The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1920-01-29
THE
BETTER WAY
By CECILLE LANGDON


The double marriage of Walter Dor
rance and Winnie Tresham and Frank
Dolby and Rita Pearce was the event
Of the year at Upton. 1t was nothing
more than a quiet, simple church 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
fiance would have urged a delay IN
the nuptial celebration.
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 | 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
fance as the very personifiCation of
knowledge and ability. She payfully
closed her pretty pink ears as to prof
fered details of his business affairs.
whatever he said or did was right"
che iDcictad op6 for Snyarol u,nptbc
the lovers drifted along pleasantly,
Winnie contented to repose perfect con-
fidence in Walter, whose judgment was
undeniable to her way of thinking and
he devoted strictly to the following
out of plans that would eventuate
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
her. She had inculcated Winnie with
the idea that a woman should always
have her way, that Walter was too
precise and careful, and 1t all ended in
Walter finally giving way to Winnie in
the matter of anticipating their mar.
riage by year.
ut would be half my llfe's enjoy
ment to have a double wedding" de
al gat
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 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 liberallty
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
OF hn
had the house all redccorated, made
Rita a present of a grand victrOla 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 punging into reckless extrav-
agance and 1t began to be so that
Waltoy felt relieved to get away from
this atmosphere of discomfort on his
usual trips. He had gently, but firmly
told Winnie that he had marked out q
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 he returned
from n 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. ooh !
Walter, they are in such deep trou.
blew
"Why what do you meanT inquired
Walter, but secretly he surmsed the
truth.
"They have had n dreadful time
Frank, It seems, bought nearly all
those new things on credit. He could
not meet bis notes and the furniture
men have forecloSed a mortgage on
all they have Oh, Walterw and sob
bling and In tears Winnie threw herself
into the arms Of her husband. II have
been n wicked, covetOus sinner, and
| shudder when | recall how | have
tried TO influence you to follow In
their footsteps"
"DOnt reproach yourself. Winnie"
soothed Walter tenderly. During this
last trip settled up all my fathers
affairs. have not only cleared the
estate Of every debt, but there Is left
o surplus Of several thousand dollars
We shall have the reward Of our pa.
thence In new and better home and
| can spare enough to redeem the be.
longngs Of the Dolbys and put Frank
on his feet again, hoping he has learn.
ed the lesson of keeping away from
pytray0 pance and debt /"