Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-04-15

lures, that indicated an active mind and self
reliance.
An hour later than usual, Adrian came.
.Are you sick, Henry?" asked Rosa, as she
took his hand, and fixed her eyes on his sober
face.
mot sick, but troubled in mind" he re.
piled without evasion.
"Why are you troubled; Henry" And
Rosa drew an arm tenderly round her lover.
g sit down and will tell you. The trouble
concerns US both, Rosa
The young girls face grew pale. They sat
down together, holding each others hands
But in Adrian's countenance there was a reso-
lutte expression, such as We see in the counte-
| nance of man who has settled question of
difficult solution.
"The day fixed for our marriage is only two
months Distant he said.
The tone in which he spoke chilled the heart
| of Rosa She did not answer, but kept her
gaze on his face.
Rosa, we must reconsider this matter. We
| have acted without forethought."
Her face became paler, her lips fell apart,
her eyes had q frightened expression.
81 love you, Rosa, tenderly, trulv Nv
| EN-, rather than retard, the day of our mar
riage. But there are considerations beyond
| that day, which have presented themselves
and demand sober consideration. In a word
| Rosa, 1 cannot afford to marry. My income
will no: justify the STEP"
The frightened look went out of Rosa's ewes
ct was wrong in me ever to have sought
your love-"
Her hand frightened en- his, and she sank
closer to his side.
Il am clerk, with only thousand dollars
Of income, and do not see much beyond to
hope for. Rosa, the furniture of these parlors
cost twice the amount of my salary The rent
al ha in " ich liz =,
what receive in year. l cannot take you
from all this elegance into a third-class board
ing house, the best my means will provide
No, no. Rosa, it would be unjust, selfish,
wrong, cruel. How blind in me ever to have
thought Of 50 degrading the one love-"
The young man was strongly agitated
'And this is all that troubles you, Henry7n
is it not enough? Can look at the two
alternatives that present themselves, and not
grow heart-sick? II we marry what is before
| US! Humiliation, deprivation, and all the ills
| that poverty brings for you; and debt, trouble,
and lifelong embarrassment for me. If we
separate, each taking different ways in life
oh, Rosa, L am not strong enough to choose
that alternativei'
And his form trembled under the pressure
of excitement.
"You love me, Henry" The voice of Rosa
| was calm, yet burdened with feeling
Gas my own life, darling Have not said
80 a hundred times?'
"And even as my life do love you, Hen
ry." For several moments her face Law hid
den in her bosom. Then lifting it, Rosa said ::
Il am glad you have spoken on this sub
ject, Henry. l could not approach it myself,
but now that we have it before US, let it be
well consdered Your income is one thou
/ sand dollars?"
Yes"
"a sum large enough to supply all the real
wants OF two persons who have Independence
enough not to be enslaved by mere love of
appearances.
Why, darling it will require more than
half my salary to pay for respectable beard
Taking it for granted that, after our mar
rage, am to sit down in a boarding house
with hands folded, an idle dependent on your
labor. But shall not SO construe my relation
to my husband. 1 will be a help-meet for
him: will stand by his side, sharing life's
burdens"
"All that is in your heart, darling, know, {"
said Adrian. But We are hedged round by
social forms that act as a hindrance. You
cannot help me Society will demand of us
certain style of living, and we must conform
to it. or be pushed aside frsm all circles of
refinement, taste, and intelligence. 1 cannot
accept this ostraoism for you, Rosa. 1t is not
right"
"As if false, heartless world were more to
| me than true, loving husband. Henry, the
| central point Of social happiness is home. as
| the home is, so will our lives be-rather let
| me say, as we are so will our homes be
| centers Of gloom or brightness. What others
think Of US is really Of little account in max
Ing up the sum OF our enjOyments as we pass
| through life; but what We are in ourselves is
| everything. We must be in the centres of
| our own world Of happiness, or our lives will
be Incomplete. Can fine establishment like
this, in which live in weak dependence, fill
| the measure Of my desires? Can it bring
peace and contentment? No, 10, Henry; the
humblest apartment shared with you would
| be palace to my soul instead. / am not
/ speaking with the romantic enthusiasm of an
| ardent girl, but soberly, truthfully, Henry.
No, dearest, We will not make our lives un-
happy by living apart, because we cannot
make hne appearance in ether peoples eyes
God has given US love for each other, and the
| means of happiness if we will use them. Let
| US take His good gifts in thankfulness. You
have an income of one thousand dollars. We
must not expect to live as those who have two
| or three or four thousand dollars a year. Be
that folly far from US, Henry, am equal 20
| the self-denial it will require if the word
| sself-denial" is to be used. Are not you also
| Oh, Henry! is there any Joy to be imagined
beyond that which flows from the conjunction
Of two loving hearts? and shall pride and
weak spirit of social conformity come in TO
| rob MS of our blessings7'
The young man had come, sternly resolved
to put off the day, Of marriage. He parted
| frsm his betrothed that night, looking for
ward with golden -hued hopes for its arrival
They had talked over the future, practically
| and sensibly. The lovers fond pride, which
had looked to a fair social appearance for his
young wife, gave place to q better view of
things. He wthst his love had fixed itself
upon true woman, and that in the humber
sphere in which their lot was east, all attain
able happiness was in store for them, if they
would but open their hearts in an orderly way
for its reception. One thing said to him by
Rosa in that evenings talk we repeat, for the
sake of young wives, or maidens on the eve of
| marriage.
"Be mine, dear Henry" she said; "the task
Of ordering and regulating our domestic affairs
| in conformity with your means. / will give
| all thought to that. Your income is fixed, and
shall know exactly the range Of expenditure
| we must adopt. Do not fear debt and enbar-
| rassment These wretched forms shall never
| enter your home while stand sentinel at the
| door. If the husband gives his life and care
to work, shall not the wife do the same? If
II L. 4 AZ n