The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1906-08-22
Poverty as a Lev3'3~
BY L MANIATE-

BY BELLE NANIATE--.
Copyright, 1906, by Daily Story Pd..
Ralph Duncombe had loved e
ways. He had told her SO va .
was 20 and he was 80. But, tao3. ::
the height of her gay season, .
seemed quite remote to her, and
had refused his proposal.
Two years later, her father GieL ."
bankrupt. Again Ralph came to b
but she preferred a life of indepc-~-
ence, SO she Joined the ranks OF bre-.-
winners. She found herself unit,c
for every position she attempted :,
fill, and at the end of a year she So
up the struggle and married Ralph. !.
was a case of any port in a storm, and
she frankly told him SO: but he felt
assured hat his great love for he
could not but beget love in return.
He lavished upon her everything
that his wealth could bestow and his
thOughtfulress devise. Jean was CRATE
full. apprec:ative, but-bored. She had
unlimited respect for him, and she
was gracious and courteous in her
manner towards him, but he felt with
a pang that the distance between them
was widening every day, and that his
love had awakened nc response. Their
social position demanded a great dea,
from Jean in the way OF entertaining
and being entertained; it was rarely
they met, save in the presence of 9TH
ers.
One evening Jean came upon her
husband unawares in the library. His
face was buried in his hands, and his
whole attitude was one of detection
and despair. He had not heard he-
enter. She softly withdrew.
Poor Ralph" she thought. 1t had
never occurred to her before that he,
too. might be unhappy; that he had
missed in life what he had hoped to
find.
What have l done," she thought,
sorrowfully, ito make him happy?
Nothing"
She could not get away from the ap-
pealing recollection of his bowed head.
She vent back to the library.
Ralph" she said, gently.
He started and looked at her.
What is it," she asked.
Some new expression in her eyes |
kept him silent for a moment.
JEAN" he said, slowly, Il have SOM
news to tell you, some bad news"
Tell me, Ralph" she urged.
The telling you is the hardest par
I have lost my money-everything. We
are poor, Jean!"
She laid her hand on his shoulde-
But, Ralph, you have hea,.
strength and ability; you are yoa--
enough to work. Do you care so mt
for riches?"
A little CLEAN of hope came into
eyes as she spoke.
For myself, no. at all" he rep
But for you, Jean.
thought you'd take it SO differentl--.
seem so hard now"
You forget, Ralph, that / YVES =
Tor a whole year. 1t won't be q "
for me as for you. -.
OAAS AAPPAAS ~ = uduu ouStG.E In" |
his, "let's talk it over, and see a..
resources are"
JEAN" he cried, hopefully. IT,.
he paused abruptly.
Il have nothing left, Jean, exc
! little cottage and a piece of land ~.
n a western town where l once h
N interest in a large factory. 1t ~
uch a small piece of property til |,
orgot to mortgage it even, and it e.
aped the wreck"
1T would give us a home." she sa..
houghtfully, "and don't you tn
could get some position Gu
l.
Il was just thinking" he reptile, /,
A particular friend of mine is $
of the factory, and l e
onfident he would give me an G. S
ce position" L
Then write and ask him." she sal
"and we will go right o..
Ii
"I1l WIRE he said, promptly, "anl
he gives me any encouragement, We
ill go at once I'll leave the house
nd appointments and everything here 4
,r the Roberts to dispose of and han
yer to my creditors" !,
Ralph. I have a balance OF $1,Cc3 \
/ my private account. You can tur- 4
nat over to them" n
He shook his head decidedly. mo: :
don't need It," il
"Oh, don't you? Then we'll furnish I
little cottage with ii. You don't r
now what wonders l can do in a fur
ishing way with a small amount OF
lOney. NV rooms used To he very .