The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1872-11-13
Temptation, Trial and Triumph
4 story of Fashlonable Heartlessuess.
By WILLIAM II. BUSHNELL.
from Our Flrr-.1e rrfeud.

Ny dear child, you certainly will
not refuse nv ntreaties-refrse TO
accept the hand Of John Erskiue.
Think how we are situatcd-tLiuk
what wealth it will bring. and with
that wealth, comfort, fashion and
luxury"
Edith Mason made no reply 10 tie
words OF her worldly mCther-.u
fact, gave but Iittle attention 10
them, for Ike all girls Of her age. she
had woven light threads in the web
Of her future and her heart had
almost gone beyond her control.
But her mother, taking the silence
for at least a partial-giring j. 10 her
views, continued
You cannot have FORGOTTEN how
We have struggled to keep up APP
pearauces since the death Of your
fathcr-how we have literally lived
from hand 10 Incuta-ofteu not
knowing where the next meal would
come from-often going 10 bel hun
gry, and patching. pieciag and turn
ing 10 make our garments appear de
cent
ii has indeed been a hard -tru2-
Gle" sighed tAe girl, thinking rather
Of the past than the future.
And one word from YOU will put
an end to IL John Ershinc Is very
rich. Edith-doats upon you, and
once his wife YOU can dress in silk.
satin and diamonds-keep your car
riage, have servants In plenty. your
box at the opera-in short, play the
part Of Lady Beautiful"
''Ue is old-quite Old" she an
swered, thinking Of a younger and
fresher face
"Pshaw only twenty years your
senior, and it is far better to be an
old man = darling than a Young mans
slave I've seen it proved an hun
dred times. Besides it may be but
a few years before YOU might be left
a still young and rich widow. Only
think of that, my child. l would
have jumped at such a chance when
/ was your age.
He is very plain looking, taciturn
and"
Not SO, my child; only reticent
like most men. But what does that
matter, or his looks either A hus-
band, in the present enlightened
state of society, is expected to live
an almost separate life from his
wife, and pay her bills. That is
about the sum total of the matter"
Mother" the girl asked with
earnestness, is there moth
ing in love:'
In some extreme cases there is a
shallow, silly romance Of such a
thing-a school girl idea, but it soon
disappears
did you not love father?' and
the soft hazel eyes shone with far
more than common brightness.
Yes, as much as is usual, l pre- +
sumo. But don't torment me with
foolish questions, Edith. We have
a far more nOmentous one on hand. |.
John Erskine is a good man and will /
make you a good husband. You are /
beautiful, my child, and, by little I
can turn him around .
your finger in any manner you please
and have your own way in all things
But love?' still querried the
girl. Il have no affection for him and .
10 think l could ever have any"
Il am out of all patience with /
you, Edith. You will love him as
is necessary, l have no doubt; and .
the sooner you get such nonsense
out Of your head the better. It's an
exploded idea-quite antediluvian-
is not an essential of marriage any
longer, thank heaven. Some of the
most happy matches 1 have ever
known have been just such as I
would have you make. But even. if
his were not SO, our poverty should
De an all-sufficient incentive to"
Throw myself away-wreck my
happiness for, maybe, an entire life
sime-sell myself for gold = was the
bitter interruption
Edith, why will you not be reas-
'nable? Why not Danish such
childish and romantic ideas from
7our mind:"
i would do very much for you,