The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-01-16
MARRYING A POOR MAN.

MY choice is made at last, sister Belle.
Now am ready for blame or praise from
others, but want your approval.
The elder sister looked at a couple of
open letters lying on the writing desk be-
fore which the speaker sat, her cold gray
eyes softening little as she replied:
If you tell me which of the two you
have chosen l can answer you"
you ought to know without being told, Z"
Stella laughed. Clarence, of course"
Bella Lawson look serious.
Stella, / am sorry. Not that l bear
Clarence Henshaw any will, but, child,
you are not fit TO be a poor mans wife.
Remember you are proud and have been
reared in ease and comfort. Follow my
advice and marry Henry Lakeman.
Stella shook her head.
mo, Bella; / wouldn't marry Henry
Lakeman if he was hundred times richer
than he is.
She slipped picture into its envelope
with long glance at the view il imaged.
1t is lovely place, she sighed, -and
] would like to live there.
The sister was watching and, STOPPING,
kissed the smooth, white brow, while she
said:
Don't be too hasty, Stella. If you
covet this pretty home of Henry Lake
mans, accept it.
But l love Clarence. l prefer cot
tage with him to a mansion with Henry"
Miss Lawson turned TO the window with
sorry look. Some sweet dream of her
childhood was i'll her memory, perhaps,
but she held it worse than folly to indulge
in regrets. Love, in her estimation, was
no balance in the scale for wealth.
Stella" she continued, very gravely,
L have acted the part of mother for
many years; my wish has ever been that
you form wealthy marriage. L know
you love luxury, you enjoy display, and
am l not SAYING too much when L add
that you worship beautiful apparel.
Henry Lakeman can give you all of these.
Clarence Henshaw cannot. AS his wife
you will be subject to all manner of prva-
tions, be obliged to live In common way,
stint and economic and manage the best
you can. How long will that suit girl
of your tastes? Think we'll of il. /
shall let you have your own choice in re-
gard to this marriage"
My mind is made up, my dear Belle,
Stella responded.
She took up the view, slipping a letter
into its envelope as she spoke.
IF l favored his suit l 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.
Il do not, you see. / won't be sorry"
murmured she turning the envelope to
look at its superscription.
Your happiness is within your own
grasp, Stella. You'll recall my words some
day And with 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 an
swered 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.
"Therell 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 married.
They were happy and hopeful couple.
This life upon which they had entered was
like new and unexplored country, but
Clarence meant to work hard and felt
little or no doubt in regard to their future
He had been a head bookkeeper for many
years and had the promise of SON sthing
better yet the coming season. Taey rented
house IN the pleasant part of the city,
kept a servant, and Stella wore the hand
some clothes which had been provided at
the time Of her marriage. But toward
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 q 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 ward
robe.
Il shall find something by-and- by" the
husband said bravely.
It WIS at this trying time that n little
speck of humanity was put into Stella's
arms, and its feeble cry told that the re-
sponsibility of motherhood was here.
I'm the happiest man alive" Clarence
exclaimed, caressing wife and baby boy.
Let pride go TO the dogs, Stella, he add
ed, remembering that now his response
bility was greater than before. They are
in want of workmen on the new city-hall
I'll take my hammer-it will 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 morn
ing uuu Cdino nOine lalo III ulBnI, his
handsome face glowing with love. But
the very thought that her husband was
brou ght down to the level of O common
laborer hurt her
Sister Belle had said that her tastes
were luxurious. and she wanted n 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 if they could buy a new
dress She had never had to make the
most of circumstances, and why should
she now? The little privations she en-
dured worried her, and in little while
the sweet-tempered woman became moody
and down hearted.
Stella is homesick, F" the husband would
say; "the care of the baby is too much for
her. ] must make some money" and his
hammer rang with redoubled energy;
but Stella continued to sulk.
How can you expect me to live among
such surroundings" was her appeal, when
he begged her to cheer up. ut is cruel in