Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1906-06-27
P0YsIty as aLsvsIsT.
BY BELLE MANDATES.


had refused his proposal.
Two years later, her father died a
bankrupt. Again Ralph came to her,
but she preferred a life Of independ-
ence, SO she Joined the ranks of bread
winners. She found herself united
for every position she attempted to
I'LL, and at the end OF year she gave
up the struggle and married Ralph. II
was case of any port In storm, and
she frankly told him SO; but he felt
assured that his great love for her
could not but beget love In return.
He lavished upon her everything
that his wealth could bestow and his
thouEhtfulness devise. Jean was CRATE
full, appreciative, but--bored. She had
unlimited respect for him, and she
was gracious and courteous in her
manner towards him, but he felt with
pang that the distance between them
was widening every day, and that his
love had awakened no response. Their
social position demanded great deal
from Jean in the way of entertaining
anu JULIE OALCAOuAnCuS ~ was A0AOAJ
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 her
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 went back to the library.
Ralph" she said, gently.
He started and looked at her.
What is it," she asked.
Some new expression in her eyea
kept him silent for a moment.
JEAN" he said, slowly, Il have some
news to tell you, some bad news" IS
Tell me, Ralph" she urged.
1.-THE telling you is the hardest part
have lost my noney-everything. We
are poor, Jean!"
She laid her hand ON his shoulder.
But. Ralph, you have health
strength and ability; you are young
enough to work. Do you care so much
for riches?"
A little CLEAN of hope came into his
eyes as she spoke.
For myself, not at all, he replied
lmpetuously. But for you, Jean! ]
thought you'd take 1t SO differently. II
doesn't seem SO hard now"
"You forget, Ralph, that was poor.
for a whole year 1t won't be new
experience for me as for you. But
come" slipping her hand sustainingly
in his, "let's talk 1t over, and see what
our resources are"
"Jean," he cried, hopefully. Then
no paused abruptly.
II have nothing left, Jean, except
q little cottage and piece of land out
In a western town where once had
an interest in large factory. 1t was
such q small piece Of property that
forgot to mortgage it even, and It es-
capped the wreck"
ut would give uS home" she said,
thoughtfully, "and don't you think
you could get some position out
there?"
Il was Just thinking" he replied.
"A particular friend Of mine is SUI
perlntendent Of the factory, and feel
confident he would give me an Of
fee position"
Then write and ask him." she said,
quickly, land we will go right out
there.
'TH wire he said, promptly, "and
IL he gives me any encouragement, we
will go at once. I'll leave the house
and appointments and everything here
for the Roberts to dispose Of and hand
over to my creditors"
Ralph, / have q balance of $1,000
in my private account. You can turn
He shook his head decidedly mo;
/ don't need it"
"Oh, don't you? Then we'll furnish
the little cottage With it You don't
know what wonders can do in q fur
nishing way with small amount o.
money. MY rooms used to be very
artistic, If inexpensively furnished"
They talked over their plans and
their new conditions far into the
night. W. &8
JEAN he cried, impetuously, al
she finally left him, you couldn't
have been more Of a helpmeet in my
time Of trouble if-you had loved
mol"
.RaIphl"
The next day he telegraphed and re-
ceived q favorable reply. Within 4
week, he and Jean were furnishing
their littleawestern home, and schem-
ing to make their $1,000 go as far q
possible. Neither Of them had ever
experienced SO much enthusiasm ID
any other phase Of life.
The littIe cottage was very pictur-
esque and homelike. Jean, who had
acquired some little knowledge d
cooking in q chafng-dish way. In her