Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-28
MY MARRIED LIFE

BY ADELE GARRISON

II MADE a most hunnlliating discovery
Il fewsminutes after the shabby proprietor
OF the cleaning establishment had some.
In my haste 10 pay the bill whlch Dicky
had neglected for 30 long ! had given the
man all the money ! had in the house.
Tomorrow the 'bptcher. the baher and the
candlestlck maker" would call for their
weekly bills and I had nothing with which
to pay them I must either ask Dicky
for money or put OF the tradesmen to-
morrow.
Either OF these courses was Intolerable
TO me. I always have had horror OF a
debt. be n ever 30 small. IL is bred In
me My little mothers early married life.
before my father ran away, was long
nightmare OF debt and the duns OF creditors.
one OF my first memories is OF my mothers
despair at having no money with which
10 pay a pressing creditor. i cannot re-
member when made my first resolve never
TO owe anybody anything.
ON the other hand. long years OF In
dependence had intensified another trait
OF mine that OF hating 70 ask favor OF
any one. | had hoped that Dicky, when
we started housekeeping, would talk over
his financial Affairs with me as he would
with any other partner l had planned to
discuss with him what sum we could af-
ford weekly for housekeeping expenses
Then I had expected that he would hand me
that sum each week without any further
discussion.
But Diekys plans evidently did not run
along the lines which appealed 20 me. The
day we came into our little home he had
taken my purse from my hand, stuffed some
bills inside and said cafelessly. That's for
the housekeeping. Tell me when you need
more" Thousands of women before me,
I suppose, have gone through the experience
/ did, that of trying to stretch that none y
TO the farthest possible extent so as TO
put Off the day when / should have to
ask for more.
AN EMBARRASSING MOMENT
say. Missis Graham. the laundry man
here has the shirts and collars. He say
a dollar and thirty-fve cents" Katie stood
In the doorway. to my eyes a very Nemesis.
l counted out the change in my purse.
One dollar and Ave cents was the total. I
handed her the dollar.
That is all the change have here.
Katie" 1 tried to make my voice nom
chalant. "Tell him to add the rest to next
weeks bill"
Katie came back in a moment, her eyes
swapping with Indignation.
What you think Missis Graham? That
driver he one fool He say he new driver,
don't know you, he can't leave laundry no
money. He say he take II back with him.
/ say, You big stiff. / give you money
I have some in my pocketbook So / pay
him, get laundry You tell Mr.. Graham
call up laundry. have him come no more
here"
Thank you, Katie" said family. II
will hand you the money when get some
change" Kate's slang and manner grated
upon me, but / realized that this was no
time for criticism. When person saves
your life IL is not quite chubby to object to
the manner in which he does 1t.
That's all right" said Katie grandly,
and vanished to the kitchen. For minute
l whimsically envied Katie. She had no
complicated financial problems. So much
work, so much money and only herself to
suit In it's spending.
For the first time since my marriage !
dreaded Dicky's homecoming. Our little
dinner each evening had been the one event
of my day something to look forward to
and to dress for Today felt as l were
going to execution.
THE PERPLEXING PROBLEM
But II is a point of honor to dress ones
best even for that" l said to myself as