Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-05-07
TIE SPENDTHRlFTS.
BY N. PARKER JONES.
1918. by the Mcclure Newspa-
nAr Syndioata

Hugh Waters tucked little Mrs,
Hugh under his arm. pulled his over
coat collar up to keep out the biting
wind, and they turned briskly down
the snow-covered street toward home,
WARN enough, Muggins?" he asked.
Smothered!" was the coughing re-
ply.
Some party, wasn't itT' he said en-
Enthusiastically.
Some partyI I should say so
Hugh, wouldn't it be lovely to have
money!? Mrs. Waters sighed softly.
Enough so we could give party once
In while, like this one of the Hud-
sons tonight, and have a house and
wonderful rugs like theirs?"
Hugh threw back his head and
roared. eve are mighty hard up,
aren't we, lady love? never realized
it so strongly before"
Mrs. Hugh laughed too. "Oh, we're
not suffering, I'll admit, and / suppose
lots of people think we're rolling in
riches on your salary Of $500 a year /;
but 1t doesn't reach very far out after
frills, anyway" she answered as they
reached their steps.
They opened the door quietly to keep
from waking their two little sons, and
at their entrance the young high school
girl, In charge during their infrequent
nights out, rose from her chair, gath
cred up her books and with a thank
you for the half-dollar her services
demanded and a pleasant "Good
night" she hurried away.
"Sit down and warm your feet, Mrs.
Madam" said Waters. Il want to talk
to you little Bit"
Eve ought to go to bed right away,
dear. It's later Mrs. Hugh demurred.
But she sat down nevertheless, and
her husband drew chair near her.
"Kind of cozy here by the fire, 1
think, don't your" he asked, and patted
her hand. "Just as nice as the party,
maybe"
"Nicer, Hugh" she replied. "The
best part of going out is coming home,
according to my way of thinking. But
we are poor, aren't we? 1t seems to
me that every one in our crowd is
getting ahead faster than we are. /
wouldn't trade husbands with any
body, but l wouldn't mind trading in
comes, would your" She sighed again.
Waters leaned forward with rather
strained look on his face.
"Well, Muggins," he said briskly,
perhaps we can manage the income
hereafter. Guess whatT
"What?" she asked breathlessly.
Hudson took me up to his den to-
night and-guess what he saidw He
stopped inpressively.
"Now, Eugh!" she begged.
Offered me five thousand year to
go with his firm" His tone was tri-
umphant.
Five thousandw his wife cried in
credulously. You accepted before he
had a chance to change his mind, of
course"
"Well, no, didn't" he replied slow
ly. Il thought I'd better consult you
first, as all good husbands do"
Man alive! AS If a wife in her
right mind would veto such a plan as
that!" she exclaimed In establishment.
Give thousand dollarsI Just think Of
all we can do with that much money.
If thought they weren't too tired to
be disturbed I'd have you telephone
Mr.. Hudson before we go to bed and
say Yes, indeedyP"
II think the proposition will be open
till after breakfast anyway" was the
dry response. "There was one little
condition that haven't mentioned.
Maybe you'd better hear it."
why, Of course" she answered.
"But know his Arm Is one Of the best
in the state. What's the condition."
"Just that I must travel all the
time, stopping only a few days in a
place, and will only be able to get
home to you and the kiddies once
every four weeks. and then only over
Sunday, If the trains run right"
Mrs. Waters eyes were wide with
amazement and her pretty face was
pale.
Hugh Watersl And you hesitated
one single, solitary second? I'll never
forgive you as long as 1 livel" She
began to cry.
We'll, I'll tell him tomorrow that
can report for duty on the twentieth"
he answered.
"And you're going to accept itr
asked Mrs. Hugh, Mortified.
"Of course" he replied.
"And only come home once in thirty
days, and then only for fifteen min
utes, and leave me and the boys ell
alone, and Oh, you don't love us a
solitary bit!" She burst into tears
again.
But you said" was his bewiIdered
reply.
But I said whatf"
"You said you'd never forgive me for
hesitating to accept" he cried.
ITO acceptf No, indeed" she an
swered. II said I'd never forgive you
for hesitating."
But. Muggins. there is a better
house in it, better rugs, a few dia-
monds In time, and maybe q car like
the Carey's," he answered.
"And no Hugh to go with them. No,
thank you, kind sir Your society is
worth more than all the rest Of the
things thrown In, million times over"
she decls,ced.
Jared it even better annual than
asst year, and everyone interested in
he school ought to have one.