The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-08-29
No Fool Like
An Old Fool
By ELEANOR K. BEACH

to enter into business in the city, 81
will forgive you for anything except
making u senseless marriage, In other
words. expect you to consider when
you marry upon what you propose TO
support wife Ii you marry girl
who can do her part in the family
financial requirements. well and good.
If yon secure an income to do it all
yourself, well and good. But If neither
of you has anything more than pit
tance don't come to me for help. In
short. shall not want to see any
The worst thing you can do is to mar
ry a girl brought up in attluence who
has nothing on which to keep up a
position -
Bob Winthrop chose what his father
considered the worst thing he could do.
Miss Rosalie Hilton was the daughter
of a man who lavished luxuries upon
her till she was twenty years old,
then failed in business and died. leav-
ing her with nothing ut all. Bob was
a gentleman-like. handsome chap and
had not been long in town before he
was received in society and met Miss
Hilton Just before misfortune befell
her family. She had met many agree
able young men and had had num-
Der Of suitors, but between her and
Bob came something that neither had
felt before. Bob proposed and was ac-
cepted when be supposed he was con-
sidering his fathers warning. Then
came the crash. and the young man
was not only too honorable to with
draw his offer, but he did not wish to
withdraw it.
But he had a hard time in persuad-
ing Rosalie to marry him. She had a
good head on her shoulders and realiz-
ed what would likely be the result OF
marrying a man whose income did not
admit of his supporting any wife at
all. to say nothing Of one who had
been brought up in luxury, but since
her heart was with Bob and he said
he was willing to take the responsi-
bility. if she was, she finally yielded
anG they became engaged.
Bob wrote his father all about it
and received in reply: '"They say
there's no fool like an old fool. My
opinion is that there could not possibly
be a greater fool than a young fool
Bob showed his fathers letter TO
Rosalie, She said not word in reply,
but seemed to be doing good deal Of
thinking. Presently she said: well.
Bob, there's evidently no hope for us
with your father. And your income is
too small for us to marry on. Either
you must consent to my doing some
thing to earn money or we must give
up marriage. l am well educated and
shall teach"
I'VE needn't be married right off,"
said Bob ''Wait awhile"
Six months Of waiting passed, and
Bob found it depressing period. Ro-
sale went to live with an aunt In
another city and wrote Bob that she
was getting ready to teach. Then she
wrote that she had found position at
a salary Of $500 year. She could
save most of it, and in year they
would have the wherewithal to start a
fortune. Bob smiled at her way of
expressing it, but year seemed very
long to him.
One day Bob received a letter from
his father, who was widower, that
he had concluded to take a second
wife. In order to gild his announce
ment he added that he would celebrate
the event by giving his son $4,000. If
he chose to spend it in marrying a
girl who had been born with a silver
spoon in her mouth" and who would
doubtless spend the money or lose it
within year, he was welcome to do
so. But he advised Bob to follow his
fathers example and marry practl-
cal woman.
Bob sent the letter to Rosalie, who re-
piled: "Why don't you go home and
inspect your future stepmother?
have no confidence in the sense of old
men in the matter of marriage. no.
tice your father doesn't mention his
fiancee's age. Ten to one he has got
hold of some chit, or rather some chit
has got hold of him, and she'll lead
him dance, I've found a position as
governess in the family of a widower,
and he's botherlng me to marry him."
Bob wrote his father, thanking him
for his kind intention, and added, Il
shall be able get of for the week end
and will run down and see you to offer
my thanks in person and meet the fu-
ture Mrs. Winthrop"
Saturday evening Bob appeared In his
fathers house and was welcomed by
his two younger sisters, aged respec-
lively fourteen and ten. They were
loud In their praises of their future
stepmother. Then came the father.
beaming all over with happiness, Bob
asked If his father would take him to
call on the lady during the evening, to
which his father replied that the lady
was in the house and would be down
In a few minutes. AS he spoke the