Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1883-06-21

hoqas ! cannot afford 10 marry NY
Income viii not justly the step.
The hightensd look went out Of
It vas wrong in me eves to have
sought your love.
Her hand tightened on his. and she
shrank closer to his side.
j am clerk. with an income of
only twelve hundred dollars. and I do
not see much beyond to hope for.
Ross, the furniture OF these parfors
cost twice the amount Of my salary.
Ths rent of the home in which Won
now live is equal to what / receive IN
. year. cannot take You from ali
this elegance into 3 third class board
isa hoasa, the bet ny msssas viii
provide. No. no, Rosa; it would be
unjust, selfish, wrong, cruel. How
blind in me ever to have thought of
SO degrading the one I love r
The young man was strongly agita-
And this is all that troubles you,
Henry?
is it not enough? Can I look at
the two alternatives that present them
selves, and not grow heart sick ? IF
we marry, what is before us? HUI
initiation, deprivation, and ali the ills
that poverty brings for you, and debt,
trouble and lifelong embarrassment
for me. If we separate, each taking
different Ways in life-oh, Rosa, Rosa,
! am not strong enough to choose that
alternative +
And his form .trembled under the
pressure of excitement.
You love me, Henry The voice
OF Rosa, was calm. yet burdened with
feeling.
AS my own life. darling Have II
not said so hundred times ?
And even as my life do love you,
Henry
For several moments her face Law
hidden in his bosom. Then lifting it,
Rosa said:
II am glad you have spoken on
this subject. Henry. ] could not ap-
proaeh it myself, but, now that we
have it before us. let it be we'll con-
sidered. Your income is twelve hun
dred dollars p
"Yes."
"a sum large enough to supply all
the real wants of two persons who
have independence enough not to
be slaved by a mere love of appear-
ances.
"Why. darling, it will require
more than half Of my salary to paw
for respectable boarding
Taking it for granted that after
our marriage, am to sit down in u
boarding house, with hands folded,
an idle dependent on your labor.
But shall not so construe my rela-
tion to my husband. / will be a
helpmeet for him. | will stand by
his side, sharing life's burdens
"All that is in your heart, darling,
know, returned Adrian. "But we
are hedged around with social forms
that act as a hindrance. You can
not help me. Society will demand of
us q certain style Of living, and we
must conform to it, or be pushed aside
from all circles of refinement, taste
and intelligence. I cannot accept
this ostracism for you, Rose. 1t is not
right"
"As If false, heartless world were
more to me than true, loving hus-
band Henry, the central point of
social happiness is home; as the home
Is, so will our lives be-rather let
me say, as we are, so will our homes
be-centres Of gloom or brightness.
What others think Of US is really of
little account in making up the sum
OF our enloyments as We pass through
life, but what we are in ourselves is
everything. We must be the centres
OF our own world of happiness, or our
lives viii be Incomplete. Can a fine
establishment like this, in which |
live in weak dependence, fill the meas
ure ofmy desires ? Can it bring peace
and cpntentment? No, no, Henry.
The humblest apartments, shared
with you, would be palace to nv
soul instead. am not speaking with
the romantic enthusiasm of an ardent
girl, but soberlY, truthfully, Henry.
No. dearest, we will not make our
lives wretched by living apart, be-
cause we cannot make a fair appear
anee in other peoples eyes. God has
given US love for each other, and the
means of happiness If we will use
them. Let US take His good gifts in
thankfulness. You have an income
of twelve hundred dollars. We must
not expect to live as those do who
have as many thousands,a year. Be
that folly far from us, Henry lam
equal to the self-denial it viii require,
if the word "self-denial" is to be
used. Are not you also? Oh, Henry
Is there any joy to be imagined be-
yond that which flows from the con
junction Of two loving hearts? and
shall pride and weak spirit of social
conformity come in 10 rob us Of our
blessing?"
The young man had come, sternly
resolved to put, off the day Of .marri- |
age he parted from Lis betrothed |
that night, looking forward with gold |
en-hued hopes Of its arrival. They
had talked over the future practical |
ly and sensibly. The lovers fond |
pride, which had looked to fair So
cial appearance for his young wife, |
gave place to better view of things. |
He saw that his love had fixed itself |
upon true woman, and that in the |