The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-03
The Woman
He Married
THE FIRST SHADOW OF DEBT.
BY JANE PHELPS
CHAPTER 5.

In spite of Dicks refusal to open
accounts, 1 was in debt. I had been
really drawn into it unthinkingly. To
be sure it was not much-just a little
at the butchers and grocer's. 1t came
about in this way. One day I wanted
more than had money to pay for, and
the butcher said:
sect what you want, Mrs. Williams.
and I'll send in bill"
1t had been practically the same
with the grocer. So / had formed the
habit-very gradually-of letting such
| tradesmen as would. wait. found
that when paid for everything l had
no money left for clothes. So let
them wait. tapping their bills over
from one week or month to another,
paying only when they asked for their
| money. Clara had shown me how to
manage so that I could placate them,
and still give them only part what was
due.
deny myself TO save. l wanted hand
some, stylish clothes more than any
thing else in the world. Next to
clothes, 1 wanted to live in a fash
| ionable apartment house. I was
spending more for myself than was at
all consistent with Dicks income.
| had bought two new dresses and a
lovely hat. I wrote mother of my
disgust with nay wardrobe after had
visited Dicks people. and she sent me
$40 ITO help.
| 1t was very little, and it bought me
very little. But I shudder now when
think of the seif-deniaI mother
| probably had to exercise to send it to
| me.
I was not well, and. for that if for
no other reason / should have. been
1
showing that when the. expected ad-
dttiop to our family arrived, our ex-
penses would necessarily be greater.
| But / was, as I now see,s supremely
selfish. loved Dick, still wasted his
money-or, rather, spent it as I had
no right to. And I had no excuse, no
| possible excuse save the wish for style,
for show, to Guido others, and to make
myself more attractive
My frfends-as well as Dick-aIl
| flattered me. The women especially
helped me lose my sense of proportion
py telling me what ! loved to hear--
how lovely I would look in certain
| Things, now such and such colors be-
| came me and what good taste 1 had
now very stylish would look il l could
oress as l should; This invariably
meant in materials and workmansf1in
far beyond our means
| DICK was a kind, and -eonsiderate
husband. He never gave me a cross
word, nor was he at all critical of INV
many mistakes, aItho he must have
wondered at times why a girl brought
up SO simply should make them,
| NOW his thoughtfulness of me was
wonderful. g He not only, earned the
living, but he insisted upon doing ali
the heavy work, He was SO afraid
would override that he got up an hour
earlier, a terribly hard thing for him
SO that he might do as much as pos
sfble before he left for the office.
While was not ungFateful for his
| heip, nor unappreciative of his kind
ness, was always wondering why he
couldn't earn more. If he did I could
have maid, and he wouldn't have to
do housework
Many times I was tempted to tell
Dick Of the bills hidden away in the
bureau drawer. Not large ones to, be
sure, yet quite an amount in the ag-
gregate. But as many times my cour-
age failed. Instead I got deeper and
deeper into debt, until / was really
afraid to tell him. ~
Somehow I must have some money
land soon. Those bills must be paid
before I became unable, to attend tc
them. The tradesmen, too, were be-
coming impatient. One of them had
dunned me over the telephone, and
mortified me almost to death. Later j
didn't mind a little thing like that.
|. Marriage we all say, and think, fol
lows love. But love would, be more
apt to endure after marriage if We
would not strive to live beyond oul
means, wouldn't attempt to ape oul
more prosperous aequaintances. an
lsure husbands and wives would livs
far more happily could they omit the
constant straining after social position
with its attendant extravagances Of
entertainment and dress.
But had this to learn. as have
many other women. Then I honestly
thought-made myself think-that
; never could be really happy unless
had all the things 1 craved.
Tomorrow-Clara teaches Nan on'
way out.)