The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1906-12-03
GAG sc
origfnaL1

There Is no element Ia mans life
That contributes more to his success or
failure rhan the woman he chooses for
helpmeet.
Ralph Bawnnrd married a girl who
thought more OF her present comfort
thaa keeping heT husband In those
channels for which he was fitted. 40
sooner did he begin to win a compe
tence IN one field than she proceeded
to remove him to another. She dis
Il,.el the country 50 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 Bawnard
family gathered only debts.
One day a young woman of pleas
Ing appearance called at Bawnard's Of
Zee to collect a debt of long stumbling.
8awnnrd asked her IL she knew where
he could borrow the money $500 on
his note. AT what INTEREST,"" asked
the girl. -'I'Il pay as high as per cent
a month" was the reply. For how
Iong?' '.Oh. as long as you Ike
three years The girl thought awhile,
then said she would lend him the mon
ey herself GIVE me your note for
IL
Bnwnard asked her what she meant
.'Thc amount louned is 800. the in
terest sos. You viii owe me SO and
get no money"
Bawnurd was taught lesson that he
never forgot.
Five yenrs passed Bawnard was
widower. From the time OF his wife's
death he managed his affairs with
proper care and got them in fair con-
dition. He was very lonely, but he
was untrammeled. and It was possi-
BILE for him to remain In one place and
accumulate. The only drawback hnan-
chilly was that he had no one to at
tend to tho huying of household sup
plies which needed constant attention,
since prices were rising with friEhtful
rapidity His capital was still limit
ed. and he was not yet very quick pay.
This kept him from that financial good
standing which enables a man to get
on.
One day the same woman collector
who had called upon him before came
to his office to collect a 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 Bawnard 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 a very practical as well as at
tractive young woman. Thus he won
her sympathy by telling her his trou-
bIes assured her that he was doing
the best he could and ended by offer
10, %hn nv n
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 a few flowers for her. an acknowl-
edgmenf, 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 a drive. He
said she would OblIge him by doing
SO; that he was not very WELL he need
ed recreation aud had no companion
unless she would go with him. To
thnt should go TO pay his account he
During the ride he told her that he
had two nice little tots at home. but !
hadsno suitable person to take care OF
them. She pitisd the poor wldOwsr
and said she would like to see them. |
He gave aia 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
ONCE she gave hIm nm invitation to
call upon her.
Bawnard called and was impressed |
with the pleasant appearance of the
home. which was under the care of the
young woman herself. He Aas espe-
cially struck with the Homemade cur
tains, tabIecloths-indeed, all articles
that cOuId 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 when
the collector caIed Bawnard, being II
nlone In the ONCE, handed her the re
maInder of the money due and took
her receipt for the account IN full. /
Then he said to her:
''Slnce our acquaintance began with
4 matter OF business wish 1t to con
E;nue as n 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 a lottery. have observed that you
ire a sensible. frugal woman, With
rood business qualifications oIer
you the position Of wife and house
49, Ia \