Sharp County record. (Evening Shade, Ark.) 1877-1976, 1899-11-24

True to Her Ideal
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A BURST of laughter arose from the
"A group of girls.
You don't mean it, do you, Mar
garet? You really don't mean that
you'd be satisfied with love in a cot
tage?"
Yes" she answered, persistently,
and with more seriousness than usual
81 don't believe in marrying for money
or position. I believe in marrying for
love, and I'd a great deal rather live
in cottage with the one man in the
world that I cared for, than to live in
Partisan hotel with anyone elser
"Ha, ha. Love in a cottage! That
would be altogether too romantic for
mel" laughed one of the girls
I'D call that romance with the paint
scratched off" said another
The above bit of conversation took
place one summer afternoon in 1876.
just two years later Margaret found
herself ensconced in a tiny home just
such as she had always said would
make her happy. 1t was the yeriest bit
of a place-aimost a dolls house in
the center Of little village where her
husband, a young physician, had Just
opened an office. Their wedding pres
ents had almost furnished the house
and the few hundred dollars that DR.
Duval had left from his college course,
had completed it, He still owned his
horse and phaeton that he had driven
during his senior year-otherwise he
had nothing
At first their life was as sweet as
the strains of a love song, Practice
came slowly, for the clientele Of a
young physician always consists Of in
curables and patients who cannot pay
but then, they had managed to live,
for each had owned several pieces OF
valuable iewelry. These had been
pawned to friends, or sold one at
time-rehctantl perhaps, yet cheer
fully-for Margaret always said; "If
we can only manage to stay here long
enough, practice viii come, and we can
afford to part with these things now
After all they are Of little value" and
then she would Irvine a lock of his
hair gently through her fingers, look
into his eyes with the sweet confidence
that only true love can express, and
press a gentle kiss upon his brow
Such love is priceless, and they were
very happy, for awhile.
But a time came when money was
needed, and there were no patients with
credit 10 collect from, and there were
no Jewels. The larder was flied with
produce that the farmers brought in
payment for their bills, but there were
other things, such as clothes and house
rent, that required money, and for
weeks the family purse had been
empty. The clouds had been gather
ing for so long that a heavy gloom had
crept slowly but successfully into the
little cottage; but one day it suddenly
cleared, for letter came that seemed
like special dispensation Of kindness
from Fate II contained a commission
for DR. Girard Duya as physician on
board the steamer -, plying between
Melbourne, Australia and llong-Kong.
Margaret's eyes were blurred with
tears Ms she read It, for she said, APP
pcalngly; "You know, Girard, that
CHS means our separation"
Eyes but only for little while, dear,
and 8 also means 300 per month be-
side my expenses can afford 10 send
you $50 or S75 Of IL every month, and
il viii be big improvement on stary-
ing along as we have done so long"
"But the climate is bad, and suppose
il should ruin your health or, worse
than that--if-" but she could not fin
ish the sentence.
Tn that case, you know, Margaret,
you would be provided for; my life in
surance would take care Of you."
Within week the furniture had been
sold Margaret had gone home to spend
few weeks with her family before
making permanent arrangements for
herself during the two years that her
husband had planned 20 stay away In
chat time, he argued, something would
turn up that would ennhle him 10 take
her with him, or 10 bring them together
again IN some way
OF course the parting was hard, but
Margaret suffered keenest, for while
her self-sacrifcing, womanly spirit
could love- with the saw-toothed whir
Of poverty buzling In her ear, threat
oniug any moment 10 cot of her exist
ence, II WINS not 90 with her husband,
Girard had spent his money nvshly
lu college depending ON his dipomn
topull him through afterwards, but the
intermediate stoeo Of starting he had