The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1913-04-25
No Fool Like
An Old Fool.
3, ELEANOR K. BEACH

MY SON" said the senior winthrop
when bis boy WA about to leave him
to enter into business in the city, II
will forgive you for anything except
making q ~senseiess marriage. In other
words, ! expect you to consider when
you marry upon what you propose to
support q wife. II you marry = girl
who can do her part In the family
financial requirements. well and good.
II you secure an income to do 1t all
yourself. well and good. But 1t neither.
Of you has anything more than q pit
lance don't come to me for help. In
short. ] shall not want to see any
thing more Of you. One word more:
The worst thing you a do is to mar
~ a girl brought up in af1uence who
has nothing on which to keep up q
position"
Bob Winthrop chose what his father
considered the worst thing he could do.
Miss Rosalie Hilton was the daughter
Of q man who lavished Injuries upon
her till she was twenty years old.
then failed In business and died. leav-
ing her with nothing at all. Bob was
a gentleman-iike. 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 a mum.
Der Of suitors. but between her aud
Bob came something that neither had
felt before. Bob proposed and vas nc.
copied when be supposed he was con-
sidertng bis fathers warning. Then
came the crash. and the young III
was not only too honorable to with
draw his offer, but be 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 aud 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 bad
been brought up in luxury. but since
her heart a with Bob and he said
he was willing to take the RESPONSE
bility. If she was. she 6nalIy yielded
and they became engaged.
Bob wrote bis father all about 1t
and received in reply: "They say
there's no fool like an old fool. NY
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 a word in reply.
but seemed to be doing a good deal OF
thinking. Presently she said: well.
Bob. there's evidently no hope for %
with your father. And your income IL
too small for us to marry on. Either
you must consent to my doing some
thing to earn money OF we must give
up marriage. / am well educated and
shall teach.
I'VE needn't be married right OF"
said Bob. wait awhile"
Six months of waiting passed. and
Bob found it q 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 a position at
a salary Of $500 a year. She could.
save most Of 1t, and in a year they
would have the wherewithal to start q.
fortune. Bob smiled at her way Of
expressing it, but a year seemed very
long to him. :
One day Bob received a letter from
his father. who vas q widower. that
he had concluded. to take a second
wife. In order to gid his announce
ment he added that he would celebrate
the-svent by giving his 10 $4,000. IL
he cboseAto spend 1t in marrying a
girl who had ,heen born with q silver
spoon In her mouth and who would
doubtless spend the money or lose It
within a year. be was welcome to do
90. But he advised Bob to follow his
fathers example and marry q practi-
cal woman.
Bob sent the letter to Resale. who re-
piled: why don't you 90 home and
inspect your future stepmother? 1
have no confidence in the sense of old
men in the matter Of marriage. NO.
tice your father doesn't mention bis
~iancee's age. Ten to he has got
hold Of ONE chit. or rather some chir
has got hold Of him. and she'll lead
him a. dance. I've found a position :ls
g%overness in the family Of a widower.
and he's bothering me to marry him"
Bob wrote his father. thanking him
for his kind intention. and added. Il
shall be able get Oh for the week end
and will III 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.