Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-08-24

All nour latcr tilan usual, Adrian came
Are YOU sick, Henry 2 asked Rosa, rs
she took his hand, and fixed her eyes on
his sober face.
Not sick, but troubled in mind,' lie re
piled, without evasion.
why arc you troubled, IIenry?' And
Rosa drew al arm tendcrly around her
lover.
SIT down. and I will tell you. The
trouble concerns us beth, Rosa.'
The young girls face grew pale. They
SIT down close together, holding each 9th
er's hands. But in Adl:an's countcnancc
there was Il resolutc expression, such as we
SEQ in the countenancc Of man who has
settled Il 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 Ro-
sa. She did not answer, but kept her gazt.
on his face.
Rosa, we must reconsider this matter.
We have acted without forelhought.'
Her face became paler, her lips fell
apart, her eyes had frightened express
sion.
4 love you, Rosa, tendcr!y, truly. My
heart is not turning from you. l would
hasten, rather than rctarJ, the day of our
marriage. But there are considerations
beyond that day, which have presented
themselves, and demand sober considera-
ton. In word, Rosa, cannot afford to
marry. My income will not justify the
STEP.
The frightened look went out OF Rosa's
eyes.
1T WAS wrcng in rne ever to have sought
your love-
Her land tighicucd on his, and she
shrank closer to his side.
Il am c!.rk, with an income Of only
twelve huulrcl dollars, and I do not sec
much beyolld to hope for. Rosa tie fur
nture Of these parlors cost twice the
amount Of my salary. The rent of tue
home in which you now live is equal to
what receive in year. cannot take
you from all this elegance into third class
boardng'house, III" best my means will
provide. No, no, Rosa, j; would be un-
Just, selfish, wrong, cruel. How blind in
me ever to have thought Of SO dcsrad;n"
the one Iovrr
Tie young man was strongly ngta'c1
And hi; is al ;h"t troubles you, lien
rv!'
is it not erougl, =? Can 10 X at the
two alternatives that present themselves
and Hot grow heart--sck? If we marry,
what is before Us ? Humiliation, depriva
ton, aid al 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. Ro
sa. Rosa, l am not strong enough TO choose
that alternativen
And his fo,m tre,nbled under the pres
sure OF eSclteIllCut.
You love me, Hsnry?' The voice of
Rosa, was calm, yet burdened with feel
ing.
AS my own life, darling! Have I not
said so hundred lilnes?'
'And even rs my life do / love you,
Henry
For several moments her face lay hidden
in his bosom. Then lifting it, Rosa said :
4 am glad you have spoken on this
subject, Henry. l could not approach it
myself, bat, now that we have it before us,
let it be we'll considered. Your income is
twelve hundred dollars?'
Yes
"A sum large enough to supply all the
real wants of Two persons who have indie.
pendence enough not TO be enslavcd by a
mere love of appearances
why, darling, it will require more than
half Of my salary to pay for respectable
boarding. .,... ~
taking it for granted that, after our
marriage, I am to sit down in Q boarding
house, With hands folded, an idle depend
ent on your labor. But I shall not SO
oonstrue my relation 70 my husband.
will be helpmeet for him. I will stand
by his side, sharing life'sburdens.' -
''All that is 10 your heart, darling. ]
know returned Adrian. - t1,,.> ~s
'Bnt we are hedged round with social
forms that act as ahindrance. Il ou can,
not help me-. Society win demand 81 ..
a certain style Of living. and we must con,