River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-09-08
"FOR BETTER, FOR WORSE

| Let me he his wife with your consent.
"Of what avail. will it be for me to
refuse it, Hattie? You are eighteen to-
morrow, and, by your fathers will,
free to choose your husband; your
property becomes your own, and my
office as your guardian ceases"
"But not your position as my friend,
my uncle, my second father. Can you
think | was bound to obey you by
none but legalties; that my love, re-
spect and submission were paid only
to my guardian? You wronged me,
uncle, and in nothing more than this
question of my marriage. ] come to
you, not as the guardian, whose power
expires tomorrow but as the friend,
who. | trust, will stand by me through
life; come for counsel, affection and
advice Do not tell me, coldly, that |
am free to choose my own lot. Speak
to me as you have always done-as if
/ were your child!'
Hattie, Hattie, how can | speak? If
truly, I shall grieve you. But you are
right; you come to friend for counsel
and he will speak as friend should.
Review Edward Du Rand's life, and see
if / am not justified in my fears.
Brought up by parents whose means
were just sufficient to give him liber-
al education and support him independ-
ent of business. Their small fortune
he inherited on their death, and lost it
in his first speculation, leaving him a
mere pittance. He had studied law, and
with energy and industry could have
carved out fortune and name.
| What did he do? Absolutely nothing.
| With fascinating manner and splen-
did education he cultivated every REIN
ed taste INDUCED in every extravaganza
and lives life of complete idleness,
with means barely to support him. His
office is a lounging place for men of
fashion, who repay his hospitality by
inviting him to the opera, rides or
drives. To crown all he woes an heir
ess, that her purse may supply him
with perfumes, kid gloves and fast
horses"
"You are severe"
81 fear / am just"
"Take the reverse Of that picture.
Edward was an only child, of fine tai
ents, and the pride of both parents.
From his birth every whim was indulg-
ed, every caprice met compliance; his
profession was studied merely as a re-
! fuge in case of necessity, and he was
| launched an orphan upon the world
with cultivated mind, refined tastes,
extravagant desires and an easy fortune.
The roguery of friend persuaded him
to the speculations which ruined him.
He stood alone. His income was suf-
| ficient for a single man: he was popular
in society, courted by the men for his
wit, his good humor and his profcien-
| cy in athletic exercises; by ladies for
his talent in conversation, music and
gallantry. Without any stimulus to
exertion, he suffered his time to pass in
floating lazily down the tide of time,
content to let each day find its own
occupation and resources.
Then he met me, and his whole view
of life was changed For my sake he
will renew his studies, open his office
| for business and begin new life. Don't
shake your head so mournfully; trust
to woman's heart ard instinct There
is a mine of good in this spoiled child's
heart; let me be the agent by which ii
is worked to produce a good fruit. He
stands now in perlious position; my
refusal will throw him back on his old
| life, with heart ready to dare much
evil, reckless and hard, to be wrecked
in dissipation, or sour in misanthrophy,
my love will win him to nobler aims
and higher aspirations"
cit is dangerous experiment. Hat
tie.'
"Only one more argument and |
leave the decision in your hands:
love him! For his sake / could bear
sorrow, poverty, anything but incon-
stancy. With him life will be glad
through any suffering, without him, the
future looks mournful and dreary. If
you will decide / will dismiss him, but
my heart will break in doing it, for |
love him"
And so, by her last argument, Hattie
Lawson won her uncle's consent to her
marriage.
The world shrugged its shoulders
when the news came out. The men
congratulated Edward upon his success,
and smiled knowingly to one another
as they spoke, the women shook their
heads and wondered how Hattie could
be so blind as not to see through chat
dandy's" schemes.
1ll6J Nav DCCG llAaALiCd OiiO JCoAt
and Hattie was beginning to wonder if
Edward had been seeking her fortune
after all. He was devoted as ever,
kind, loving and fascinating; but not
one client had placed brief in his
hands, and she knew that their expen-
sive house, mode of living and Injuries
were drawn from her purse. She vas
specializing upon this when a quick,
manly step, a cheerful voice made
every doubt vanish, and she looked up
to greet her husband.
II have come up for you to ride,
Hattie, so don your habit! The broad
braids, little wife--you know my weak
ness. Nothing sets off such mignon
little faces as yours like heavy braids
and dropping plumes."
t'Nonsenser'
"Sense, | assure you. When you tie
that black beaver over those dark
brown braids, and let the broad rim
shade your face, / defy the world to
produce such an irresistible little fe-
male"
She was nimbly plating the rich pro-
there was long silence. Turning from
the glass for his approving smile, she
was surprised to see him sunk in a rev.
erie, and, to Judge from his appearance,
a painful one
what is it, Edward?"
He raised his head as he felt her soft
hand ON his shoulder.
''The old story, Hattie. Nobody
trusts me but you; cannot command
one client They think that my motive
in marrying was mercenary one, and
they hold back from me. Let him live
on his wife's money, and leave the pro-
fession open to those depending on it
for bread"
81 am almost tempted to echo the
wish"
'fNo, Hattie, there are temptations
enough for me to live in luxurious in /
dolence; let your influence bear where
il has ever rested, upon something no
bic, if you can find it in such a wasted
nature as mine.D