The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-04-02
The Point Of View.
The Story Of Lovers Differences

watched her lovers retreating figure
until it disappeared round bend in
the road.
There was a disseminated express
sion on her handsome face as she
walked slowly back to the house and
entered her mothers drawing room.
Mrs. Travers looked up from her
work as Mabel, with little impatient
sigh, threw herself into a chair.
well, dear?" she said brightly.
"Well?" returned Mabel in tone
that implied tho contrary.
"Is anything tho matter?" asked her
mother. you haven't quarreled with
Leslie, l suppose she added, playfully.
"No-yes-at least, really, I'm not
quite sure" was the unexpected reply.
Tell me-" said Mrs. Travers.
Mother, it's horrible to marry a
poor mani"
Mrs. Travers locked at her daughter
in panied surprise.
my darling." she saidreproachfully.
"Oh, 1 know I'm wretch to say it,
and-and perhaps l don't mean it-and
yet-and yet"
Don't be afraid to tell me. dear"
Mother, Leslie and have been hav-
ing a business talk. That's what he
called it. 1t was hateful!'
But very necessary. Leslie was
wise, darling"
"Yes-I suppose so. He said that,
IS we were to be married so soon
now, it was only right that l should
know exactly what he could offer me.
Oh, mother, had no idea that Leslie
was so miserably poor!'
Mrs. Trayers eyed her daughter with
a troubled look.
"He has nsver made any secret Of
his income" she said.
81 know; but didn't realize how
little it was till he went into all the
wretched details about rent, and serv-
ants, and housekeeping money, and
all the rest of it. Oh, it all seemed so
mean and sordid!"
And Mabel flung out her hands with
a little gesture of impatience.
Il am very sorry to hear you say
that, Mabel" said Mrs. TTavers grave
ly. "It-it almost makes me afraid
she went on hesitatingly, you ought
never to have promised to marry Les
lie. Perhaps 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.
"Tell me, child" she said, "do you
really and truly care for him?
At this Mabel hid her face in her
hands and burst into food of tears.
I-I do love him." she sobbed, "but
-but-oh, 1 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 prosaic
meaning of limited income. She had
been accustomed to think vaguely of
poverty as rather romantic kind of
thing that made love all the more de-
lightful. Leslie's statement of hard
facts had scattered all her pretty, SEN
timental notions to the winds. Her
heart had SUM-: within her as she lis
tened to her lovers description of their
future home-a modest 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 her
self for it the next, she had felt almost
angry with Leslie because he was not
q richer man. ohe 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 lis
tened, the look of perplexity on her
face gradually changed to one of re-
lief.
81 think I understand" she said.
"Oh, I'm horrid, mercenary
wretch" cried Mabel.
mo, I don't think you're that" re-
piled her mother, quietly, "only-well.
want of money is never pleasant
thing. We all love wealth and pros
perity, and it's parfectly natural that
a woman should want her husband to
be rich rather than poor. don't blame
you, dear, for regretting Leslies power
ty; only I thought you cared for him
less because of it.
"Oh, no, no." cried Mabel eagerly.
Mother, you didn't think l meant
that"
Il was afraid at first when you
spoke so bitterly" replied Mrs. Trav-
ers gently. But 1 know now l was
mistaken"
Mother, I'm beginning to see things
more clearly" said the girl, with a
sudden Frightening of her face. Il
hate poverty, but l love Leslie. If
Leslie were a pauper l should groan
horribly, but shouldn't give him up!'
Mrs. Trayers began to laugh.
"Well, it isn't as bad as that, is it?'
she returned After all, Leslie has
quite a respectable income. | admit 1t
might be larger, but then, there's every
prospect of it's increasing as time goes
on. Do you know, Mabel" Mrs. Travers
continued, you're just little bit in
clined to exaggerate your future hus-
bands straitened circumstances?
"Perhaps l am" admitted Mabel.
"But then"
"Oh, know what is in your mind"
interrupted her mother. Poverty is
always comparative, and so, because