, 1903-04-24

~ ~retreating hgure until 1t dis.
Appeased round q bend In. the road.
There was a discontinued expression
ono herr handsome face as she walked
slowly back to the house and entered
her t1otier's drawing room.
Mrs Travets looked up from her
Work as Mabel, with a little impa-
Dent sigh. threw herself into a chair.
We'll, dear?" she said brightly.
"Well?' returned Mabel in a tone
that implied the contrary.
us anything the matter?" asked her
mother. you haven't quarrel with
Leslie I suppose she added, play
ruby. .9e,si =
,sY,No-yesTat least. really, I'm not
quite sure was the unexpected re-
ply. t,ul. 40 III
l,fiTelL me" said Mrs Travers.
sf+Mother, it's horrible to marry a
poor man. r. u ttas
Mrs Hrayers looked at her daughter
fn'..patned surprise! 8
,sMy darlingl" she said. r%eproachful-
". e"
.,"Oh, 1 know I'm a wretch to say
It.. ahd-and perhaps l don't NEAR it
and yet-and, yeti" 4
Don't be afraid to tell me. dear"
4 Mother, Leslie and I have been
having II business talk. That's what
he called 1t. 1t was hatefuli" a.
But very necessary. Leslie was
wise. darling"
yes suppose SO. He said that.
as We were, to be married so soon
now, 1t was only right that l should
know exactly what he could offer me.
oh. mother, l had no idea that Leslie
was so ~miserably poor!"
Mrs. Trayers, eyed her daughter With
a troubled look
He has never made any secret of
~4h1tssi4fheof4e. sne-sarr
II know; but l didn't realize how
little 1t was till he went into all the
wretched details about rent, and serv-
ants, and housekeeping money, and
all the rest of 1t. oh. 1t all seemed
so ,nieanaand. sordidP'
And Mabel flung out her hands with
a little gesture of Impotence.
II am very sorry to hear you say
that, Mabel" said Mrs. Travers grave
ly.. TIT almost makes me afraid"
she, went on hesitatingly, you ought
never. 40. have, promised to marry Les
lie. sPerhaps you are not the right
kind Of wife for him, dear"
Mother.
Mrs, Travers rose from her chair and
laid her hand lightly ON the girls dark
head IA -
1Tell me, child" she said, do you
really and truly care for him?"
AT this Mabel hid her face In her
hands and burst into a flood of tears.
I'll do love him." she sobbed, "but
butch, | don't know what Is the
matter with mel"
And the girl spoke truly. She knew
that She loved Leslie, yet she was mis-
erably conscious of disappointment
and disillusionment. That day she
had realized, for the first time, the
mosaic meaning of a limited income.
She. had been accustomed to think
vaguely of poverty as a rather ro-
mantle kind of thing that made love
all the more delightful. Leslie's state
ment OF hard facts had scattered all
her pretty, sentimental notions to the
winds. Her heart had sunk within
her as she listened to her lovers. de.
scription Of their future home-amod.
est villa In the suburbs, with n 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 it the next, she
had felt almost angry with Leslie be.
cause be. was not a 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. Trayers list.
ened. the look of perplexity on her
face gradually changed to one of re
Itef.'
"t think understand" she said.
'"Oh, I'm a horrid, mercenary
wretch" cried Mabel
"No, I don't think you're that" re
piled her mother, quietly, ''only-well
want of.'money is never a pleasant
tnltig. We all love wealth and pros.
pSertty'' and it's perfectly natural thai
a woman should want her husband to
be RICH rather than poo | don't
blame you, dear, for r%egretting Les.
lie's,poverty; only thought you cared
Cor him less because of t"
"Oh, no, MOI" cried Mabel eagerly.
".Mother. you don't think that I meant
that
Il was afraid at nrst when you