Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-04-01

hands and burst into flood of tears.
IL do love him." she sobbed, but
butch, don't know what is the
matter with me!'
And the girl spoke truly. She knew
that she loved Leslie, yet she was mis-
erably conscious of disappointment
and establishment That day she
had realized, for the first time. the
prosaic meaning of limited income.
She had been accustomed to think
vaguely of poverty as rather TO-
mantle kind of thing that made love
all the more delightful. Leslies state
ment of hard facts had scattered all
her pretty, sentimental notions to the
winds. Her heart had sunk within
her rs she listened to her lovers de-
scription of their future home-amod-
est villa in the suburbs, with one maid
to assist her in her household duties.
She dreaded the prospect of all the
petty economies they would be obliged
to practice, and for a moment though
she hated herself for 1t the next, she
had felt almost angry with Leslie be-
cause he was not richer man. She
loved Leslie, she told herself again and
again, and yet
Something of all this the girl con.
trived to sob out in her mothers sym.
pathetic ear, and as Mrs. Travers list.
ened. the look of perplexity on her
face gradually changed to one of re-
lief.
II think understand" she said.
"Oh, I'm horrid, mercenary
wretch" cried Mabel.
mo, don't think you're that" re-
piled her mother, quietly, "only-well,
want of money is never n pleasant
thing. We all love wealth ana pros.
perity, and it's perfectly natural that
a woman should want her husband to
be rich rather than poor don't
blame you, dear, for regretting Les
lies poverty; only l thought you cared
for him less because of tt"
"Oh, no, nor cried Mabel eagerly.
Mother, you don't think that meant
that"
II was afraid at first. when YOU
spoke SO bitterly" replied Mrs. Tray
ers gently. But know now | was
mistaken"
Mother, I'm beginning to see things
more clearly" said the girl, with a
sudden frightening of her face. II
hate poverty, but love Leslie. If Les
lie were pauper should groan lor.
rlbly, but l shouldn't give him up''
Mrs. Travers began to laugh.
well, it isn't as bad as that, is it?''
she returned. after all, Leslie has
quite n respectable income. l admit
1t might be larger but then. there's
every prospect its increasing rs time
goes on. DO you know, Mabel" Mrs
Travers continued, you're just a lit.
tie bit inclined to exaggerate your flu.
ture husbands straitcned circum,
stances?"
Perhaps am" admitted Mabel
But them"
"Oh. l know what is in your mind
interrupted her mother. Poverty is
always comparative, and SO, because
you have been accustomed to a big
house with plenty of servants, lit.
tie house with only one servant must
seem poor and mean to YOU"
Mabel looked puzzled.
You see." said Mrs. Travers, when
you compare the big house with the
little one. you're comparing your faith
er's position with Leslie's, and the
one, you know, is nearly thirty years
older than the other"
"Oh" exclaimed Mabel. with start
ling emphasis. what a silly child
ami
And Mrs. Trayers smiled In salts
fed way. She knew that her daugh
ter was cultivatIng the proper frame
of mind.
"And never thought Of that! nc
tually expected Leslie to start where