The Virginia enterprise., 1911-04-07
Money and Marriage
By MAUDE PARSONS


A1toE8ry KEeSS/
richer than ever. And a share Of
that is yours"
NO." said Douglass, and he meant
it. 1T isn't money"
I'm sorry" said Miss Thornton.
plaintively. We've been very happy
togeth-" If William had not been
so busy watching the love-making
robins he would have noticed a little
blush tinge his employers cheeks az
she substituted: "Everything's been
so harmonious"
Il know, Miss Anne. That's what
makes it hard to 60. I never can
thank you for your kindness. Those
pcpers will explain things to the new
| man."
"William.' interrupted Miss Anne,
"please sit down again. l want your
advice-for friend. You're not 60
ing to leave us right away?"
"Oh, no; can stay for-for a little
| time"
"Three months-four months?" The
girl leaned forward eagerly.
"We-ell, hardly think so. want
to get established before the summer
| is too far advanced"
"Oh." A pause. $50 you're going
into business?" )
"Ye-es; that is, think So"
'1s that SO personal that you didn't
want to tell me?" There was an &C.
|
Douglass did not attempt to answer.
Zone of my girl friends doesn't
know just what to do, William. You
see, she's-she's-in love-"
"Oh!"
THAT oh was dreadfully noncom-
initial. William. Aren't you inter-
ested?"
why, yes, certainly, Miss Anne"
well, she doesn't know whether
the young man isis in love with
her or not"
Cant she tell?"
"She isn't sure. She thinks he likes
her, but"
YES"
"Oh, there are complications, Will
liam. She is rich, and the young man
is poor. She feels he's to proud to
speak"
"Oh."
"Well, what is she going to do?
She's-she's cried herself to sleep,
I'm afraid, a good many times; and
yet there doesn't seem to be any way
to make him speak,
There isn't any way, I'm afraid"
he said, with an unconscious sigh.
If the man has self-respect, he can't
be fortune hunter. He must make
his own way before he can ask the
| girl to be his wife"
She's thought of that, too. But 1t
seems SO foolish! They may have to
wait years, and grow old and with
cred while he makes a lot of money
! equal partnership? Why hasn't the
. wife the right to bring money to the
:. union as her husband?"
!: From an impersonal standpoint,
) she has," replied William, "but If
:: were that young man l would feel
!: as he feels. He cannot in honor
speak while his motives could be
misconstrued. Her friends would
say"
Bother her friends!" Miss Anne
looked confused when she realized
the emphasis she had put on the
three-words, but only for a moment
Then she added: That's the way
she feels. She says she has a right
to her own happiness, no matte,
what people think or say. She il
satisfied he Is not fortune hunter
that he Is upright and honorable
and the man nature intended as hel
mate. Why can't he be sensible ant
speak?"
She leaned forward in her chair
her lips dropping in childlike per
plexity. Douglass got up hastily an(
backed away. He did not want to los.
his carefully acquired grip and make
a fool of himself. That's why he wa.
leaving Thornybrook-to keep from
making fool Of himself. He fumblet
his hat and turned to the door.
He can't, that's ALL" declared
Douglass, when his hand had closet
on the knob. ITS an impossibility
Miss Anne. II you were In his plac,
you'd realize" He stopped: h,
was confusing the other mans cas-,
with his own.
Don't you want to know who tn,
girl is?" asked Miss Thornton. un
steadily. She had risen and her fin
gers were intertwined
why, yes" Douglass somehow
felt the name of that girl to be tn,
most important thing in the world
"1t's-it's-" Her voice died awav
And then it began again, broke ant
went on to triumphant conclusion:
"Oh, Billy, you stupid, stupid boy
1ts-it's Anne Thornton!"
The next moment she was in hi
arms, half-laughing and half-crying.
How I've longed to call you 'Bil
} 1y'" she said.
! And how I've longed to call 20,
-darling!" said he.
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