Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-08-31
THE
BETTER WAY
By CECILLE LANGDON

Inc uOuDIe marriage OF waiter DOf-
rance and Winnie Tresham and Frank
Dolby and Rita Pearce was the event
of the year at Upton. 1t was nothing
more than quiet, simple chuSch we'd
ding, but everything was in exquisite
taste. Brides and grooms were great
favOrites with the community, youth.
beauty and refinement combined to
make the double union attractive and
a glowing future was presaged for
the happy group of four.
But for the insistency of Winnie. her
f1ance would have urged a delay in
the nuptial celebration.
1.-The part of wisdom with US, Vim
ME-" he said, would be to wait at
least two years before we marry. My
fathers business failure and death has
left me certain serious duties and re-
spOnsibilities I must sacredly carry
out, and during that period / can not
feel fully settled and safe as to my
individual business connections"
And naturally, amid the first flush
Of happy love and confidence Winnie
looked upon her manly, handsome
fiance as the very personif1cation of
knowledge and ability. She playfuiiy
closed her pretty pink ears as to prof
fered details of his business affairs.
whatever he said or did was right, "
she insisted, and for several months
the lovers drifted along pleasantly,
Winnie contented to repose perfect con-
fdence in Walter, whose judgment was
undeniable to her way of thinking, and
he devoted strictly to the following
out of plans that would eyentuate
through care and sacrifice and econ
omy in placing them on a clear basis.
Walters business called him away
on the road a great deal, and he re-
turned from a long trip to find Vim
ME somehow changed. She WAS con-
stantly in the company Of Rita, and
their chumminess had resulted in the
latter gaining a great influence over
her. She had inculcated Winnie with
the idea that woman should always
have her way, that Walter was too
Walter finally giving way to Winnie In
the matter of anticipating their mar
riage by year.
st would be half my life's enjoy
ment to have double wedding" de-
clared Winnie. Remember, Walter,
that Rita and have been like sisters
since we were little children, and we
wish to be married at the same time.
"You shall have your WISH" agreed
Walter. "only it will be necessary for
US to exercise great economy until
all the old affairs Of my fathers fam
lily are settled up"
SO conditions seemed fair and pleas
ant for the welded couples during
their honeymoon. They had found "a
very comfortable duplex house and, 1t
was a joy to the brides to be separated
only by party wall.
Walter noted quite a change In his
wife on his return from his first bust
ness trip. She could talk of little else
than the new things the Dolbys had
acquired. She alluded to the liberality
Of Frank in way that rather re-
preached Walter, and she was quite
moody when they returned from spend.
ing an evening at the Dolby home.
"Just think how good Frank Is to
Rita" said Winnie. Last month he
had the house all redecorated, made
Rita present Of grand yictrola on
her birthday, and he is talking about
getting an automobile"
Hints and comparisons on the part
of Winnie grew into complaints and
reprOaChes as time went on. The Dol
bys were plunging into reckless extrav-
agance, and 1t began to be so that
this atmosphere of discomfort on his
usual trips. He had gently, but firmly
told Winnie that he had marked out a
definite course, and that Frank was
going beyond his depth and would end
up in financial difficulties.
There was an expression Of worry
in Vinnie's face the day no returned
from months absence, but he noted
that she was more like her old loving
self than usual, and she did not even
allude to the Dolbys. She flushed up
when Walter asked her about them.
"They are staying temporarily at
Rita's mother" explained Winnie. "Oh !!
Walter, they are in such deep trou-
blew
"Why, what do you mean?" inquired
Walter, but secretly he surmised the
truth.
"They have had dreadful time
Frank, 1t seems, bought nearly all
those new things on credit. He could
not meet his notes and the furniture
men have foreclOsed mortgage on
all they have. Oh. Walter" and sob
bling and in tears Winnie threw herself
into the arms of her husband II have
been a wicked. covetous sinner, and
I shudder when / recall how l have
tried to influence you to follow in
their footsteps"
Don't reproach yourself, Winnie"
soothed Walter tenderly. During this
last trip I settled up all my fathers
affairs. / have not only cleared the
estate of every debt. but there is left
a surplus of several thousand dollars.
We shall have the reward Of our pa.
tience in a new and better home and
1 can spare enough to redeem the be
longings of the Dolbys and put Frank
on his feet again, hoping he has learn.
ed the lesson of keeping away from
extravaganza and debt"
"Oh! you wise, wise man. whis
pered Winnie brokenly. but gratefully
"And, oh, your dear, good, forgivinS
love-"