Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1880-03-25
A POOR MANS WIFE.

my choice is made, sister Belle. Give
me your approval"
The elder sister looked at a couple of
open letters lying on the writing desk
before which the speaker sat, her cold,
gray eyes softening a little as she re-
piled:
If you tell me which of the two
you have chosen, / can answer you"
IS You ought to know without being
: told, Stella laughed. - Clarence, of
course.n
Belle Lawson looked serious.
''Stella," she said, "I'm sorry. Not
that I bear Clarence Henshaw any i'll
will, but, child, you are not suited to be
poor mans wife. Remember you are
proud, and have been reared in ease
and comfort. Follow my advice, and
marry Henry Lakeman."
s'No, Belle; I won't marry Henry
Lakeman if be was hundred times
richer than he is"
She slipped a picture into his en-
velope, with long glance at the view
it imaged.
sIt's lovely place." she sighed,
land would like to live there"
The sister was watching, and stopping
kissed the smooth, white brow, while
she said:
Don't be too hasty, Stella. If you
covet this pretty home of Henry Lake
mans. accept it.n
'.But | love Clarence Henshaw. /
prefer cottage with him to a mansion
with Henry"
Miss Lawson turned to the window
with sorry look. Some sweet dream
of her own childhood was in her mem
ory, perhaps, but she held it worse than
folly to indulge in regrets. Love, in
her estimation. was no balance in the
scale of wealth.
"Stella, she continued, very gravely,
" have acted the part of mother for
many years; my wish has ever been
that you form wealthy marriage. You
love luxury, you enjoy display, and |
am not saying too much when l add
that you worship beautiful apparel.
these. Clarence Henshaw cannot. AS
his wife you will be subject to all manner
of privations; be content to live in
common way, stint and economize and
+ manage the best you can. How long
] will that suit girl of your tastese
Think well OF it. shall let you have
your own choice in regard to marriage"
my mind is made up" Stella re-
sponded, readily.
She took up the view, slipping let
ter into its envelope while she spoke
: If l favored his suit; / was to keep
it. sister Belle" she continued, touching
the edge of the wrapper to her rosy lips.
and sealing it with heavy slap OF the
hand g do not, you will observe. I'll
never be sorry | know" she murmured,
turning the envelope to look at the
superscription.
grasp, Stella. You'll recall my words
some day." And with a stately gait,
Belle Lawson left her.
Stella ran lightly upstairs to her own
room and touched the bell in great
haste.
s You will oblige me by mailing this
at once" she said to the servant who
answered her call, handing him this
very envelope, and" she said, smiling
and blushing, be careful of this,n put
ting another letter into his hand.
Leave it with no one but the person to
whom it is addressed. Mindr' she
called, as he turned to obey. .
"There'll be no mistake, MISS and
that night a perfumed note lay on Clar-
ence Henshaw's pillow, and he, foolish
fellow, was transported to the upper
heaven of delight over its contents.
Three months later they were mar
ried. They were happy and hopeful
couple. The life upon which they en-
tered was like new and unexplored
country, but Clarence meant to work
hard, and felt little or no doubt in re-
gard to their future. He was equal to
any undertaking in his own determina-
tiOn that would promote his Wife's happi-
ness, and as to Stella, she would do
anything to help her husband.
He had been head bookkeeper for
many years, and had the promise of
something little better yet the com
ing season. So the first few months of
their married life ran smoothly. They
rented a house in pleasant part of the
city, kept a servant, and Stella wore
the pretty clothes which had been pro-
vided at the time of her marriage, and
wondered why siste- Belle had such
funny notions about marrying a poor
man.
But toward the close of the first year
of their welded life, his firm was said
to be under heavy liabilities, and the
anniversary of their marriage found che
house bankrupt and Clarence out OF a
situation
He applied at this and at that place,
but month after month slipped by and
be found no opening. They moved out
of the house and took cheaper rooms in
another part of the city. By this time
their funds began to run low, and Stella
wanted something new for her ward
ro',e. Already she had begun 70 show
signs Of diecqQfent: