Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-22
NOT FOR THE MONEY.

of q very long terrace in northern suburb
of London-sat a girl by the freight. The
room, a long narrow one, with folding doors,
was STABILITY and poorly furnished. The fur
niture and cheap ornaments, however, had
been carefully busted and brushed. Evidently
their owners had endeavored to make the
best of their threadbare appearance. The
girl lay almost at full length on a low Ameri-
can chair placed straight across the hearth
rug, seemingly for the purpose of getting the
greater amount of benefit from the poor FIRE
burning in the CRATE. Size was tall, slight
end fair, and certainly good looking. And a
wealth of chestnut hair crowned the top OF an
exceedingly well shaped heed. The eyes,
large and well opened, looked dreamily into
the fire.
The door opened, and a lady entered.
Shutting the door softly, she stepped with a
gliding motion to the girl in the American
chair, and stood looking down at her. The
relationship was evident The mother was
the image of the daughter, grown older,
petrifed, as it were, into a distinctly
unpleasant looking middle age. The chestnut
hair had faded, without becoming gray; her
eyes, large and well opened, like her daugh-
ter's, had stony stare in them; and her
mouth the same discontinued and sarcastic
droop, ten times intensified. Not pleasant
old lady to look upon by any means.
The girl had not removed her eyes from the
fire on her mothers entrance. She remained
In precisely the same position, apparently OBJ
1vious of the fact that Mrs. Grenoble's stony
gaze was fixed upon her face.
At last the mother broke the silence.
Il hope, Paula, you have read the letter
carefully, and have come at last to a SEN
sible conclusion on the matter"
(Which letter, and what conclusion?' asked
the girl with q sarcastic infection of her
low, clear voice.
"Don't be foolish, Paula," said her mother
testify. "YOu know perfectly well what /
mean. You have a chance that not one girl
In ten Thousand has-tne chance of rich,
fortunate life, without worries, without cares,
without
"Love," murmured the girl softly.
"Love!' said her mother, scornfully.
rWbat is love without money? or what il
love worth in comparison to money! Love is
a mere word without substance, without real
fly, without meaning. And you have the
opportunity of lifelong enjoyment of a
princely fortune-4J0, COO that will be yours
as long as you remain single. And you hest
tate2"
Naturally" said Paula, a CLEAN of mis-
chief lighting up the WEAKNESS of her pale
face Most girls object to the prospect of
being an old maid"
Listen to reason, Paula. You are very
young, only just turned 20. Your whole life
up to the present moment has been spent in
weary, hopeless poverty. Not the poverty
Of the very poor, who often want daily
bread, but who, the bread once gained, have
no appearances to keep up. Ours is the pow
crty Of the well born, the well bred. the daily
striving to keep our shabby clothes present
able. our shabby house and furniture from
getting even more worn and tbreadbare.
Think what You might do with that ESQ, 900.
The dresses you could have to wear, the
jewels you might buy; think how you would
have the chance of travelling in foreign coun-
tries, Of seeing places and things you can
only sigh and long for now in vain. And
then think of your life. married TO Charles
Etheridge on his paltry $500 year, with no
prospect OF its ever much increasing"
When her mother spoke of the e500O0,
Pauls's eyes CLEANED with strange Light,
and her mouth lost its sarcastic droop, and
quivered with excitement. At the mention
of Charles Etheridges name she slightly
brushed her lips with the letter she held in
her left hand.
@Wellt' said her mother interrogatively
"Ah," said Paula, lazily changing her posi-
ton in the American chair, SO as TO face her
mother, you were saying something to me
just now. 1t seemed rather long. l can't
quite remember it ALL All, yes; about the
80. COO and Uncle Dicks insane will BY the
way, suppose be wasn't mad when he made
it, was he! 1t couldn't be disputed or any
thing of that kind, could it? What pity!
$50, COO is worth having"
''Yes," said Mrs. Grenoble, sand If you have
grain of sense in your composition, you'll
keep it, and send Charles Ethefidge about his
business You will be able TO ride in YOUR
carriage and
DRESS like the Princess Of Wales" said
Paula languidly. "Yes, there is something
tangible about ready money, after oil Oh!
10 have something else 10 wear but this rag Of
q gown! Let me think. / would have a
tailor made costume. One tailor made cos
tunnel No. I'd have half a dozen, one for
every day in the week. and tight fitting
jacket trimmed with sable, and a plush
mantle for the theatre, and, and-oh, if it
could only bep' and the girls eyes sparkled,
and a covetous longing look came over the
fair face.
Her mother with few more words of
caustic persuasion left the room She thought /
she knew her daughters character better |
than the girl herself. She knew that the life !
of pinching poverty had brought out, all the |
worst traits in Paula's disposition, and she I
hoped TO make capital of them for her own
especial benefit. If Paula accepted the con- /
ditions of her uncle's viii and lived single, !
she would naturally live ct home, and Mrs. I
Grenobte would naturally become partaker |
of all the good things that Paula with her /
money would he able to procure
In the meantime Paula was living back in
the American chair muSing Presently she
lifted the letter with the closely written four
pages, and went once more over the well 4
known lines. As she read her eyes darkened /
and softened with tender light, and the !
droop at the corner of her mouth became less /
marked.
At the end she laid it in her lap, and, with /
out changing her position, read the other /.
letter, The reading took the loyelight out of I
her eyes and brought back covetous gleam 4
which shone like bright steel through her (
thick lashes
Then she spoke to herself in low tone
Which is it 10 bel Love or money! And .
l must decide tomorrow. Charlie ana his
$500 year-and-the $4,000
The next morning, when Paula came down
rather late TO breakfast. she found her mother
busily reading very long and closely
written letter whilst uttering grunts Of strong
disapproval
SNhat is the mstter!' asked Paula, sit
ting hselessly down at the table, ana lazily
buttering ner toast
why, have just hsd letter from