The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-12-07

II am sorry. Ella, that we are not
able to celebrate this our first Christ
mas together" said Tom Wentworth
TO his bride, but the fact neverthe-
less remains true"
And why not" asked the young
wife, with surprise written on every
line of her face.
LET me tell you" He took both her
hands IN his and drew her down on to
a seat beside him. Il have something
to impart that | have kept 10 myself
for years. You know ShusterY
Yes, know the old curmudgeon."
We'll. l am indebted to him 10 the
amount of $1,000"
why. Tom! And you never told
mep'
II told you before we were married
that / had barely enough income from
my own profession to procure for US
the necessaries OF life. with not cent
for pleasures. The celebration OF
Christmas comes under the latter
head. You remember that when l fin
ished my four years ut college my IA
Their failed and l had not the where
withal to attain my profession. Then
suddenly l told you that had obtain
ed the means. but was pledged to tell
no one whence l received It."
"Yes; l remember that"
"One day while l was lamenting my
hard fate In being obliged to go into
business after expecting to become
lawyer / met old Shuster on the street
Shuster, as you know, lends money al
a high rate of interest He asked me
what 1 proposed to do now that l had
been graduated was full Of my dis
appointment and told him about 1t.
To my surprise, he offered to lend me
the money required to study for my
profession
But said. you only lend money
on security, and have no security
"T want no better security than
the word of an honorable man. he re.
piled, Il know when 1t Is safe to lend
money and when to refuse to lend
but you will require high rate
of interest.
mot In this case. Six per cent will
do
HE agreed to furnish the money as
| needed 1t and declined to take any
notes for the amounts loaned. | Dor
rowed a little over three hundred a
year from him for three years, earn
ing myself as much besides. On get
ting my degree I insisted on giving
him two notes of $500 each. one note
to be paid each year. Now. you know
that my salary with Busby and Busby
is $1,000 a year. OF this amount $500
must go to Shuster, leaving US $1,000
on which to live; consequently for two
years we have absolutely nothing for
pleasures"
While the husband was speaking the
wife drew closer and closer to hiLr
and when be had finished looked up
into his face and said:
II will help you all can In the mat
ter of giving up pleasures till the debt
Is paid"
II knew you would, sweetheart. You
see. / shall not only wish to show my
self worthy of Shuster's confidence
His conf1dencew
Eyes. Did he not prove 1t In lend
ing me the money on my bare prom
Use to repay him?"
"Oh, certainly-yes. suppose So"
"Well. then, 1t Is understood that we
give no presents on Christmas. We
can tell every one beforehand that
we intend to make nothing of Christ
mas this year. and next year Wen tell
them the same"
mo. we won't"
"But dear. | shall have another
note
"Never mind next year. l will agree
to all You suggest for this one except
one thing. There shall be one gift be.
tween US, and only one. That will be
from me to you"
"Well. be II rs you wish. But let II
be some trif1ing article made with your
own hands. shall prize 1t all the
more IL you make 1t yourself"
This dialogue occurred previous tc
Tom Wentworth's departure for his Of
fee. With the last words he kissed his
bride and went out. She appeared a
a window, and he threw her kiss.
Unknown to her husband. Ella Went
worth made such preparations FOL
Christmas as she chose to make. She
was the financial manager of house
hold expenses and was not required
TO make an accounting. AS to the sub
ject of her conversation with her hus
band, II must be confessed that she VIC
lated his wishes She purchased such
gifts as she would have bought had he
not signiHed a desire that she should
not do so. But she maintained abso
lutte secrecy in these matters. bringing
home the articles herself when she
knew Tom was at the Office and stor.
Ing them away where he would not
stumble upon them. She provided fol-
an elaborate breakfast for Christmas
morning. inviting every one of heI
own and her husbands families to Join
them on the occasion.
Tom saw Christmas approach with
something Of displeasure-that is. the
Christmas Of his own household. Holi
days we do not celebrate ourselves are
not only irksome. but at times unpleas
ant. Tom knew what he had asked OF
his wife in NuQ1estinp that she give uu