The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-08-18
APO0R MANS WIFI.

prevail"
The elder sister looked at a 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 I can answer YOU"
"You ought to know without being
tcld." Stella laughed. clarence, Of
course"
Belle Lawson looked serious,
"Stella, 1 am sorry. Not that
bear Clarence Henshaw any Il-wili,
but, child, you are not ftto bea poor
mans wife. Remember you are proud
and have been reared in ease and COM
fort. Follow my advice and marry
Henry Lakeman."
Stella shook her head.
mo, Belle; 1 wouldn't marry Henry
Lakeman If he was q hundred times
richer than he is"
shsslipped a picture into its envelope
after a long view.
sit Is a lovely place." she sighed,
"and / would like to live there"
The sister was watching, and, stoop:
ing, kissed the smooth, white brow,
while she saids
Don't be too hasty, Stella. II you
covet this pretty home of Henry Lake
mans, accept it."
but l love Clarence. I prefer q
cottage with him to mansion with
Henry"
Miss Lawson turned to the window
with sorry look. Some sweet dream
OF her childhood was in her memory,
perhaps, but she held it worse than
folly to indulge in regrets. Love, in
her estimation, was no balance III the
scale for wealth.
"Stella," she continued, very grave
ly, II have acted the part of q mother
TOR MANY years; my wish has ever been
that you form q wealthy marriage.
know you love luxury, you enjoy dis
play, and am not saying too much
when l add that you worship beauti-
full apparel. Henry Lakeman can
give you all of these. Clarence Hen.
shaw cannot. As his wife you will be
subject to all manner of privations;
be obliged to live in a common way.
stint and economic and manage the
best you can. How long will that suit
O. pirl of your tastes? Think we'll oft.
l shall let you have your own choice
in regard to this marriage"
"My mind is made up, my dear
Belle" Stella responded.
She took up the view, slipping let
ter into it's envelope as she spoke.
"If I favored his suit was to keep
it,sister Belle, she continued, touching
the edge of the wrapper to her rosy
lips, and sealing it with heavy slap
of the hand. II do not, you see. /
won't be sorry" murmured she, turn
Ing the envelope to look at its super
scription.
"Your happiness is within your own
grasp, Stella. You'll recall my words
some day." and with a stately gait
Belle Lawson left her.
Stella ran lightly up the stairs to
her own room and touched the bell in
great haste.
"You will oblige me by mailing this
at once" she said to the servant who
answered her call, handing him this
very envelope, "and," she said, smiling
and blushing, "be careful of this, !"
putting another letter into his hand.
Leave it with no one but the person
to whom it is addressed"
"There'll be no mistake, miss"
And that night a perfumed note lay
on Clarence Henshaw's pillow, and he,
foolish fellow, was transported to the
upper heaven of delight.
Three months later they were mar
ried. They were happy and hopeful
couple. This life upon which they had
entered was like new and unexplor-
ed country, but Clarence meant to
work hard and felt little or no doubt
In regard to their future. He had been
o head bookkeeper for many years
and had the promise ofsomething bet
ter yet the coming season. They rent
I'd house in the pleasant part of the
city, kept servant and Stella wore
the handsome clothes which had been
provided at the time of her marriage.
But towards the end of the first year
OF their welded life his firm was said
to be under heavy liabilities, and the
anniversary of their marriage found
the house bankrupt and Clarence out
Of . situation, They moved out Of
Their house and took a cheaper place
in another part of the city. By this
time their funds began to run low, and
Stella wanted something new for her
wardrobe.
81 shall find something by-and-by,"
the husband said bravely.
1t was at this trying time that lit
tie speck of humanity was put into
Stella's arms, and its feeble cry told
that the responsibility OF mother
hood was here.
I'm the happiest man alive" Clar-
ence exclaimed, caressing wife and
baby boy. "Let pride 60 to the dogs,
Stella" he added, remembering now
that his responsibility was greater
than before. '"rhey are in want OF
workmen on the new city hall. I'll
take my hammer-it viii give US
bread"
She ought to have been contented-
ought to have thought with pride OF
the man who would thus brave the
worlds opinion. He went out in the
early morning and came home late at
night, his handsome face glowing with
love. But the very thought that her
husband was brought down to the
level of a common laborer hurt her.
Sister Belle had said that her tastes
were luxurious, and. she wanted a
pretty home now and fine apparel for
herself and baby. The people of the
world in which she had lived had never
to count their money to know il they
could buy a new dress. She had never
had to make the best of circum-
stances, and why should she nowf
The little privations she endured wor-
ried her, and in a little while the sweet
tempered woman became moody and
down-hearted.
"Stella is homesick," the husband
would say; "the care OF the baby is
too much for her. / must make some
money" and his hammer rang with re-
doubled energy; but Stella continued
RI sulk