The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-03-10
READY TO BE A POOR MANS WIFE

"My choice Is made, sister belle. GIVE
me your approval.
The elder sister looked at couple of open
letters lying on the writing desk before
which the speaker sat- her cold, gray eyes
softening little as she replied:
"If YOU tell me which of the two you have
chosen, l can answer you"
"YOu ought to know without being told, :"
.Stella laughed. clarence, Of course"
Belle Lawson looked serious.
stella" she said, "I'm sorry. Not that
| bear Clarence Henshaw any i'll WILL but,
child, your 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.p
Stella shook her head.
mo, Belle; l wouldn't marry Henry
Lakeman if he was a hundred times richer
than he is"
She slipped picture into its envelope,
with long glace at the view it imaged.
'It's lovely place" she sighed, sand 1
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 Lakeman's ac-
cept it."
but love Clarence Henshaw. j 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 memory, perhaps, but
she held it worse than folly to indulge in re-
grets. Love. in her estimation, was no bal
ance in the scale of wealth.
Stella" she continued, very grsvely," ~
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 i am not saying too much
when add that you worship beautiful appa-
rel. Henry Lakeman can give you all of
these. Clarence Henshaw can not. As his
wife you will be subject to all manner of
privations; be content to live in a common
way, stint and eeonomize and manage the
best YOU can. How long will that suit II
girl of your tastes? Think well of it.
shall let you have your own choice in regard
to marriage"
"My mind is made up" Stella responded
readily.
She took up the view, slipping letter into
its envelope while she spoke.
at favored his suit, was TO keep it, sis
ter Bell" she continued, touching the edge
of the wrapper to her rosy lips, and sealing it
with heavy slap of the hand. 81 do not, you
will observe. I'll never be sorry, l know"
she murmured, turning The envelope to look
at the superscription.
"Your happiness is within your own grasp,
And with stately gait, Belle Lawson left her.
Stella You'll recall my words some day"
Stella ran lightly up stairs to her own room
and touched the bell in great haste.
you will oblige me by mailing this at
once, she said Ito these who answered her
call, handing hira this very envelope, 'and,
she said, smiling and blushing, ''be careful of
this" putting another letter into his hand.
"Leaveit with no one but the person TO whom
it is addressed. Mindr' she called, he
turned to obey.
.sThere'll be no mistake, Miss" and that
night perfumed note lay on Clarence Hen
shaw's pillow, and he, foolish fellow, was
transported to the upper Heaven of delight
over its contents.
Three months later they were married.
They were happy and hopeful couple.
The life upon which they had entered was
like a new and UNEMPLOYED country, but Clar-
ence meant to work hard, and felt little or
no doubt in regard to their future. He was
equal to any undertaking in his own deter
mination that would promote his wife's hap
piness, and as to Stella, she would do any
thing to help her husband.
He had been a head bOokkeeper for many
years, and had the promise of something a
little better the coming season. So the first
few months of their married life ran smoothly.
They rented house in pleasant part of the
city kept a servant, and Stella wore the
pretty clothes which had been provided at
the time of her marriage, and wondered why
sister Belle had such funny notions about
marrying poor man.
But toward the close of the first year of
their welded life, his firm was said to be I'M
der heavy liabilities and the anniversary of
their marriage found the house bankrupt and
Clarence out of a situation.
He applied at this and at that place, but
month after month slipped by and he 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 wardrobe. Already she had begun
to show signs Of discomfort.
"I shall find something by and by" the
husband said bravely.
ct was atthis trying time that little speck
of Humanity was put into Stella's arms and
It's feeble cry told her that the responsibility
of motherhood was hers.
Al am the happiest man alive Clarence
exclaimed, caressing wife and child. 1.-THE
very happiest," he repeated again, kissing
the baby boy.
''Let pride go to the dogs, Stella" he add
cd, remembering that now his responsibility
was greater than before. "They want work
men on the new city hall. I'll take my ham
merit will give us bread"
She ought to have been contented, ought to
have thought with pride of the msn who
would thus brave the worlds opinion.
He went out in early morning, and came
home late at night, as other workmen did, his
handsome face glowing with love.
Z But the very thought that her husband
was brought down to the level Of common
2borer, hurt her.
Sister Belle had said that her tastes were
luxurious, and she wanted a pretty home
nov. and fine apparel for herself and baby.
The people of the world IN which she had
lived bsd never 10 count on their money 70
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