The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-11-21

lie never hlloNo NHdI Oht y ulVSS
is like BESIDES
Mrs. Gordon glanced at her in
quiringly as the girl paused.
''BesiIes, his opinion doesn't mat
ter much, does it,
THAT depends said the mother
vaguely.
But the girl shook her head smil-
ing.
1T doesn't. The only thing that
matters to me just now is this so
ry. You remember what Mr. Hosten
said about the last one. 1t wasn't
Just good enough for the magazine,
so he put it in "House Chat" and
| only got three guneas for 1t. If
this turns out well he'll put it in
the mag and give me six. Ethel
and Alice both want new frocks, and
well, | want that six guineas very
much. 1t would be better just now
than the good opinion of Mr.. Fer
man ElwooE."
Her mo'her sighed, ever so light
Fly.
He's rich" she said in a low
voice as though ashamed of her
own words.
The girl suddenly deposited her
writng-pad on the floor Dragging
her chair close to er mothers, she
impulsively took possession of the
thn-delicate hand that was held out
towards the fire.
Il know, mother dear, that's just
it. He's rich, and wants to marry
me. know; l IN not blind. And
| don't want to encourage him, be-
cause he's much too good a man to
be married for his money. ! have
no love to give him. All | ever
had of that commodity was once
given to a man who is dead. Don't
let's think about Mr.. Elwood, except
| in so far as his tea is concerned
/ want to stay here and look after
you and the girls. Think of it.
haven't done badly. I've sold six sto-
ries in two months. And the mon
ey's paid our rent. | shall go on
improving and-make more. One day
| shal be great novelist; then
you'll be gla1 | didn't marry Fer
man Elwood."
The girl drew her mothers face
towards her and imprinted a re.
sounding kiss on the withered cheek.
But the long years of struggle since
! her husbands s death had destroyed
too many of the older woman S
hopes. Penury had brought in its
train certain scepticism. The only
hope she chung to was centered on
the more practical side OF won.
ans life. A good marriage for her
favorite chilli she desired more than
all things in the world. She was
gentle-hearted creature, and her
dllOHb wore
for those who belonged to her So
she persisted.
Il know you are clever, Mary;
but why should you have to sacri-
flee all the best years of your life
to us? You are twenty-four. And
and | want TO see you happily mar
ried before | go. Think how much
easier it would be for you to look
after your sisters"
The girl leant back in her chair.
The smile had left her eyes, and
when she spoke again the tones of
her voice had less warmth in them.
you prefer that 7 should sell my
self for the sake of the girls rather
than earn the ey-honestly-by
my pen and on the stage" Then. as
she beheld the distress in her moth
er's eyes, she leant forward and
again impusively seized her hands.
NO, no, mother dear, / didn't mean
that. You won't realize my point of
view. | know that you would rather
anything than | should be unhappy.
You think with the wisdom of your
years, that love may come-wiE
come afterwards, if the man is good
like Mr.. ElwOod. | cannot see the
possibility, and so want to remain
Just as | am. | tell you, mother,
| am not the sort of girl 10 make
good wife where I do not love
l shouhl rebel against the tie that
held me, and then-and then who
knows what might happen? No, dear,
| am not good enough or self-sacri-
ficing enough to marry successfully
without love-
Mrs. Gordon shook her gray head
She knew her daughter was serious.