. If it vas too much she vas to keep the change.
 By some quiTk of fortune it was too much. It was several dollars too much. a he Little Woman was eiated until fhe driver regarded the check rather toub,fuIly and decided that he couldn't give money for it. He would vsve fhs znoSr freely e-aurh The