The Portland daily press., 1862-11-03
MISCELLANY.
For BETTER, FoR wORsE.'
BY MARY E. CLARKE.

that the taseness of a fortune hunter!"
"You shall not speak so of him! will not
listen to the SANDER! He loves me, of that
am convinced. have not been an heiress so
long not t. have learned when man lies and
feigns passion for interest; when -" and
her voice grew richer and lower, "he speaks
to me from his heart. | have tested HIM,
weighed him well; he has faults, many oil
them, but deceit is not one. He t0ces me
Mr.. Moore looked sadly at the agitated girl,
as,carried away by her own generous warmth,
she left her seat and stood erect before him.
"Uncle Lewis, trust me, trust him. Let me
be his wife with y0ur consent"
@Of what avail will it be for me to refuse it.
May? You are eighteen tomorrow. and, by
your fathers will, l,free to choose your husband;
your property becomes your own, and my Of
flee rs your guardian ceases"
"But not your position as my friend, my nm
Gle, my second father. Can you think | was
bound to obey you by none but legal ties, that
my love, respect. and submission were paid
only to my guardian? You wronged me, un-
Gle, and in nothing more than this question OF
my marriage. | come to yon. not us the guar
dian, whose power expires tomorrow, but as
the friend, who, l trust, will stand by me
through life; l come for counsel, affection,
and advice; do not tell me, coldly that | am
free to choose my own lot. Speak to me now
as you have always done, as if | were your
child.'
MAY, May, how can speak? II truly,
shall grieve you. But YOU are right: YOU
come to friend lor counsel.and he will speak
as a friend should. Review Arnold Cookies
life, and see if am not justified in my fears
Brought up by parents whose means were Just
sufficient to give him liberal education and
support him independent of business, their
small fortune he Inherited on their death, and
lost in his first speculation, leaving him mere
pittance. He had studied law, and with ener-
gy and industry could have carved ont name
and a fortune What did he do? Absolutely
nothing. With fascinating manner and spen-
did education, he cultivated every refined taste,
INDUCED in every extravaganza, and lives
life OF complete idleness, with means barely
sufficient to support him. His office is loung-
Ing place for young men oil fashion, who repay
his hospitality by inviting him to opera, rides
or drives. To crown all. he woos an hcress,
that her purse may supply him with his per-
fumes, kid gloves, and last horses"
You are severe"
II fear l am just"
"Take the reverse of the picture. Arnold
was an only child, OF fine talents and the pride
Of both parents. From his birth every whin
was indulged, every caprice met compliance;
his profession was studied merely rs "A refuge
in case of necessity, and he was launched an
orphan upon the world, with cultivated mind,
refined tastes, extravagant desires.and an easy
him t. the speculations which ruined him. He
stood alone. His income was sufficient for a
single man; he was popular in society, court
ed BY the men for his wit, his good humor,and
his proficiency in athletic exercises; by ladies
for his talent In conversation, music, and gal
lantry. Without any stimulus to exertion, he
suffered his time to pass in floating azily down
the tide Of time, content to let each day find its
own occupation and resources. Then he met
me, and his whole view OF life changed For
my sake he will renew his studies, open his
office for business and begin Il new life. Don't
shake your head so mourniully, trust to wo-
mans heart and instinct There is mine of
good in this spoiled chids heart, let me be the
agent BY which it is worked to produce good
fruit. He stands now in perilous position;
my refusal will throw him back on his old life,
with heart ready to dare much evil, reckless
aud hard, to be wrecked in dissipation, or sour
In misanthropy; my love will win him to no.
bier aims and higher aspirations"
1t Is dangerous experiment May
Only one more argument. and leave the
decision in your hands. love him! For his
sake | could bear sorrow, poverty, anything
but Inconsistency. With him, life will be glad
through any suffering; without him, the future
looks mournful and dreary. If you so decide,
will dismiss him, but my heart will break in
doing it, for love him!'
And so, by her last argument, May Lawson
won her uncle's consent to her marriage.
The world shrugged its shoulders when the
news came out. The men congratulated Ar
mold upon his success, and smiled knowingly
TO one another as they spoke; the women
shook their heads and wondered how May could
be so blind as not to see through that dandy's'
schemes.
They had been married one year. and May
was beginning 10 wonder il Arnold had been
seeking her fortune alter all. He was devoted
id l,-s. a 4
one client had placed Il brief in his hands, and
she knew that their expensive house, mode of
living, and luxuries were drawn from her purse.
She was specializing upon this, when quick,
manly step, cheerful voice made every doubt
vanish. and she looked up TO greet her husband.
i have come up for you to ride. May, so don
your habit. The broad braids, little wife, you
know my weakness. Nothing sets off such
mgnon little faces ~ yours, like heavy braids
and dropping pluines.'
NONSENSE
Sense, l assure You. When you tie that
black beaver over those dark brown braids,
and lef the broad rim shade your lace, defy
the world TO produce such al irresistible little
female
She was nimbly plating the rich profasion
OF hair while he spoke, and there was a long
silence. Turning from the glass for his APP
proving smile, she was surprised 20 see him
sunk in q revefie. and TO judge from bis ap-
pearance. a painful one.'
-whAi h II, ArnoIdg~
He raised his head, as he felt her son hand
on his shouldrr.
~fhs old story, May, nobody trusts me but
you; ! cannot command one client. They
think that my unotise la marrying was a mer-
eenary one, and they hold back irum me. Let
him 1--we on his wiles money, aud leave the
profession open 10 those depending upon II Tor
bread
Il sm almost tempted to echo the wishl"
No. May; there are temptations enough
for me 10 live Ia luxurious indolence: let your
tnnaence bear where il has ever rested upon
something noble If you can dad II In such
wasted nature a. mine. /"
I" III had not found il. should I be your wife
now? who first led me TO see where my wealth
could bring me the blessings of the poor? Who
pointed out 10 me the secret charities that
make lonely hearts glad, and comfort proud
poserty without the weight of obligation?
Who told me OF students struggling 20 sup
port a widowed mother.or sister, or vainly try
Ing 10 save the means of getting al education?
Whose delicate searching and anonymous let
tiers have sent relief 20 those tempted to curse
the world aud die. yet too proud to wear any
but smiling face over a wreiched heart?
How proudly say, my husband led me TO
such deeds, and taught me that wealth Is lent
70 give an account OF at last, whether wasted
or blessing others."
All! May, your own sweet face first made
me look into my own heart, and find there on
ly wasted opportunities and a useless life