Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-09-20

"When you write wish me joy Of my
engagement
Theyoung lawyer looked up from the
book Die was reading and shook his head
gravcly at his friend,
Il can't, Dick, because / think Helen
Carleton a cold, heartloss dirt, who is
only after your money"
"Wly, Herman Fenton, She would take
me if | didn't have a cent, aud only cling
more closely for my poverty, cried the
other with enthusiasm.
And would you like TO make test Of
thisy"
"How2'
Every one knows that your father
had something in the bank that failed,
They didn't know that il was only a
small amount. Why can't Won mako
Miss Carleton believe that IL was all you
had?"
I'm do it if only to prove how you have
%misjudged her" said Dick, and so the
two friends parted.
"Isn't it perfectly splendid, mammay"
And Helen Carleton held up exulantly
the white hand, from which u costly
diamond flashed like a dew drop in the
sun.
Mrs. Carleton surveyed it with a coolly
critical look, and yet one that expressed
full as much satisfaction.
"He can well afford H."
1T has always been the first wish Of
my heart, y continued Mrs. Carleton, re.
garding the lovely face opposite her with
an air Of mingled pride and complaccncy,
that you should make a brilliant mar
riagc, and | must say that | am very well
pleased with your choice.
Yes, Richard Is all right, so far rs
money and position are concerned, but he
has some horrible Old fashioned notions
about marriage; talks as if he respected me
TO settle down at home, and make his con
yCnicnce and happiness the chief end and
min Of my life, Did you ever hear of
anything 50 ridiculousY'
''llen get very foolish notions into their
heads sometimes. Richard will see the
folly Of this in due time; only be careful
not TO disenchant him too SOON
IN take care Of that.
As Helen said this she opened q letter
that was Just handed her, ~uttering a little
shrek as she made herself mistress of its
contents.
Goodness mel mamma, it's from Rich
ard, who says that he has lost every cent
that his father left him by the failure OF u
bank Isn't it shookingy'
"Ncry shocking for him" said Mrs.
Carleton, after n careful reading Of the
letter alluded to. ''but only think, my
love, what a lucky escape for youl sup
posing il had happened q few weeks
hcnce2 II makes me shudder to think Of
H."
The willy woman surveyed her daughter
narrowly as she said this, across whose
smooth brow a shadow had fallen.
II rather liked Richard, mamma but |
suppose it is of no use 10 think of Harry
ing now. IShould make the poorest kind
Of poor mans wife"
That you would. Nor have / spent all
that | have IN your education to be will
ing that you should be one. II is not to
be thought of."
"Thc poor. foolish fellow speaks as
though be thought it would make no diff
ference"
you had better write at once and dis
abuse his mind Of that idea, 10 is so much
easier saying such things by letter, you
know"
On a sheet of rose colorcd. perfumed
paper. and in the delicate chirography
that her lover had admired 50 often,
Helen traced the following lines;
Dear Mr.. Bronson: ! was very sorry
10 hear Of your misfortuues-sorry for my
sake as well as yours.
Il showed your letter TO mamma, and
she is Of the opinion hat il would be the
height Of folly and imprudcncc for us 10
think OF marrying now, with which | am
forced, though very reluctantly. 10 agree.
My tastes, my feelings, and habits entirely
unfit me to be the wife Of q man of limited
means, who has his own fortune TO make.
10 such should only be a hindrancc and
a drag, as l am sure you will have the
good sense to perceive.
But shall ever hold you In the high
est esteem, and be, what l subscribe my
self. your friend. HELEN CARLETON"
We will not attempt to describe Rich.
ards awful feelings as he read this heart
less note. But in the years that followed.
when seated by the wife whose worth be-
came more apparent 10 him year by wear,
and surrounded by the children by which
their love had been crowned and perfect
ed he looked backed upon it as the most
fortunate event Of lis life.
We will leave the reader TO imagine
Helen Cartoons chagrin and modification
when She learned that the few hundreds
Richlrd had in the broken bank were q
trile compared TO the wealth that was
still his.
Still hunting for a rich husband, she
stands : small chance of getting any.
With the beauty fading that was her
only charm. the men fight shy Of her, IL
being the general opinion that she would
not only make the poorest kind Of wife
for q poor man." but for any one.