Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-08-28

pehG she Gid not for this. however.
withdraw altoEets er from association
with Emma aud Brooks and continued
on more or less amicable terms with
them Now and then she coudescend-
ed 20 call upon them with Beth, but
her visits. as a rule. were a good deal
Of trial 20 the young couple, sor she
regarded Brooks failure 70 get on in
the steamship company as a vindica-
ton OF her opinion as 20 his ability
and the righteousness Of their mar
ri3ge and was prone 70 coDdone with
her daughter. assume an exasperating
l-tOld-you-so attitude and lament what
might have been.
During the four years Of their mar
ried life Brooks salary had been
raised only so a month, although in
addition 20 his work as accountant. 70
which he had been assigned after Mr.
Harris death. that Of collector had
been thrust upon him. It had been a
hard. bitter experience FOR pretty little
Mrs. Brooks. this unaccustomed druds-
cry OF homework. this continuous
securing Of greasy pots and pans and
washing Of dishes. which she loathed;
this deprivation Of comforts and luxu-
ries that she had known all her life;
this privation Of many personal things
considered lndispensa bic by the dainty
woman; this necessity OF perpetual
rigid economizing. which barely SUI
feed TO make both ends meet She de-
prived herself OF much needed cloth.
ing. 10 say nothing Of fnery. that Joe
might go properly clad 70 his Office
but she never for that reason descend
ed 70 slovenliness. never let herself
60" as so many women IN their own
households make the mistake OF doing.
and never had she allowed one word
OF complaint one indication OF regret
70 escape her. She had married Joe
for love. Tor better or for worse. and
resigned herself bravely and cheerful
~ 10 the consequences. however hard
20 bear. hoping for the better times
that were so long In coming and en-
couraging her husband 70 fight on and
win.
Joe. for his part, lacked his wife's
grit and energy. and constant disap-
pointment had undermined his forti-
tude. He loved Emma. he hardly
could have done otherwise. though
calculation bad entered largely into
his counting Of her Chivalrously,
while the sweet bliss OF their early
married life held him in its spell he
had done as much OF the heavier work
Of the menage as be could TO spare
her when time and opportunity afford
ed. but very naturally be had soon
80 hs.~ A..
does not?-and by degrees had left as
much OF Il as be could 70 her. except
when his moods Of optimism and az
fectionate solicitude impened him 20
20 20 her assistance. At such times he
wanted 20 do II all.
On the evening following his out
burst az the Office he was stilI resent
ful and down in the mouth" when he
let himself into his little Cat. and the
smiles OF his wife as she raised her
rosebud lips 90 receive his kiss OF
greeting failed 10 dispel his gloom.
You seem out Of sorts tonight.
dear" she said solicltousiy. Any
thing 80 wrong az the oficey"
Nothing IN particular. I'm tired
and hungry after shaving all day in
this awful heat that's all"
Never mind. supper's all ready. so
sit down and tuck in"
What did you getY'
Chops and potatoes"
Joe turned up his nose. but took hts
seat at table and began 20 eat He
answered his wife's questions in mono
syllables. His thoughts. II was plain.
were not on his meal OF Emma's con-
versatlon. and. seeing that he was pre-
occupied and troubled, she ceased &c
try 20 engage his attention.
81 paid the gas bin today" be vouch-
safed az length. Ninety cents more
than last month"
Ninety cents morew she commented
with concern, Pm sure we didn't
use half as much. And we owe the
butcher four-sixty."
Every month Il costs more 70 live.
/ don't know what we are going TO do,
I'm sure"
I'm sorry, Joe. Goodness knows !
try 10 be as economical as l can
Il know. but it's all wrong. It's all
wrong that you should be spelling
your hands with those beastly greasy
pans. They weren't meant for such
work. ! wish we could afford a hired
girl"
$50 do I. but we can't, so what's the
use Of wishing? Didn't you get the
raise you asked Captain Williams
forY' she inquired.
NO"
He hung his head and lapsed into
gloomy silence. She dropped the NOR
sci she was raising TO her mouth and
rose from the table, filed with dis
may, her appetite completely gone
Tears OF disappointment followed the
realization OF what the failure OF their
plans meant for neither had doubted
that his request would be complied
with, and she had built many castles
in the air on the strength Of IL. A few
dollars more a week added TO their
distressingly small income would have
meant much to them. But, gazing at
her husband sitting there utterly de-
Jected and crushed. her heart went out
70 him in pity and love. and she moved
over to his chair and put her arm con-
solingly round his neck.