The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-07
The Woman
He Married
BY JANE PHELPS
A SURPRISE THAT MEANT A
SACRIFICE.
1-A@L&HA TIE
CHAPTER s.

n SURPRISE NAElkANL n
SACRIFICE.
CHAPTER s.
We had never failed to attend
church. Dick had been brought up to
| do SO as we'll as l. Sunday morning
we went as usual. 1t was lovely
morning, crisp and bright, the middle
| of September Dick was in good
| hurnor, and the walk had cl1eered me,
aftho / had slept little because of ray
worry over the debts.
The sermon was on the duties OF
one to another. especially of husbands
and wives. The Reverend DIR. Smath-
| ers spoke particularly of this-how a
! wife should hold up her husband
| hands, help him by being thrifty, eco
nomical and so fortil. L thought him
prosy and uninteresting. / was in nc
mood to hear such a discourse. Al
most the entire \sermon, it seemed to
me, had to do with wives not running
| into debt, and helping their husbands
save for sickness and old age. 1t was
the only part that caught my attention
at least.
Dick seemed absorbed. tried tt
catch his eye once or twice and
couldn't. Going home he said:
THAT was dandy sermon, WASH
| it? The Doctor hit the nail or the
head every time. OF course all women
nickel there We're lots of them there
that are, and that run their husbands
| in debt. No, all women are such good
| little managers as you are, Nan. He
| is a wonderful preacher. He takes the
honely things of life, the things We
| really need to be helped about, and
then he drives them home with such
| simple Illustrations one can't forget.
! IT was bored to deatf1r' I replied.
| Il don't see why you rave so owe.
that stupid sermon. 1t was ali so
| intolerably stupid. We don't dress to
| get to church Sunday to hear about
| saving money and keeping out of
debt. We suppose we are to hear
something worth listening to. Then,
too, We've only one life to live and
what's the use scrimping and going
without everything so that sometime
/ in the dim future we will have what
we may never need When that time
comes We may be dead! 1 was dis
gusted. 1 don't think I shall go to
church next Sunday even if / am able.
L surely won't if he's going to repeat
such nonsense. And don't let's talk
about that stuff he said this morning
1 hate to be SO bored"
Always back of my outward con-
se;ousness there was feeling that it
| was Dicks fault We\ hadn't more
money-that he was too cautious, too
careful, that it was his fault had run
IN DEBT, that he might make more and
then it wouldn't be necessary Sorne-
how the sermon had emphasized that
Feeling.
Don't say you won't go to church
with me, Nan. We go out together
so little, and INthoroly enjoy Doctor
Smather's sermons. They are SO bully
sensible"
Whose fault is it We don't go out
n r. -
where every night. But you always
say we can't afford to go Often And
please don't be prosy! I've had enough
for one day.
| "All right Mani NUNS the wordv'
giving in to me as he always did al
I was. SIS
! But that sermon had made a great
impression upon him, and once while
we were getting dinner-he helped me
land again later in the evening he
referred to it. I pretended not TO hear
so did not have to discuss it.
| 1--WE deceived you, DEAR he said
Iteasingly.
/ Deceived me what about? Are you
earning more than you told me? Have
Iyou had your salary raised p" MY
mind was so on money that I jumped
Iquickly to the Conclusion that IL mus
be in some such way.
"No, dear. I would not deceive yor
Iabout anything like that. 1 never
shall. You married me for better oil
flor worse. If the worse comes we will
stbear it together-but If I can help it
lit never will come"
What is 1t, thens Tell me-
iquicklyl'
/ You remember the other day wher
1--WE talked of how nice it would be t.
have your mother here now, said W.
couldn't possibly manage it-her fare
Well. / have sent for her, telegraphe
yesterday. Does that please you ~
| "Piease-me! You dear old thjngl'
jumped up and Rugged him fran
tically. "But how in the world car
you manage it ?'
81 figured the $500 will pay ALI GU
necessary expenses. maybe q little
lover. So shall give up smoking al
but one pipe akker dinner. That vii
pay her way here figured what 1
cost me for two months
"Oh, I am so glad to have mothere
It was only natural should feel as
!. did, yet as look back see how un
grateful was to take Dicks unselfish
mess for granted as I did. hardl.
even thanked him.
(TomorTpw-Richard, jr., arrives.