The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-04

we hear of people selling their drawings,
and we know that to take in sewing, if
you have no resources, is to take in star
walton. You are both too old and too
young for governeS; too old to
mould yourself to circumstances,
and too young to meet favor
from the ladies of any household
you might enter. You would soon have
reason to regret that you refused Mr.. Ro,
per, for dependence would chafe youl
proud spirit terribly"
Surely, mamma, there is no worse de
pendence than that of penniless wife
ON husband that she really does not
lovew
"Fudge!" exclaimed Mrs. Beloe, sharp
ly; marriage is no better, but rather
worse, for all that sort Of nonsense. lam
sure your papa and | have always get on
very we'll together, and yet, when he pro
posed to me, l never even stopped to in
quire whether l cared for him or no. !
knew he bore good character, and had a
very fine establishment, and | considered
that that was enough for any person Of
sense. Of course, woman can not be
forced into matrimony nowadays by
anything but circumstances; therefore,
you must do as you think fit about ac-
cepting Mr.. Roper; but all can tell you
is that if you do not, nothing on earth
can save us from downright ruin"
Euphemia stopped and bent over the
fire as if she were cold, and it might have
been noticed that she twisted nervously
ring she was wearing on her left hand.
Mrs. Beloe watched every expression of
her changeable face with the keenest anx-
iety. 1t was long while before Euphe-
mia spoke, and then she said, with calm.
almost stern decision, "Mother, you shall
have no reason to complain of me for the
future. If it must be, it must be, I sup
pose; and may we be forgiven, all of u.s.
Mr.. Roper comes tomorrow for his an
swer and unless he has really cried off,
as those people said tonight, / think it
will be easy to satisfy both him and
YOU"
The sudden revulsion of feeling was too
much for Mrs; ;Beloe; she fell back sobbing
on her chair. This glorious deliverance,
coming, too, when she had just ceased to
count upon it, entirely overcame her. 1t
seemed almost too good to be true, and it
was sometime before she could realize her
gain. Finally, she began to sob out her
joyful thanks; but Euphemia stopped
her with a word, and walked to the win
dow and looked out.
81 hope papa is asleep now," she said,
watching the dawn struggling through
the darkness. 81 can not bear to picture
him spending such long, weary time
over those miserable accounts. Do you
really believe that we could have suffered
more if we had made up our minds
to ruin from the first, and tried to face
it with courage and constancy?'
81 could never have done that" replied
Mrs. Beloe. "Just think how the Ruth
wins would have triumphed! She was
coolly insolent to me tonight; even ask
ing me if my lace and jewels were real!
Would she have dared do that three or
four months ago, when she thought our
prosperity so assured us to be above sus-
picion? No, Euphemia; we have held
our heads too high to be able to fall with
even moderate grace"
ut shouldn't be So" said Euphemia,
sadly; "people ought to SO use their
wealth that no one can reproach them
in their poverty"
"No doubt about that. But, you see,
if we are all as good as we ought to be,
adversely would have no sting. 1t is idle
work building up theories which are
never likely to be put into practice"
perhaps so;" and Euphemia sighed,
took up her candle and retired to her
own room.