Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-11-16
Tho Market Price Of Wives.

Twill B. Wilder in Vests Docket
It is generally understood that this
stock Is somewhat speculative. and
quotations vary from g to age as
civilization advances. A pony was
reckoned a fair price among certain
tribes of the Indians, whereas the
white a goes thru the form of en-
downing his bride with all his worldly
goods. Sometimes he really means
what he says, but there probably have
been a good many bridegrooms who
were astonished and indignant on re-
ceiving their first honeymoon hotel bill,
and who contemplated rowing with the
proprietor on his outrageous charges
until they suddenly realized that the
charges were for two. and that here
after hotel bills and railway fares and
even street car rides would cost them
double. It is an Illuminating moment
in a mans career.
Usually hat moment does not come
until after the man is actually married.
It's great white light bursts upon
Charley Carr prematurely. That's why
the Carr-F1ighty wedding announce
ments were never issued. This was
the way It happened.
Charley vas a clerk at s12 a week.
He felt SO enormously rich when his
envelope first contained that sum that
he thought OF celebrating the occasion
with a wedding. Several persons had
told him that two can live as economi-
cally as one. and he was ready to be-
lieve the fable. because there was a
pretty little girl. who wore the most
fetching hats, and loved the most ex-
ra~c{,,o h1rhnra rho u-n1111 ho the
other one Of the two. When Charley
told her that they could live together
happily on s12 a week. she vas quite
ready to take his word for 1t.
Fortunately, they would not have to
pay rent because Charley had thrifty
provided himself, thru the medium Of
a building gency with a small house
in a suburban district. 1t was rather
too small and too suburban to meet
Gladys ideas. out Charley regarded the
prospect with contagious optimism.
"Now. dear. you fix 1t up. and it will
be charming" he said. "You AVE such
good taste. You can stick up pictures,
and max 1t look cunning and home
like" And in ratification thereof he
gave her the key.
Gladys proceeded TO fix things up
after her own notion Of what they
should be. She engaged decorators.
and paper hangers. and f~urnituremen.
and the result was a really charming
bower. Gladys had such good taste.
Charley watched the transformation
going on with admiration that grew
into wonder, and wonder that grew in
TO uneasiness, and uneasiness that
grew finally into a financial panic.
What Ices all this COST" he asked.
Gladys pouted.
care you going to begin to grumble
about cost already"
We'll, but" protested Charley, Il
can't pay for II. You've been awfully
extravagant. Gladys"
Thereupon Gladys pout became a
thunder shower and a few minute
later Charley was standing alone in his
tastefully decorated house. conscious
only Of the fact that his engagement
vas broken of and that Gladys vowed
she would never speak to him again.
Charley was young. as h $12 en-
velope indicated. He gathered up his
broken heart. and decided h a he could
glue 1t together and make IT serve as
we'll as ever. He sent back the mission
furniture. Then the decorators bill
came to him.
II won't pay it." said Charley. "Me
pay for a bridal chamber that / never
occupied! Humph! I see myself. I
didn't order all those fancy cupids on
the frieze. Pay for them? Not me-"
But the supreme court told Charley
politely. but firmly. that he was mis-
taken, and that as a matter OF fact he
was going e pay for the decoration.
1.-The fact tina defendant intrusted
Miss Eighty with his key, and that they
were arranging for the wedding in No
vember, is sufficient" on the authority
Of Miller We. Loncao, 127 New York
Supplement, 80, the court said, ITO in
dictate that she was acting as defend
ants agent"
And this is why the wedding an
nouncements were never issued, and
why Charley Carr put a mortgage on
his suburban house.
- A-----