The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1893-02-22
WEALTH.

WEALTH.
"Laura," said Mr.. Cyrus Merivale to
his wife as he drew close fitting pair
Of kid gloves over his large, fluffy fin
gers, ''Jack Hoburton has been paying
our Catherine considerable attention of
late. and shouldn't be surprised If some
thing came of it,"
II hope So returned Mrs Merivale,
languidly, ''for he has lots of money,
people say"
"Oh, Hoburton is a bright young man
and will make his mark yet, there is no
doubt about that, and he may be able to-
help us out of onr miserable debts said
Mr.. Merivale.
| Kate had many admirers, but Jack
Hoburton was the favorite. Jack was
steady young man, good looking, well
educated and the possessor of nest egg
that in the minds OF Hates worldly par
ents would be sure to hatch unbounded
wealth.
The parents were gracious and paved
the way to an excellent understanding
between the young people, SO the next
winter when Kate went away to board
ing school and Jack went to seek his for
tune in the great west matters were emil
nently satisfactory all around.
Eyes," said Mr.. Merivale to his daugh-
ter. "Jack Hoburton will make 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 any one poorer than
ourselves"
why, papa" said Kate in reply, 81
am not going to marry Jack because he
has little money. I am going to marry
him because love him."
That's right" laughed her father,
''but the money is requisite that must
not be despised, for without it love
would be very tame affair indeed. If
Jack were below you in worldly station,
there would be grotesqueness about
love that would soon destroy it. In mar
rage she social equilibrium should al
ways 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 FAM
lily one day by suddenly entering their
midst greatly hustered and perspiring
from every pore.
He threw himself into chair, and aft
err prolonged silence that nearly fright
ened the mother and daughter out of
- their senses informed taem that at last
"the goal was in sight"
what goalr' they cried.
"At last" said he, 1--WE shall rise to
our proper station. Henceforth we have
no need to envy Robertson. The cred
itors who have logged me for the past
10 years shall be relegated along with
bills marked paid back to their misery
level. In fine," he added, 1--WE are rich"
Explain; pray explain" they gasped.
Its the Arapahoe mine," said he.
1--WE are worth cool hundred thousand,
and people will think 1t million"
| The news of Mr.. Merivale's sudden
acquisition OF. wealth spread rapidly,
and people exaggerated the reports, as
he had anticipated. New friends sprang
up on every side. Wherever Kate APP
peared she was more than ever the cen
ter of attraction.
Mr.. Merivale began to plan changes
on grand scale. A lot was purchased
next to Robertson's and preparations
! were made for the erection of magnif-
cent mansion.
There We're to be carriages, servants,
graveled walks, horses. dogs, fountains
| LIN short, all the attributes of aristoc-
racy.
One day, after long interview with
his wife Mr.. Merivale summoned
Kate. II wish to talk with you about
that fellow Hoburton," said he. "You.
do not suppose, now, that he will try to
hold you to the engagement, do your" he
inquired nervously. itst 80
"Whatw exclaimed the daughter, red
dening; ''do you mean that he should
forsake me because we have been fortu-
mater a NKEE
Il mean," returned the father more
coolly, "that since our circumstances
have materially changed we should reg
| ulate ourselves accordingly. My prin-
ciple is the same as have always en-
deavored to inculcate. No one should
ever marry below his or her station.
Our station has risen, and those who
were once our social equals are no longer
So Personally, Hoburton is an estima-
BILE young fellow, but must insist that
the projected alliance be broken off at
once"
HKate gave her father look Of scorn,
| it was lost to him, for he continued with
out looking up:
"You have always been dutiful
daughter, and have implicit confidence
In your obeying my wishes. We have q
social status to maintain. 1t would be
flying in the face of Providence to dis
regard the advantages which our altered
circumstances present. This you would
be doing were you to marry a poor
man. As ftAtt4 AAi
"Why, father" exclaimed the daugh-
ter, 'sMr. Hoburton is by no meanspoor.
He has, as you know, over $4,000, and
with the assistance that you might now
afford he could easily add to it," !
"Ah," said her father, lyon forget
that while he has SIC, 900 you will have
10 times that. He is altogether too
many rounds in the ladder below you,
and the sooner he is informed Of the
change the better for all concerned. No,
no." said he, interrupting her as she was
about to continue the argument, II can
never consent to the marriage. should
commit fragrant breach of duty were I
TO allow the equilibrium to be thus dis
turbed. After you have thought the
matter over candidly you will see that
my position is the only one tenable."
The daughter sat for some time after
her father had left the room, over
whelmed with grief at his proposition.
Finally she gathered mp sufficient cour-
age to write to Jack, and in wretched,
tear stained scrawl she confessed her ia
HERS disapproval Of the marriage.
While she was penning this letter, full
Of endearments and protestations Of con-