Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-01-17

can people help being better and nobler
for itp Why, feel that could lift the
world with my wealth."
"Ah, Rose, the world Is so large"
"Yes, Ralph, but | can make one lit
tie corner OF 1t all happiness. | have
enough for that"
"There is the responsibility, too,
Rose"
"But don't feel at all weighed down
by it, as everyone seems to think l
should. On the contrary, accept it
joyfully. rejoice in it. Then there is
something else, which | am weak enough
to enjoy immensely. Everyone is so
polite and attentive. I'm a person of
immense Importance now. Then, again,
there are the sweet children. | had
their love and kisses when | was poor,
and how happy l have made them all
by my little gifts. Better than all,
Ralph, can help you now. Have you
heard of our plansp"
al simply heard, as l stopped few
moments to get my letters, that you
were to accompany the Lcland's on
their European trip"
Rose started TO her feet and stood
before him, her hands clasped, and her
eyes sparkling.
Sand you, Ralph, arc to have the
dearest wish of your heart gratiiied.
You are to go with us; to have every
advantage which the Old World can
give you. Why, what is the matterP
You do not look at all pleased"
eco, as recipient of your bountyp
Never!"
The young girl looked at him in utter
amazement, as he continued:
GAS much as hunger for the art
treasures of the Old World, l would
rather starve without them than enjoy
them in that way"
In what wayp" she asked, rather
coldly.
"Did you for moment imagine,
Rose, that would 60 abroad to con-
tinue my studies at your expenseP"
She did not answer, and Ralph added:
" Is it possible that Judge Leland APP
proved of such planp"
"Ralph, you do not understand. /
am TO give you a certain amount; it is
to be your own, to do with as you
please"
"Worse and worse. How dared you,
Rose, think so meanly of mep What
right had Judge Leland TO hold such a
contemptuous opinion of mep would
die, rather than advance. one step in
my profession at your expense"
The tears stood in Roses eyes, but
she kept silent.
"You have 1t in your power, dear
Rose, to lift me-to be to me IN inspira-
ton; but not in that way; never in that
way"
Her voice trembled, as she answered,
timidly:
"From all this wealth of mine, from
my abundance, do you refuse to accept
one little crumbp Oh, my playmate,
my brother, is there any reason why
you should not share my good fortune
as you have my povertyP Had you
been the one to inherit these riches,
and l the poor one, this is not tho way
in which / should have treated you.
You will let me do this for youp"
She laid her hand imploringly upon
his arm; but he shook it off impatiently,
and the sternness of his face and voice
frightened her.
"As you love me, Rose, never word
of this again. In my poverty | yet
retain my self-respect. For Gods sake,
don't rob me of that There is but one
way TO success-by self-denial and I'M
firing labor. 1 should not value it, if it
were gained by any other means. IL |
am ever to study abroad, must work
my way there, as better men have done
before me. IL there is to be peace
between us, never allude to this subject
again."
She held out her hand, and clasping
it with both of his, he said, sadly:
"Good-night, Rose"
"Good- might, Ralph"
The young girl went to her room,
with vague sense of pain and unrest.
As she laid her head upon her pillow,
she murmured:
"Can it be that they are right, after
alp Do riches bring care and sorrow,
instead of pleasurep | was u thousand
times happier before. What has changed
Ralph so? Never before has he been
unkind or stern. If wealth is to make
this difference, oh I! give back my friend
and let the riches 60"
And as the young man walked rapidly
homeward in the moonlight, these wero
the thoughts that fitted through his
mind:
"In few weeks should have spoken
and she would have given the answer
so long to hear; but this accursed wealth
has come between us, and set seal
upon my lips. How can /, poor, OBJ
scure, ask for the hand of an heiress? The
world would put but one construction
on such an act. If ! had only told her
before! Yet after all it may be as well.
1 have no right to bind her now, to link
her fate with mine. Let her go into the
world unshackled. If she returns free,
then there will be time enough for me
to speak"
At the age of six years, Rose Newton
had been brought, an orphan, to her
Uncle Hiram's home. Across the street
lived the widow Loring, with her only
child, a boy q few years older than the
little Rose. The lives of the two chill
dren coming thus In contact at an early
age kept on in parallel grooves for
many years. Not far from the Widow
Loring' was an old homestead, occupied
during the summer by Judge Leland, q
wealthy city lawyer. II did not take
iouS iOi Iuo ouuSc diu Ills WIG W Dc-
come greatly interested in the two chill
dren, and from year to year this inter-
est grew deeper and warmer. The boy
had early given unmistakable evidence
of rare artistic genius; and for the past
two years the Judge had given him all
the advantages which New York could
afford. But the summer always found
the young man at his homo, filling his
portfolio with sketches of the pictur-
esque scenery to be found in the quiet
little mountain village. Roses unex-
pected good fortune found her teaching
the only school in the neighborhood.
Very naturally, she chose the Judge as
her guardian; and after due consulta-
ton with Uncle Hiram and Aunt Esther,
she decided to accompany the Lelands
on their European trip. The party was
to consist OF the Judge and his wife,
Rose, and aniece and nephew of the Le-
lands. Ralph had been included in tho
n