The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-10-18
rHE POOR RICH WOMAN

AS Edith stitched away at the sofa
pillows she thought much OF MRS.
| Marshell and the lesson she nau
learned of the busy, swiftly organized
| lives some society women lead. she
was still further enlightened when.
| her work for Mrs. Marshell finished
and delivered, she called with her
samples of pretties at great house
| where lived a wealthy mining man.
Christine Cary, his wife, greeted
Edith pleasantly and looked at the
| things she had brought with almost
| hungry eagerness.
"Oh, how / should love to have a
set of table linens done In this!" she
cried. turning over Ediths pieces
| delightedly.
Edith looked at her with a bright
smile which plainly said, Then or
der them! Your husband Is one OF
the richest men in the district"
But Mrs. Cary did not order them.
She looked at Edith Ferrol instead
searchingly, as If to find out If she
were to be trusted as confidante.
Evidently she decided she was-as In
deed most people did after good
look into Edith Ferrol's blue eyes.
"Mrs. Ferrol," she began, slight
flush Of embarrassment pinkening her
handsome face. II honestly haven't
the money to pay for these things.
You see, my house"
Edith involuntarily glanced about.
She noticed that the furnishings,
though handsome in way. were old
fashioned and composed of unmatch-
ed things, odds and ends that had
| obviously been in various homes In
various periods. All showed wear.
The equipment was in marked con-
trast to Mrs. Cary's clothes. which
were striking and flambuoyant.
Nothing in it," she went on, ''has
been renewed for years. Mr.. Cary
doesn't like to spend money for things
he considers unnecessary. Mr.. Cary
and / have both been married before,
pause. my first marriage was-was
very unhappy, very unfortunate.
was a mere child and ignorant OF all
the facts Of life that every girl should
be taught by her own mother. But
let that pass! What l want to ex-
plain Is that have two girls of my
first marriage.
Il owed them all the things in life
that I missed. l married Mr.. Cary
principally to make a home for them
and give them thorough education
and girls need the best of equipment,
Mrs. Ferrol, to help them through
this difficult life
But. although my husband is kind
to them and considerate to me in
almost everything, he has never felt
that my daughters were-were-well,
were his responsibility, to educate
and care for as-as I should have
tried to care for his.
"One of my girls is still in high
school, but is not especially studious.
She will probably marry young and
can equip her for success in the
profession of wifehood! But Nora my
older girl, is determined on musical
career. She has great talent and she
is lovely, Mrs. Ferrol-beautiful, bril-
liant and balanced-just the girl to
make splendid mark in the world
Can I let such rich gifts go undevel-
oped? Indeed mott" Christine Cary's
eyes flashed proudly for an instant.
then softened with mother lovelight
as she added:
"Noras in New York studying and
working with all her soul. have no
money. I don't know how to earn
any. The only way l can help my
girl is to go without things myself
and send her what l can scrape to-
gether. My household allowance is
large, but my expenses are enormous
in this great house. dress in this
fiaashy way SO that my husband-who
doesn't know about women's clothes
will think me extravagant. I'd rath-
er he thought that Though, as mat
ter of fact, l make these things my
self than not to have the money to
send my girl. 1t is a serious thing,
Mrs. Ferrol," the other woman's voice
lowered earnestly, "to rob a child of
it's father. And that Is what l did to
Nora. Her father was impossible for
us to stay with. But nevertheless l
felt responsible to her for-well, For
her success and happiness.
Tit nearly broke my heart when
Mr. Cary told me not long after our
marriage that he considered the high
err education wasted on girls; that
they were better off without knowing
too much / determined then that il
couldn't earn money for Nora one
way, l would earn it another. The
only way can is to-save and save and
save, to contrive, and pinch and de-
ceive. oh, do you think l am utterly
wicked to do it-and toto tell to