The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-03-19
BETTER THAN WEALTH.

BETTER THAN WEALTH.
Click, click. went the sewing machine
and the work iiuttered through; long
strips of dainty ruilling which came
from under the magic needle, hemmed
and gathered, and ready for use.
The curly head bending over the busy
machine dropped Il trifle, and the large.
dark eyes We're pathetic with fatigue;
for May Warner had been hard at work
all day, and was nearly exhausted.
"Oh dear!' she sighed. in patient
weary tone. ..if only | could ever be
done. am so tired! But never mindr'
and II more hopeful expression stole into
the weary eyes. 81 am very glad to be
able To work
The outer door was thrown open and
then closed with bang; there followed
the sound Of footsteps, and young girl
rushed into the room. She tossed pile
of books upon the table, her hat and
gloves followed suit: and she paused
with sparkling eyes and rose-flushed
cheeks a pretty picture was Nell War
ner.
Still at work, May?" she quericd. IL
know you're awfully tired. and so am |.
School teaching is just too--too--'
she hesitated. Carleton Place is open,
see" she added abruptly.
Mays face flushed, and the little
hand which directed the sewing ma
chine trembled visibly.
Il was told So she remarked.
.'Nay, said Nell impetuouslv. '.when
j think how shamefully Lewis Carleton
has treated you. feel like doing some
desperate deed. How dare he? just
because we are poor and no one but old
Aunt Charlotte 10 protect us, he dares
to treat YOU in tha; hcartlcSs manner
To 90 To Europe and remain two years
without Il word to You: then return to
Carleton Place when he knows that our
little home. all we possess in the wide
world. adioinS his splendid and magni-
iiccnt home, the family residence of the
ariStOcraiic Cartoons. May, ] detest
them all especially his purSe-prOud sis
ter. Clara. We must Try and rent our
house. and find new quarters our
selves
you are right, Nell returned May
quietly; Il could not bear to. perhaps
see him after all that has occurred. AnC
| am told she paused Il moment then
went on firmly: Aunt Charlotte tells
me to-day-She has heard it somewhere
that Mr.. Carleton will bring wifi,
home with him"
THE wretch calculated Nell, pas
sionatcly; land years ago YOU were his
promised wife. Oh. May, If only we
| had been rich. Lewis Carleton would
| Il 10, t,.;I -, Ia
shameful fashion. would give any
thing To be rich. even for Il little time
Money is the lever that moves the
world"
May smiled sadly.
"Oh. no. dear" she returned gravely
Money is good thing TO possess. bu
not the best thing in the world by any
means. ] would not barter n peaceful
conscience for all the wealth of the
| CarletonsH
"Conscicncer' retorted Nell, spite
fully; ''you do not imagine that Levi.
| Carleton has any conscience do you?
dcspise him beyond expression"
The sewing machine stood near III
open window. just outside was tai
hedge of Cherokee roses. which dividet
| tic SIllsill "
the elegant estate adjoining. known n
Carleton Place.
As Nell uttered these words, II tai
figure on the other side of the hedg,
arose from low seat, Il handsome
dark-eycd man. He tossed away tn,
cigar which he had just lighted, and a.
the two sisters glanced up simultaneous
ly, he removed his hat and bowed corr
teously. Mays face was as marble.
Thanks, very much, for your compli
ment, Miss Nell" observed Lewis Carrie
ton. in a slow, languid tone, and thei
turning he walked away.
May faced her sister with reprOachfu
| eyes.
Nell" she calculated. "what hav,
you done?'
"No MATTER" returned Nell. deiiantly
81 am glad he knows my opinion o
him. at least May, forgive me,
wouldn't pain you, but | can see how
you have altered, how pale and thin
you have been growing all these months
and you are all have in the world, m,
only sister. May, if | were you, would
cast every thought of that man from
my heart. ! would despise him-forge
him"
IL cannot do that, Nell returned he
sister, firmly; .'he is too dear TO me
And, although he has ceased to care 70
me. and has given me up, as his sistc
Clara assured me, yet II can neve
change. So, Nell, dear, we had bette
not speak of him at all in future. since
you and | disagree on the subject"
May arose quietly as she flushed
speaking, closed the window, put ava.
her work, and began to set the table TO
tea.
The man on the other side of tn
hedge had paused within hearing dis
lance, and although the sister ha'
spoken i'm very low tones, every wor'
had been distinctly audible TO his ears
His face had grown very pale, and ther
was an amazed look i'm his eyes.
81 wonder" he calculated, ''if Clar
told me the real truth. She declares
that May Warner was going to MARI
old Hudson for his money. She san
that May was very ambitious, and Hud
sons fortune was greater than ours, al
though since that time the cases hav
been reversed. She said that Ma
would marry the richer of the two. Tn