The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-03-04
WEALTH.

Laura" said Mr.. Cyrus Merivale to
his wife as he drew Il 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 q 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 our miserable debts" said
Mr.. Merivale.
Kato had many admirers, but Jack
Hoburton was the favorite. Jack was u
steady young man, good looking, well
educated and the pOsscssor of n nest egg
that i'll the minds of Hates worldly par
ents would be sure to hatch unboundcd
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 i'll the great west matters were elni-
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, al
am not going to marry Jack because he
has little money. am going to marry
him because love him."
That's right" laughed her father
but the money is Il requisite that must
not be dcspiscd. for without it love
would be very tame affair indeed. If
Jack were below you in worldly station
there would be Il grotesQueness about
love that would soon destroy it. In mar
riago she social equilibrium should al
ways be maintained"
About two years after Jacks engage
ment to Kate and Il year previous to the
proposed celebration of the nuptials Mr..
Mcrivale startled the bosom of his fam
lily one day by suddenly entering their
midst greatly fiustered and perspirinr
from every pore.
lie threw himself into Il chair, and aft
er prolonged silence that nearly fright
encd tho mother and daughter ont of
their senses informed them that ut last
1.-THE goal was in sight"
"What goal:' 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
n c1,o1 1.n
bills marked paid back to their miserly
level In fine" he added, ''we are rich"
'Explain; pray explain" they gasped.
Its the Arapahoe mine," said he.
I'VE are worth Il 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
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
OH grand scale. y lot was purchased.
next to Robertson's and preparations
were made for the erection OF Il magnif-
cent mansion
),
graveled walks, horses. dogs, fountains
in short, all the attributes of aristoc-
racy.
One day, after Il 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:" he
inquired nervously.
WHAT" exclaimed the daughter, red
dening: do yon mean that he should
forsake me because we have been fortu-
mater"
Il mean," returned the father more
coolly. that since our circumstances
have materially changed we should reg
ulatc ourselves accordingly. My prin-
ciple is the same as | have always en-
deavorod 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
If Kate 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 l have implicit confidence
i'll your obeying my wishes. We have a
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 We're YOU to marry Il poor