Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-02

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 notT" 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
seat beside him. II have something
to impart that 1 have kept to myself
for years. You know Shuster"
Eyes, 1 know the old curmudgeon."
"Well, am indebted to him to the
amount Of $1,000"
why, Toni And you never told
mer'
81 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 fin.
ished my four years at college my IA
Their failed and 1 had not the where
withal to attain my profession. Then
suddenly / told you that 1 had obtain
ed the means, but was pledged to tell
no one whence received it"
"Yes; remember that"
zone day while I was lamenting my
hard fate in being obliged to go into
business after expecting to become a
lawyer / met old Shuster on the street.
Shuster, as you know, lends money at
a high rate of interest. He asked me
what proposed to do now that 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 1 said. you only lend money
on security, and have no security
= 81 want no better security than
the word of an honorable man. he re-
piled, 4 know when 1t is safe to lend
money and when to refuse to lend
"'But you will requ'~e a high rate
Of interest
Not in this case. Six per cent will
/ do
; HE agreed to furnish the money as
/ needed it and declined to take any
notes for the amounts loaned. Dor
rowed little over three hundred a
year from him for three years, earn
ing myself as much besides. On get
ting my degree 1 insisted on giving
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
J While the husband was speaking the
wife drew closer and closer to him
and when he had finished looked up
into his face and said:
81 will help you all can in the mat
ter of giving up pleasures till the debt
! is paid"
J 81 knew you would. sweetheart. You
see, shall not only wish to show my
self worthy of Shuster's confidence'e
Ills confidence!"
/ "Yes Did he not prove 1t in lend.
ing me the money on my bare prom
Use to repay himT'
"Oh, certainly-yeS. l 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 tel
them the same"
mo, we won't"
"But dear, l shall have another
note
y "Never mind next year. 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 bs
, from me to you"
well, be 1t as you wish. But let 4
be some tri1ing article made with you
own hands ! shall prize 1t all tn,
s more If you make 1t yourself"
This dialogue occurred previous Il
Tom Wentworths departure for his of
y fee. With the last words he kissed hi
bride and went out. She appeared a
window, and he threw her a kiss.
Unknown TO her husband. Ella Went
worth made such preparations TO
+ Christmas as she chose to make. Sh
e was the financial manager of house
hold expenses and was not require,
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 sue
gifts as she would have bought had h
not signified desire that she shoul,
not do so. But she maintained abso
lutte secrecy in these matters, bringing
home the articles herself when sh
ID knew Tom was at the office and stor
Ing them away where he would no
stumble upon them. She provided 70
an elaborate breakfast for Christina
morning, inviting every one of he
own and her husbands families to joi
them on the occasion. .
4 Tom saw Christmas approach wit
something of displeasure-that is, tn
Christmas of his own household. Hol
days we do not celebrate ourselves ar
! aot only irksome, but at times unpleas
4 ant. Tom knew what ne had asked @
nis wife in suggesting that she give u