The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1911-07-06

er in the world would have the moral
courage to make the necessary sacri-
fees.
In the first enthusiasm of having
such nice house to live in the debt
did not loom ominous.
why" Ida said, gayly, cts SO per-
fectly splendid, having this instead of
stuffy four-room fiat like everybody
else has that shan't mind giving up
things bit"
That was at first. When days fol-
lowed days they began to look at each
other seriously over the papers COW
cred with figuren. They loved the the
alter and now they had to give it up.
In fact they had to give up almost ev-
erything they had enjoyed, even their
friends. If their friends entertained
them it meant that they must enter
tain In return.
Life resolved itself into grim
struggle to make their payments. Ida's
clothes got shabby and Brill learned
to walk by cigar case and keep his
eyes straight ahead. They learned to
stay at home evening after evening
and they took to reading aloud as a
diversion and to the multiplication
table and long division as necessity.
So it had been long, hard struggle
and now Brill was glad 1t was ended.
It seems queer" he said at dinner
that night for the dozenth time, ito
think that it's all over-that we
haven't got to scrimp and pinch and
save money for anything special! We
can have better time now!"
Well enjoy life" Ida said dreamily,
resting her chin On her clasped hands.
"Think of all the things we can dol"
We'll, what shall we dor" asked
Brill?
His wife regarded him with puz-
zled look. why, don't know" she
said, slowly. "All the things we've
wanted to and couldn't since we were
married, / suppose. And 1t will be
fine not to have the worry"
They stayed at home that evening,
fitfully reading and discussing the fact
that they were out of debt and re-
moved from the necessity of scrimp-
ing. When Brill started downtown in
the morning he remembered to throw
out his chest as he descended the
front steps, for did he not own his
home and have his full salary to
spend?
They had a fine time for a while
u &c \, II VIC
They did go to the theater and they
bought some new clothes and Ida
joined a literary club. But after
while Brill grew restless.
II don't know what's the matter
with me- he said. Il guess it's just
nerves. , don't feel right. Something
seems wrong somehow
There doesn't seem much to do
his wife agreed, II can't get up an in
terest in anything"
They grew silent and distracted.
Brill developed habit of idly ma
king marks with his pencil on the
blank pad of paper on which they had
done their figuring during the past
year.
One night he came home late to
dinner a little breathless, but with
light In his eye. He spoke rapidly
and almost defiantly.
IT suppose you'll be furious at me"
he said, "but ran across a good In
vestment where property Is bound to
60 up and I've bought a small store
building for $1,000 with six years to
pay the mortgage and"
That's splendid" interrupted his
wife, excitedly. we can do it just as
well as not! I've thought of a new
way to cut down our expenses and I'm
dying to try it! It'll be fun to plan
again and feel that we're really do
Ing something's"
well" said her relieved husband.
as he reached for the pad Of paper,
sdt does seem to give one something
to live for to be honestly in debt again
and have to fight to get out!