The Opelousas courier., 1893-03-25

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late, and / shouldn't be surprised if
something came of it."
81 hope So" returned Mrs. Merivale,
languidly tsfor he has lots of money,
people say"
sob, Hoburton is a bright young
mar and will make his mark yet, there
is no doubt about that, and he may be
able to help us out of our miserable
debts" said Mr.. Merivale.
The speaker went to the window and
for some time stood contemplating the
the landscape. "The painters have
been working on Robertson's house,"
said he, finally, land everything looks
brand new"
eyes," said Mrs. Merivale, sand it
makes our place look simply wretched.
You must borrow some money, Cyrus, and
get things fixed up or we shall be So
cially ostracised."
81 will see about it," said Merivale,
in a detected tone, "but l don't know
where | can get any. | wish Kate and
Jack were married; they might help to
keep up appearances"
The keeping up of appearances had
been Mr.. Merrivale's lifelong hobby.
This and a tendency for risky specula.
ton had kept him poor, but he lived in
anticipation of future opulence and pos
sessed the cordial sympathy of his
wife, SO things were not as bad as they
might have been had the domestic tastes
of the couple been less harmonious.
AS their daughter Kate grew in years
and stature she became so decidedly
beautiful that the parents hopes grad.
ually conferred in her. She had many
admirers, but Jack Hoburton was the
favorite. Jack was a steady young
man, good looking, well-educated nd
the possessor of a nest egg that in the
minds of Kate's worldly parents would
be sure TO hatch unbounded wealth.
The parents were gracious and paved the
way to an excellent understanding be-
tween the young people, 50 the next
winter when Kate went away to board
ing school and Jack vent to seek his
fortune in the great West, matters were
eminently satisfactory all around.
eyes," said Mr.. Meri4ale to his
daughter, "Jack Hoburton will make a
model husband, one that will tend to
elevate the family station. That's how
it always should be. / would be very
much panied to have you marry anyone
poorer than ourselves"
"Why, papa" said Kate in reply, 81
am not going to marry Jack because he
has a little money. / am going to marry
him because I love him."
''That's right" laughed her father,
'sbut the money is a requisite that must
not be despised, for without it love
would be a very tame affair, indeed. If
Jack were below you in worldly station
there would be a grotesdueness about
love that would soon destroy it. In
marriage the social equilibrium should
always be maintained"
About two years after Jacks engage
ment to Kate, and a year previous to the
proposed celebration of the nuptials.
Mr.. Merivale startled the bosom of his
family one day by suddenly entering
their midst greatly frustrated and per-
spring FROM every pore. He threw him
self into a chair, and after prolonged
silence that nearly frightened the mother
and daughter out of their senses in
formed them that at last ''the goal wal
in sight"
"What goala" they cried.
"At last" said he, tive shall rise to
our proper station. Henceforth we have
90 need to envy Robertson. The credi-
tors who have logged me for the past
ten years shall be r~elegated along with
bills marked paid back to their misery
level. In fne," he added, tive are
rich"
explain, pray explain" they gasped.
'sIt's the Arapahoe mine," said he.
"We are worth a cool hundred thousand
and people will think it a million"
The news of Mr.. Merivale's sudden
acquisition of wealth spread rapidly and
people exaggerated the reports, a. he
had anticipate . New friends sprung
up on every side. Wherever Kate ap-
peared she was more than ever the centre
of attraction.
MIR. Merivaie began to plan changes on
q grand scale. A lot was purchased next
to Robertson's and preparations were
made for the erection of a magnificent
mansion. There were to be carriages,
servants, g~ravelled walks, horses, dogs,
fo~antains-in short, all the attributes Of
a~ristocracy.
One day, after q long interview with
his wife, Mr.. Merivale summoned Kate.
~ wish to talk with you about that fell
low Hoburton,' said he. "You do not
suppose, now, that he will try to hold
you to the engagement, do you" he
inquired, neryously.
"Nhatlo exclaimed the daughter.
r~eddening; lido you mean that he should
ne because We have been fog
tunatssn !.