Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1893-02-25
WEALTH..

his wife es he drew % close lifting pair
of kid gloves over his large, fluffy tln-
gers, Jack Hoburton has been paying
our Catherine considerable attention OF
late, and shouldn't besurprised If some
thing came Of It."
II hope So" returned Mrs. .Merivale,
languidly. "for he has lots of money,
people say"
"Oh, Hoburton is bright young man
and will make his mark yet, there Is no
doubt about that, and he may be able to
help us ont Of our miserable debts" said
Mr.. Merivalc.
Kate had many admirers, but Jack
Hoburton was tho favorite. Jack was
steady young man, good looking, well
educated an1 tho possessor Of nest egg
that in the minds Of kate's worldly par
ents would DO sure to hatch unbounded
wealth.
Tho parents were gracious and paved
the way to an excellent understanding
between the young people, so the next
winter when Kate won't away to board
ing school and Jack went to seek his for
tune Ill lQe great W eSo 1AittplNAo WV V 1880
nently satisfactory all around.
YES said Mr.. Merivale to his dauSh-
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 ne
has a little money. 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 a grotesQueness about
love that would soon destroy it. In mar
riage she social equilibrium should al
ways be maintained.
About two years after Jacks engage
ment to Kate and 4 year previous to the
proposed celebration of the nuptials Mr..
Merivale startled tho bosom of his fam
lily one day by suddenly entering their
midst greatly fustered and perspiring
from every pore.
He threw himself into chair, ana aft
er prolonged silence that nearly fright
ened the mother and daughter out Of
their senses informed them that at last
"the goal was in sight"
What goal:' they cried.
"At last" said he, I'VE shall rise to
our proper station. Henceforth we have
no need to envy Robertson. The cred
itors who have logged me for the past
Oyears shall be relegated along with
bills marked paid back to their misery
level. In fine. he added, Eve are rich"
Explain: pray explain" they gasped.
Its the -Arapahoe 1nine," said he.
I'VE ere worth cool hundred thousand,
and people will think it million"
The news Of Mr.. Merivale's sudden
acquisition of wealth spread rapidly,
and people exaggerated the reports, as
be had anticipated. New friends sprang
I'D on every side. Wherever Kate ap-
peared she was more than ever the cen
5 ter of attraction.
Z 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 magnifi-
cent mansion.
There were to be carriages, servants,
grayeled walks, horses, dogs, fountains
lin short. all the attributes Of aristoc-
racy.
Ono 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 you: ne
inquired nervously.
what" exclaimed the daughter, red
dening; do you mean that he should
forsake me because We have been tortu-
nate:'
II mean" returned the father more
coolly. THAT since our circumstances
have materially changed we should reg
ulate ourselves accordingly. My prln-
ciple is the same as have always en-
deavored to iMculcate. No one should
ever marry below his or her station.
Our station, has risen, and those who
were once our social equals arc no longer
so. Personally, Hoburton is an estima-
ole young fellow, but must insist that
the projected alliance be broken on at
once"
If Kate gave her father look of scorn,
it was lost to him. for he continued with
put looking mp:
You have always been dutiful
daughter, and have implicit confidence
in your obcying my wishes. We have
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 poor
man.
Why, father" exclaimed the daugh-
ter. Mr. Hoburton is by no means poor
He has, as You know, over $4,000, and
with the assistance that you might now
afford he could easily add to it"
All said her father. You forget
that while he has $4,000 you will have
~ t4uics liat. Ilo - d1lOSeIiieA wv
many rounds iii the ladder below you.
and the sooner he is informed of the
change the better for all concerned No,
no, said he, intcrrupting her as she was
about to continue the argument, II c.n
never consent to the marriage. should
commit a fragrant breach of duty were !
to allow the equilibrium to be thus dis
turbed After you have thought tn.
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, ovor
whelmed with grief at his proposition.
Finally she gathered up sufficient co,;r-
ago to write to Jack, and III wrctchcd
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