The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, December 17, 1913, Image 9
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ATERBY remarked to his wife: "I'm still
a tempted by that set of Poe. I saw it in
window toda marked down to fifteen
ollars. -7
"Yes?' said Mrs. Waterby, with a dden gasp of
emotion, it seemed to him.
C "Yes -- I- believe I'll have to get it.'
"I wouldn't if I were you, Alfred," she said. "You have
o many books now."
"I 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 beautiful 6tten up."
"Oh, I wouldn't buy it, Alfred," she ated, and
there was a note of pleading earnestness -ier voice.
It's so much money to spend for I
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 .
took a selfish pleas
ure in giving, and
found it more blessed
than receiving.
Every salary day
turned over to Mrs
Waterby a fixed
Bum for household
expenses. He added
to this an allowance
rbr her spending
money. He set asid
a small amount for
his personal expense
and deposited the
remainder in the
bank. He flattered
.himself that he __
Rpproximated the
model husband. -- 0
Mr. Waterby had no costly
habits and no prevailing appetite for anything .
expensive. Like every other man, he had ne or tw<
hobbies, and one of his particular hobbies was Edgal
Allan Poe. He. believed that Poe, of all Americ n writeru
was the one unmistakable "genius."
The word "genius" has been bandied around the
country until it has come to be applied to a long-haire<
man out of work or a stout lady who writes poetry. It
the case of Poe, Mr. Waterby maintained that "genius'
meant one who was not governed by the common menta
processes, but "who spoke from inspiration, his mind in
voluntarily taking superhuman flight into- the realm c
pure imagination"-or something of that sort. At an:
rate, Mr. Waterby liked Poe, and he wanted a set of Poc
He allowed himself not more than one luxury a year an
he determined that this year the 'luxury should be a se
Therefore, imagmne he hurt 'his .f~elings when hi
wife objectedeto his exp nding fifteeh dollars for that whic
,he coveted aboveg.''anything else in the world.
As he weit to -lhis work that day he reflected o
r)Aaterby's conduct. Did sli
not 3ave her allowance of spenc
SUL2ing money? Did he ever fit
2~i~lII~;~ ~ Jr~fault with her extrayaganc<
Was he an unreasonable husbar
in asking that he be allowed
spend this small sum for, th
which would give him many hou
of1 pleasure and wilich wou
N ~elong to Mrs. Waterby as mud
Lto him?
He told himself that many
* ~ j sband would have bought t)
books without consulting I
wife. But he (Waterby) h
efrred to his wife in all matte
touchin~g family finances, a:
.he said to hirhself, with
tincture of bitterness
his thoughts, that pr<
~ably.he had put hi:
~ ~-.- self into the attitt
of a mere dep4
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-iII
dered if it were possible tha
he was just beginning to
know his wife. Was she a
selfish woman at heart ? Was -
she complacent and good
natured only while she was
having her own way ? Wouldn't
she prove to be an entirely different sortof )
woman if he should do as many husbands do spen
his income on clubs and cigars and private amu ements
and give her the pickings of small change?
Nothing in Mr. Waterby's experience as a marine
man had so wrenched his sensiilities and disturbed hi
faith as Mrs. Waterby's objection to the purch1ase of a se
of Poe. There was but one way to -account for it. Sh
wanted all the money for herself or else she wanted hir
to put it into the bank so that she could come into it afte
he - but this was too monstrous.
However, Mrs. Waterby's conduct helped to giv
strength to Mr. Waterby's meanest suspicions.
Two or three days after the first conversation sb
asked: "You didn't buy that set of..Poe, did you Alfred?
" No, I didn,'t- buy it," he answered, as coldly
and with as much hauteur as possibl
He hoped to hear
her say: "Well, why
don't you go and et
it? I'm sure that you -
want it, and I'd like to
see you buy something <
for yourself once in
a while."
But she merely
said : "That's right ;
don't buy it," and he
was utterly unhappy,
for he realized that he I
had married a woman woddntlv i
who did not love him c
and who simply desired
to use him as a pack-'
horse for all household
burdens.
As' soon as Mr.
Waterby had learned
the horrible truth about ;
his swife he began to ---
, recall little episodes dating- back
years, and now he pieced them to
gether to convince himself that -
4 he was a deeply wronged person.
Small at the time and almost
unnoticed, they were now accumulating to prove th
SMrs. Waterby had no real anxiety for her husbanc
~happiness. .Also, Mr. Waterby began rto observe .h
closely, and he believed that he found new evidences
Sher unwortlainess. For one thing, while he was in gloo
eover his discovery and harassed by doubts of what t1
.future might reveal to him, sge was content and evi
The holiday season approached and Mr. Water
Lmade a resolution. *He decided that if she would r
Spermit him to spend a little money on himself he wot
not buy the customary Christmas present for her.
"Selfishness is a game at which two can pla:
d he said./t 'Ae
b Furthermoe he determined that if she asked I
for any extra money
Christmas he would say: "I
sorry, my dear, but I 'ca
h -spare any. I am so hard
that I can't even afford to la
ra a few books that I've be
rid -~.wanting a long time. Do
you remember that you t
ii: me that I couldn't afford
b ubuy that set of Poe ?"
d biing s tosarcasm or mi
~ crushing as to logic ?
nd had it all ready for her, as he pictured to himself her'
humiliation and surprise at discovering that he had some
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
node of punishment. He would withhold the expected
Christmas present. In order that she might fully under
stand his purpose, he would give presents to both of
the children. _ 1,6 1 r & o & Asus
It was a harsh measure, he admitted, but perhaps it
would teach her to have some consideration for the
wishes of others.f f2 4 l p oMM###N.P NF
- It must be said that Mr. Waterby was not wholly
proud of his revenge - when he arose on Christmas
morning. He felt that he had accomplished his pur
pose and he told himself that his . motives. had. been
good and pure, but still he was. not satisfied with
himself.
He went to the dining room. and there on the table
8 in front of his. plate was a long paper box containing ten
t books each marked "Poe." It was the edition- he had
? coveted.
3 "What's this ?" he asked, winking slowly, for his
r mind could not grasp in one moment the fact of his awful
shame.
- "I should think you ought to know, Alfred," said Mrs.
Waterby, flushed and giggling like a school girl. v
" Oh, it was ou --"
"My goo ness, you've had me so frightened. That
first day when. you spoke of buying them
and \I told you not to, I was just
* spure that you suspected
something. I bought
them a week before
that."
",Yes -yes," said
Mr. Waterby, feeling
l the salt water in his
/- / eye. At that moment
he had the soul of
a wretch being
whipped at the stake.
vas determined
not to sk you for any
monpy to pay for your
own presents," Mrs.
.Waterby continued.
Do you know I had to
save for you and the
children out of my
- i-regular allowance.
Why, last week I
nearly starved you and
you never noticed it
t al I was afraid you would."
No, I - didn't notice it,"
d Mr. Waterby brokenly, for he
was trcou ^^V and giddy. This
sel-scrncngangel-and he had
It_ prcsent frhrhe lied his way
("Ho didyou like your present?" he asked.
"Why, I haven't seen it yet," she responded, look
SYuhaven't ? I told -them to send it up yesterday."
The children were shouting-.and laughing over their
L gifts in the next rooixtand he felt it his duty to lie for
their sake. &J5
"WAeli, don't tell mne - -I
what it is," interrupted
Mrs. Waterby. " Wait
Im until it comes."
for "I'll go after it." J
'mHe did go after it {
n't although he had to
up drag a jeweler awayN
>uy from his home on
:en Christmas Day and
n't have him open his
old great safe. The ring
[to which he selected was
beyond his means, it
ore is true, but when a-\
ore man has to buy back
his self-respect the C
ac price is never too high.94