Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1912-08-15
Why She
Didn't Mary
BY SARAH P. LANCDoN

girl she was permitted to read only
books with excellent morals. The sto-
ries allowed her were largely those
showing that it is no disgrace TO be
poor; that labor is highly honorable;
that wealth Is often a source of evil
Yet, side by side with this democrat
jc. moral training, certain lessons were
gradually introduced to inform her
that her associates must be from the
upper classes; that provision for the
future is always in order; that. while
labor is honorable, poverty is hard TO
bear. She was also given to under
stand that, while other girls might
marry poor men and be happy in cot
tage, she must have a husband who
could keep her in the society in which
she had been born. for her father was
not a rich man. Indeed. his wealth
was not up to his family's social posi-
ton. This was the reason given her
for the exception in her case.
But when Agatha came to be twenty
an uncle who had never been married
died in Mexico. where he had been
interested in mines. and left her moth
er an enormous fortune.
Before this windfall Agatha had
fallen in love with poor artist She
did not know whether her love was re-
turned. for she gave him no encour'
agement Having been told that to
keep up the social position to which
she was accustomed she must marry a
rich man. it was, of course, out of the
question that she should marry the
artist But when the family were re-
joicing over their good fortune Agatha
said to her mother that now, there be-
ing great wealth in the family, she
might marry a poor man whom she
loved.
Then she discovered that the acces-
sion of wealth did not change the fact
that she must marry wealth. 1t only
changed the reason for her doing so.
The fortune she would inherit added to
that of some millionaire would enable
her to do so much good in the world
Think of the poor whom she could ben
eft.
Agatha was inclined to argue the
point. Her mother was great novel
lovers who had been separated on
account of worldly considerations.
Agatha reminded her mother of this
and she had been taught by her moth
er to understand that such worldliness
was reprehensible There could be no
charge of improvidence in the girls
marrying poor men. because their fu
! ture and that of their children would
be amply provided for.
But on falling heir to a fortune the
good lady's romance and repugnance
to sordidness seemed to have deserted
her.
That's very different" she replied to
her unhappy daughter, but how and
why it was different she did not ex-
plain Instead she told Agatha that
if she did not give up her romantic
| nonsense" she would take her to the
other end of the world.
Poor Agatha, having come to woman.
hood, discovered that her education,
the books she had read intoxicating self
sacrifice and other virtues were for chill
dren and to be discarded as soon as
they reached an age of maturity. Her
mother continued to read novels in
which noble impulses were followed.
but did not recognize them in her own
family.
Meanwhile money was rolling In
upon the family in such quantities that
they scarcely knew how to spend it.
One day Agatha asked her mother
what was the use of more money than
one could spend
"Why. my DEAR" was the reply, "the
use of more money than one can spend
is to do good to Others"
Then Agatha asked her mother for
something to give away to a needy
family.
Mrs. Goodwin suggested sending
to charitable association re
quest to investigate the case. Again
and again Agatha asked for funds tC
help others. but was always put of
by some excellent reason. She did moi
quite see that adding to a fortune be
cause so much good could be done
with it resulted in the good being
done. The family income was S100,00(
year, half of which was all they coult
spend without throwing it away, but
Agatha could not wed her poor artist
because it was expected that she should
ally her fortune with another, that 81
much good could he done with it
The years sped on and Agatha:
mother lived on. Agatha grew from {
young woman to an old maid. She
had no desire to marry any one bu
her artist. Besides. no man with {
fortune came along who asked fo
her hand. Each year the chance O.
meeting such a person decreased, anC
at last Agatha passed the age where
children would come to her.
Single persons do not develop on tn,
lines, the natural lines, of married per
sons. Agatha grew crochety. Chill
dren. especially If they were healthy
noisy children. annoyed her She grew
irritable. One day friend asked he
why she had never married
'Wel." she replied, with a sigh. "be
fore mother fell heir to a fortune
couldn't marry the man I wanted he