The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-08
TIE EVENING STORY
The Pink Pearl.
(By Temple Bailey.)

Angela having lived in a rose coli
ored atmosphere all her life, could
not understand why Edwin should not
give her a pink pearl for an engage
ment ring.
but, dearest" her mother argued,
Edwin is a poor mani"
mo man is too poor to buy the right
kind of ring for the girl he is going
to marry"
in a factory when she was young, and
had known what it was not to have
any rings at all, shook her head.
you can't understand. darling; you
never have been poor"
'If I were poor said Angela, 81
around it, and bake cakes for Edwin. !"
At that Angela's mother sighed, for
she knew that poverty is not thing
of roses and of sweet cakes, but of a
struggle for dry bread without any
81 have sometimes wished" she be-
gan. and stopped.
"What?" Angela demanded.
THAT you had fallen in love with a
rich man." her mother sighed, you
have always had everything you
wanted-and it won't be easy for you
to go without"
"You think L am just child An
gela ragged. with her blue eyes flash
zg
you are dreadful"
And she sobbed as IL her heart
would break.
OF course, she got the pink pearl.
for her mother spoke to Edwin tact
fully. angela loved pearls she
said, land I have some unset ones
which / can sell to you cheaply-they
won't cost any more than any other
ring"
fo1f ha Wanfad f0 huv little
circlet of turquoises, which would
match Angela's eyes. He could have
afforded such ring. and he would
not have had the bargain counter
accepted the offer of his future moth
er-in-1aw.
He gave Angela the pink pearl and
she was happy. He did not tell he1
| where he had bought 1t. Her mother
had asked him not to tell.
"Angela is such a baby" she had
said. "and it might spoil her pleas
ure."
That Edwin's pleasure was spoiled
did not trouble her. She thought
| only of her daughter, whose wishes
had never been denied.
The incident of the pink pearl was
one of many others. Angela's mother
| put her money at the disposal of the
young people. She was Diplomatic
and when Edwin suggested the buy
| ing of cottage she offered the land
for the site, she furnished it and fin
ished it until all of its simplicity
was lost. She chose an exclusive
neighborhood, and when the young
selves the center of wealthy circle
| of neighbors.
| And in the midst OF all the luxury
Angela pinned. She grew pale and thir
and languid, until her mother anc
Edwin were alarmed.
''She must go away" the mother
| told the young husband, but Edwin
shook his head.
| what Angela needs he said, '.i:
to feel that she means something IL
| the world There are so many idle
unhappy women-and somehow I be-
lieve that Angela is more of woman
than we will let her be. We coddlt
her, and wrap her up in cotton WOO
because we love her, but she is WON
an with all a woman's right to make q
home. Should we keep on making
baby of herr"
"But what" the mother demanded
| ttcan we dor"
| LET us try an experiment. Edwin
said. LET her think you have los
your money. That we must all &c
away from here to the old farm, ano
| I will come back and forth on the
| train-we will see how she stands rea
| life
"But she is such baby"
"She is a woman Edwin insisted
'sNow and then she lets me see oeel
| into her heart. and know: but we
never let her have a chance.
Angela's mother agreed. reluctantly
| you tell her. she said at last.
Angela bore the shock bravely
Poor mother" she said, cit will bt
hard for you," and at once she begar
to treat the elder lady with a tender
ness which was surprising and com
forting.
/ It was wonderful to see how she
| took UP her burdens. Work seemed
to agree with her. Instead of growing
| faded and thin, she waxed plump and
rosy She planted a garden and watch
ed with enthusiasm the growth of he
/ lettuce and radishes and onions. Sh'
baked cakes and put up pots OF jan
and served a delectable fish chowdet
to Edwin when he came home lat
on chilly nights.
ssI didn't think she had it in her,
Angela's mother told her son-in-lav
as late one autumn day they watched
the little wife baking pancakes in tn
warm, cosy kitchen. She had on
red house gown. with a blue linel
anron that almost covered her UP