Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, December 10, 1913, Page 26

) took a selfish pleas- MINA he 7 re ew GRAND RAPIDS HERALD-REVIEW WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1913. Ah Selhishness of Irs lately iN a PAS ILLUSTRATED 4y M.G.KETTNER COPYRIGHT BY DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY. eC ©) ATERBY remarked to his wife: “Tm still tempted by that set of Poe. I saw it in window today, marked down to fifteen Siollars. a said Mrs, wets git a yt gasp of emotion, it seemed to him. as Garon) mice i no ot Z § wouldn’t if I were you, Alfred,” she oak “You have $0 many books now.” “T know I have, my dear, but I haven’t any set of Poe; | and that’s what I've been wanting for a long time. This | edition I was telling you about is beautifully gotten ups] “Oh, I wouldn’t buy it, Alfred,” shé—=—fepeated, and there was a note of pleading earnestness| ;if-her voice, “Tt’s so much money to spend for a few books.” “Well, I know, but—” and then he paused for the lack of words to express his mortified surprise. Mr. Waterby had tried to be an indul- gent husband. He ure in giving, and than receiving. Every salary day turned over to } Waterby a tne | \ sum for household || expenses. He added to this an allowance for her spending | a small amount for his personal expenses | and deposited the remainder in the bank. He flattered himself that he approximated the model husband. a os Mr. Waterby had sete K f habits and no prevailirig appetite for anything, expensive. Like every other man, he(had me or two hobbies, and one of his particular hobbies was Edgar Allan Poe. He believed that Poe, of all American writers, was the one unmistakable “genius.” The word “genius” has been bandiedFaround the country until it has come to be applied to a long-haired man out of work or a stout lady who writes poetry. In the case of Poe, Mr. Waterby maintained that “genius” meant one who was not governed by the common mental processes, but “who spoke from inspiration, his mind in- voluntarily taking superhuman flight inte the realm of pure imagination”—or something of that sort. At any rate, Mr. Waterby liked Poe, and he wanted a set of Poe. He allowed himself not more than one luxury a year and he determined that this year the luxury should be a set of Poe. Wi = ragifL se" CRS TIES Therefore, imagine|jthe hurt to his féelings when his wife objected to his expending fifteen dollars for that which he coveted above + Cake else in the world. As he went to) nis work that day he reflected on 4 qe 7 F asin Waterby’ s conduct. Did she not e her allowance of spend- i} Ji <i we, money? Did he ever find Stee pull / fault with her extravagance? “Was he an unreasonable husband af in asking that he be allowed to spend this small sum for that) } which would. give him many hours fi, of pleasure and which would: long to Mrs. Waterby as much to him? He told himself that many a band would have bought the books without consulting his i But he (Waterby) had deferred to his wife in all matters touching family finances, and he said to hirhself, with a) tincture of bitterness in i iy that prob- ly_he had put him- self into the attitude Beet ct 5 seep cae = dent. bs) - wanted all the money for herself or else she wanted him, ZN and had it all ready for her, as he pictured to himself her » humiliation and surprise at discovering that he had some e spirit after all and a considerable say-so whenever money was involved. Unfortunately for his plan, she did not ask for any ‘extra spending money and so he had to rely on the other mode of punishment. He would withhold the expected Christmas present. In order that she might fully under- stand his pi he would give presents to both of the children. ZALES >” Q | It was a harsh measure, he admitted, but perhaps it would teach her to have: some consideration for py ; | wishes of others Sil BoE 9 FV ee natured only while she was dT ee | It must be said that Mr. Waterby was not wholly having her own way? Wouldn't : 4 proud of his revenge- when he arose on Christmas she prove to be an entirely different sort ot \ § | morning. He felt that he had.accomplished his pur- woman if he should do as many husbands doj—spend pose and he told himself that his .motives. had been his income on clubs and cigars and private amuSements,' good and pure, but still he was not satisfied with and give her the pickings of small change? | himself. Nothing in Mr. Waterby’s experience as a married, He went to the dining room. and there on the table man had so wrenched his sensibilities and disturbed his) jn front of his plate was a long paper box containing ten faith as Mrs. Waterby’s objection to the purchase of a set books each marked “Poe.” it was the editiom he had of Poe. There was but one way:to-account for it. She; coveted. “What's this?” he asked, winking slowly, for his to put it into the bank so that she could come into it-after) mind could not grasp in one moment the fact of his awful he—but this was too monstrous. | shame. However, Mrs. Waterby’s conduct helped to give “T should think you ought to know, Alfred,” said Mrs, strength to Mr. Waterby’s meanest suspicions. | Waterby, flushed and giggling like a school girl. Two or three days after the first conversation “Oh, it was you—” CES me: asked: “You didn’t buy that set of Poe, did’ you Alfred?”) = “My goodness, yeu" ys id meso frightened. That “No, I didn’t buy it,” he-answered, as coldly doe canes t day\wherl you fy of buying them and with as much hautéur/as Pome el |; 1 eo 4 ak told you rot to, I was just He hoped to hear . sure that you suspected her say: “ Well, why ‘2 ‘something. I bought don’t you go and get | ; ee = them a week before it? I’m sure-that you EZ leAle] | os W\Wenat.” want it, and I'd like to = : ‘ “Yes—yes,” said see you buy something Mr. Waterby, feeling for yourself once in salt water in his a while.” At that moment But she merely said: “That’s right; don’t buy it,” and he was utterly unhappy, for he realized that he had married a woman who did not love him and who simply desired to“use him as a pack- horse for all household * burdens. As soon as Mr. Waterby had learned ane the horrible truth about 45 5 . his wife he began to- <= recall little episodes tol back Neate years, and now he pieced them t gether to convince himself that“ a c= L— is he was a deeply wronged person. > i Small at the time and almost (e) eC iA unnoticed, they were now accumulating to prove that Mrs. Waterby had no real anxiety for : her husband’s | happiness. Also, Mr. Waterby began{to observe her closely, and he believed that he found ‘new evidences of; her unworthiness. For one thing, while he was in gloom over his discovery and harassed by doubts of what the future might reveal to him, she was content and even- empered. SERPS PDS MeN oear The holiday season approached and Mr. Waterby| . * made a resolution. He decided that if she would not| Sits in the nex! cermit him to spend a fittle money on himself he would) ‘hei sake. aot buy the as SR pomenocy Christmas present for her. ‘Well, don't tell me a game on which two can play,”| What it is,” interrupted ea Mrs. Waterby. “ Wait Furthermore, he Qeerined that if she asked him| ¥ntil it comes.” at : for any extra money for| Pil go after it : : [ma he would say: “Pm He. did go after it sorry, my dear, but I‘can’t) although he had to” | spare any. Iam so hard up| drag a jeweler away fon afford to buy| from his home on a few books that I've been| Christmas Day and te a long time, Don’t! have him open his you remember that you told great safe. The ring _ me that I couldn’t afford to; which he selected was — buy that set of Poe?” For had she not forbidden him to buy a few books for himself? Well, no, she had not forbidden him, but it amounted to the same thing. She had declared that she was firmly opposed to the purchase of Poe. Mr. Waterby won- dered if it were possible i, he was just beginning to— know his wife. Was she aN selfish woman at heart? Was? she complacent and good- CK i | | | | | { Was determined sk you for any to pay for your 0 presents,” Mrs, Waterby continued, Do you know I had to save for you and the children out of my —<——repular allowance, Tee's Z., Why, last week I sx : SE oe nearly starved you and oe aya you never noticed it : hE all.-I was afraid you would.” eS “No, I— didn’t notice it,” aid Mr. Waterby brokenly, for he self- sacrificing angel—and he had ~ Christmas present for her! a fearful situation, asd he lied his way “How did you like your present?” he asked. “Why, I haven’t seen it yet,” she responded, looke ing across at him in surprise. “You haven't? I told them to send it up yesterday.” The children were shouting~and4laughing over their room_and he felt if his duty to lie. for a —— was confused and giddy. This Hi