The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-03

servants and a grand house; for carriages
and horses; for bows and scrapes from all
the folk in Yarebridge and the country
round; for a large settlement, and for
power over a man."
The mother looked more dismayed than
ever.
Edith, you terrify me. You say things
that are horrible to listen to. Do you
think / would have married if [ had not
loved your father, whatever he had offered
me? And he could offer me nothing, for
he was then only an articled clerk"
Edith loved her mother dearly, but she
laughed.
You married him for love, mamma.
Why, that's funnier than ever. Which do
you think my father loves best, yourself
or a good case at Petty S~essions?"
MY DEAR" said the mother, don't speak
In that way, or you will break my heart.
Never a fonder couple went 10 the church
doors han your father and 1; and never
a more good-looking, the people said,
though, of course, that was quite untrue
said Mrs. Wagstaff, with a satisfied and
faraway look which seemed to indicate
that in her opinion it was true enough.
"Oh, you are quite good-looking yet,
mamma You are. indeed. a quite beauti-
full thing, and / admire you just as much
as father can nave done when he was an
articled clerk" and Edith went up TO her
mother and threw her arms around her,
and kissed her so vehemently that the
sound of the kiss ended in a sob.
MY darling Edith. you are unhappy"
her mother said.
Nonsense, mamma! l am only a cold,
calculating girl. There were none such in
your time, 1 suppose. 1 am going to marry
for my own advantage. and because I am
tired Of being single. oh, you needn't look
so Mortified. / am neither going to make
myself nor my husband miserable. We
shall lead a very nice and agreeable life,
1 can tell you. I mean to make John very
contented with me. OF course, l know,
mamma, that there is no more love on his
side than mine. What's the good Of being
hypocritical about It? We are two prac-
teal, businesslike people. We are going
into partnership, don't you know"
"Oh, my poor Edith the mother ex-
claimed.
Don't be ridiculous, mammal! John is
a good fellow at bottom. He can be man.
aged. He is a clod; but clods are useful
for agricultural purposes. l shall cult
vate him into a desirable husband"
Whatever you say, Edith-and, really,
your cynicism dismays mel am quite con-
WINGED that marriages without love can
only lead to misery"
well, mamma. ! always like to agree
with you; but on this subject we must
agree to differ. You and father began with
love, it appears, and you nave fallen into
Indifference. You must admit that, dear.
We shall begin with indifference; but why
hould not indifference ripen into love?"
But the mothers capacity for argument
was gone. She was incapable of any
answer to this question. She merely rose
and kissed her daughter rather mournfully,
and then sat down by the d~rawing-room
fire. wondering that any unmarried woman
could speak as her daughter had done.
And the daughter, on her part, was
anxious to bring her mother back into a
condition Of cheerfulness.
why" she said, you don't half know
what a good husband John is going to
make, mamma. If he cared a bit whether
l. IldIIN Hill VI HOl hC .nOuAQ b0 AOANN NAN
most delightful of prospective bridegrooms,
Why. just think of it! He won't let papa
pay for anything. l was to have gone to
London for my trosseau. Papa really gave
me carte blanche"
"And are you not going to London heI
mother asked.
1T seems not. 1 should have liked to
go to London. you know; but John said ne
would have the dresses made in Yarebridge
Isn't Miss Morton a good dressmaker?
he asked, and l had to admit that she is
for, you know, mamma. nobody ever saw
better dresses than some that she has
made. So he said: We'll. the dresses shall
be made by Miss M%orton!
But, Edith, you shock me more and
more. You surely are not going to commit
the indelicacy of letting the bridegroom
order the wedding clothes?" o
II must, mamma. You will say that | an
without sentiment. and you actually d
say that l am cynical. 1t is quite true
but John is unsentimental without being
cynic. He is just a brute, if you want m!
candid opinion. He said that if | woul'
not let him provide the wedding dresse
the wedding would be off
MY dear, L uOn l hHoN VIA " say
1 an shocked by every word that yol
utter. And Miss Morton is TO make tn
wedding dresses. of all people,
"And why of all people. mamma? Sh
is a beautiful dressmaker. But | must sa.
she is a great deal too much given to weep
ing about something or other. Just think
When went TO see her the other ia,
she at once started TO cry, and if | ha,
not plucked the material from her hand
her tears would have spotted the gov
in which l am to be marTied."
The mother shivered, knowing sometime
Of an old story: but before she could sa,
anything more to her daughter Lawye
Wagstaff came in in a most unwonte
rage. There were numerous articles con
nected with wedding attire scattered about
and without looking at his wife or hi
daughter he took these in his hand an
tore them to pieces.
What in the world are you doing, papa?
said the dismayed Edith. Have you gon
mad?'
Il am putting an end to the marriage,
said the irate father.
But whyT" asked Edith, with a wall i
her voice.
Because no such scoundrel shall come in
TO my family"
"Scoundrel2"
Yes, s%coundrel. 1 merely proposed tina
the marriage settlements should be doubled