Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-04-10

ity! 1t looks so much like trying to
swindle somebody"
But I'm not trying to swindle any
body" she assured me. She was be-
yond the verge of tears now.
"Of course not" agreed. But in
county court they look upon every
one as more or less of swindler. The
Judge wouldn't know you so well as
1 do
Judges must be brutes,' she avow-
ed.
ut is not altogether their fault" l
said Their calling makes them
brutal
and what would happen then" she
inquired.
1T would depend on what sort of
mood the judge was in" l said.
can't bear to see Mildred in dis
tress. but l hoped to discourage her
in her mania for running up bills that
she can't pay.
DO you think it would be of any
use to apply to your father?" said l.
81 daren't," she replied. II simply
darent. Things have been going rath-
er wrong in the city lately. and his
temper's really awful, especially on
the question of money. He does MOTH
ing but talk about cutting down ex-
penses."
1nwardly wondered why fathers
are always talking about cutting down
expenses. 1t seems to be a sort of
monomania that accompanies pattern
ity.
Then you are sure there is no hope
from that quarter?"
Quite sure" she replied.
l was silent for awhile. Was
thinking out, scheming, reckoning
ways and means, pros and cons-not
that they needed much reckoning.
"As far as I can see," said at
length, there is only one person who
can get you out of the difficulty"
"And who is that?" she asked, with
out much enthusiasm. She evidently
did not believe in the existence of
4 such a person. She was entertaining
confused visions of the bankruptcy
and county courts, with possibly a
prison cell in the background
your husband" said very calm
| ly, although my pulse was beating at
a tremendous rate.
But l haven't got a husband" she
replied impatiently.
you are quite old enough to have
one" observed. "And you are toe
young not to have one-to look after
you and pay your bills for you"
"And lecture me and talk about
cutting down expenses" she retorted
"Thank you. One of that sort in the
family is quite enough for mel"
'The husband l was thinking about
wouldn't lecture you and wouldn't tall,
about cutting down expenses. He
would not lecture you, because he
would be too fond of you; and he
wouldn't talk about cutting down ex.
penses, because things happen to be
rather fourishing with him, and look
like improving" )
i And where am to find this affec-
tionate, fourishing paragon?" she in
quired.
IF you will look straight in front
of you he will be the first man you
will see,'' said.
"What?" she cried, not pretending
to misunderstood me. Marry you
merely in order that you may pay my
bills? You don't pay me very great
compliment"
NO." 1 said, mot merely in order
to pay your bills, but that may look
after you, and most of all, that may
be Observation-Disclosures"
'iBut couldn't" she protested. "Af-
ter all this" She waved her hands
in the direction of the obnoxious bills.
Because 1t would be really marrying
You for money, wouldn't it?"
/. Not if you wanted me for love- /
decided
But how would you know that l
was marrying you for love?" she
asked. u
Il should know If you told me-" i
said.
"And BESIDES" she objected, you
don't love me-
"oh, yes do assured her.
"Then why haven't you told me SO
before?" she cried, and there was joy
in her voice.
Il was afraid that you would only
laugh at me if did," l explained.
ooh, you are silly!" she cried.
understood that remark as an &C.
ceptance in full, and Mildred evident.
ly intended it in that way.
Half an hour later said: II don't
think we had better trouble about a
long engagement. The sooner your
husband pays those bills the BETTER!
PHILADELPHIA Telegraph.