Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1902-08-16

day capped her argument by remark
ing innocently that DIR. Seheraer's sal-
airy of 5000 gulden was very high one
for so young a man. Here was sad
discrepancy al shall have to econO-
mize," thought Adrienne.
At another time her mother said:
ARNOLD must marry rich girl. I
wonder that he has not asked for your
hand, as you and he seem to like each
other. With your money he could do
something for his family"
Adrienne had expected opposition,
but she was not prepared for cold
mathematical demonstration.
Shortly before this. Alfred Morten,
the son of a rich brewer, had come
upon the scene. His reception had not
been encouraging, for the little rift
within the lutte had not yet appeared.
Now, Morte1 was accustomed to re-
ceiving an unpleasant amount of at
tention and fattery from young ladies
and their mammas. and he said to him
self:
Thank heaven! Here is one girl
who does not care if I am rich and I'M
married.
This feeling inspired the hope of
winning Adrienne by his personal mer-
its, and he began to court her assidu-
ously.
She was barely civil to him, but
Arnold's jealousy was aroused, as has
been said. After TIE lovers quarrel,
Adrienne devoted more attention to
Mortell, partly to punish Arnold,
partly because she was not entirely
free from vanity, and knew how many
girls were envying her the conquest
of the young millionaire.
Thencame the suspicion that Arnold
was in love with her money, and then
came a ball at Mortell's luxurious
house.
Last of all came her father with the
news that Alfred Mortell had asked
for her hand.
She begged for week of delibera-
ton, though her mind was made up.
She wanted the week in order to be on
with the old love decently and in or
der. The rupture, she was determined,
should be made by Arnold, not by her.
self. She wished to appear well in
the worlds eyes and his, for, after
all, she loved him in way, and was
grateful to him for the little romance
he had given her. Hence the
rendezvous at Haller's. There, after
the waitress had brought the perfume
tory ices and retired, Adrienne said:
81 have bad news for you. You must
promise to listen calmly until the end.
Then you will understand and perhaps
pity me-"
Arnold obeyed, and she continued:
cat one time, you know, we were
wealthy. Until little while ago ]
supposed that we were still wealthy.
1 knew, indeed, that papa within the
last year has had to pay large sums
on my brothers account; but still l
could not understand why, when we
were alone together, he always
seemed so anxious and troubled. But
the other day he told me that my
brother had squandered enormous
sums, and, not daring to confess to
papa, had tried to cover his lossessby
specializing in stocks, the result of
which was that he lost a deal more.
In fact, as he had power to sign for
the firm, he has gambled away not
only all his own fortune, but most of
papa's and ours.
papa has succeeded in obtaining a
delay in the payment of the largest
debts, he says.
''When papa told me this, I tried to
console him by saying that I, for one,
did not care so much about money.
Then he told me the whole truth. The
debts amount to more than we can
pay Unless we receive assistance
from some source, the firm will go
into bankruptcy"
Adrienne paused, but Arnold said
not a word. She had glanced at him
once or twice to discover the effect of
her communication, but she did not
dare to look at him squarely for fear
he would read the lie in her eyes.
''Such being the state of affairs"
She continued, at resolved, after
thinking and worrying over it a good
deal, to ask you to give me up. 1 cam
not consent to chain your fate to
mine, and, besides, feel compelled to
sacrifice my love for you to my love
for my father.
"The shame of bankruptcy would
kill him-I must save him from it.
You know how
"Beer?" said Arnold. He was sur
prised, but never dreamed of question
IN O Inc truth OF nGI sta
Adrienne shrugged her shoulders.
Seer, or banking, or railways. What
is the difference? I am in the market
for the highest bidder.
'But-him! But cannot I, perhaps,
assist your father? It is true that 1
have nothing but my salary. Is the
sum- mean the sum necessary at
once-so very larger"
"a good many thousands" There
was a long pause. 81 cannot give you
up" Arnold said at last.
'But you must; [ cannot let you
sacrifice yourself"
But 1 love you. Adrienne!"
"As do you, Arnold. But we must"
Another long pause. Then Adrienne
said:
SCI must go now, will give you I'M
til Sunday to decide. If you love me
truly you will give me up and not
tempt me from my duty. Do not make
my heart heavier than it isl"
''IfI receive a picture postcard from
| you On Sunday, I shall know that you
agree with me. Good-by!"
She sprang up and was gone before
| he could make any effort TO defain her