The Opelousas courier., 1903-04-25
The Point Of View.
The Story Of Lovers Differences.


Mabel Travers stood at the gate and
watched her lovers %retreating figure
until it disappeared round a 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 Dire wing room.
Mrs. Travers looked up from her
work as Mabel, with a little impatient
sigh, threw herself into a chair.
We'll, dear?" she said brightly.
"Well?" returned Mabel in q tone
that implied the contrary.
SIS anything tho matter?" askedher
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 looked at her daughter
In panied surprise.
MY uol Hing. oAC SdAu Spl odSAlu1tys
"Oh, l know I'm a 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 I 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,
as we were to be married so soon
now, it was only right that | should
know exactly what he could offer me.
Oh, mother, / had no idea that Leslie
was SO miserably poor!"
Mrs. Travers eyed her daughter with
a troubled look.
He has never made any secret Of
his income" she said.
Il know; but | 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 it. Oh, it all seemed SO
mean and sordid!"
And Mabel flung out her hands with
a little gesture of impatience.
81 am very sorry to hear you say
that, Mabel" said Mrs. Travers grave
ly. Tit almost makes me afraid"
she went IN 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 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 vas mis-
erably conscious of disappointment and
establishment. That day she had
realized, for the first time, the prosaic
meaning of a limited income. She had
been accustomed to think vaguely of
poverty as a rather romantic kind OF
thing that made love ali the more de-
lightful. Leslie's statement Of hard
facts had scattered all her pretty, sem
timental notions to the winds. Her
heart had sunk 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 1t the next, she had felt almost
angry with Leslie because he was not
q 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 ar, and as Mrs. Trayers lis
tened, the look of p~erplexity on her
face gradually changed to one of re-
lief.
81 think / understand" she said.
"Oh, I'm a horrid, mercenary
wretch" cried Mabel.
mo, | don't think you're that" re-
piled her mother, quietly, .only-well,
want Of money is never a pleasant
thing. We all love wealth and pros
perity, and it's perfectly natural that
q woman should want her husband to
DO rich rather than poor. I don't blame
dear, for ~regretting Leslie's power
W; only | thought you cared for him
less because Of it,
"0h. no, mol" cried Mabel eagerly.
Mother, you didn't think meant
that!"
Il was afraid at first, when you
spoke so bitterly replied Mrs. Trav-
ers gently. sBut | know now I was
Mother. I'm beginning to see things
more clearly" said the girl. with a
Frightening Of her face. Il
hass poverty, but ! love Leslie, r.