The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-06-10
She Was Rich
in Love
By MYRA CURTIS LANE

| Sne WdS IWcuty eight anu Au!pi
was thirty-seven. They were both
too Old for folly. 1t was essential
ly a marriage Of convenience. For
Ralph had an old and untarnished
name, and Eftie had money.
More money than she knew what
to do with. Her father had been
millionaire, and she had inherited
half his money and a large house
In the city. She was certainly Y
rich girl.
Only love had never come her
way. Just a few trivial flirtations,
and twice what she thought was
the genuine thing, but found was
not. In that she was poOr-a very
poor girl.
1t was not late. Her relatives
had gone home early, leaving her
alone. except for the servants, In
the large house. And she leaned
out of the window, looking at the
people passing. How intent they
were, each on his own affairs. Each
person looking for happiness. and
never finding it. That was the
way It went.
! Then she saw couple saunter-
ing slowly along the street. their
!. arms about each other. They were
absorbed in each other, needless Of
the softly falling rain. Poor they
were, and yet so rich in their love.
1t was she who was the poor girl.
If only she could step out of the
great house and put everything be-
hind her-Ralph, the whole past,
and begin to live. She had never
lived. And now she was entering
blind alley with Ralph.
She had tried so hard to love
him, but it was all impossible. And
somewhere In the world lover
might be waiting for her-the lover
who would make her rich.
She started as a ring came at the
door. She had sent the servants to
bed, she expected nobody. She went
out to the hall and opened 1t, a lit
tie frightened. Ralph stood there.
ooh, it's you! Come I'M" She
leaned forward. prepared to give
Thin the mechanical kiss that was
already becoming the habit between
them. But his face startled her.
! "Come in. Ralph. What is it7"
| she asked. facing him in the draw
ing-room. rs anything the mat
ter?" she went on.
''Effie, I've been thinking. 1t
isn't too late. Would you release
mef" - ~..-
The words made her heart bound
Release-what she had dreamed
of! For few moments wild hopes
ran coursing through her brain.
Then she saw the impossibilify Of
1t all-her relatives, her friends. the
| scandal. .1..
"Why, Ralph?"
Because you don't love me,
Effie. 1t would be insensate to start
our life together like that. You
don't. do you?"
NO." she cried desperately. CT
Eve tried 50 hard to, Ralph. But
It was impossible from the begin
ming, sa
"Then-?"
"Can we help going through with
it now?"
'I'I take the responsibility"
"You can't, Ralph. Jilting is a
wOman's privilege" She laughed
bitterly. "Well-let 1t be as you
say"
He turned away, and she saw him
swallowing hard. She took step
toward him. Isn't that all right,
Ralph?"
| He took her hands in his. "Efiie,
il you knew how very much l cared.
Did you think it was anything else?
Your money!" -+
She was listening as in a dream.
What was he telling her? -
u know you tried to care, but
you couldn't, Effie. And that's why
want to set you free"
Ralph, l never knew all this.
l." ~, q
"But is isn't too late"
'Tll give you your answer in q
few minutes. No, wait-waitl - \
She was trying desperately to
think. If she had known-but they
had started wrong from the begin.
ming. She turned toward him, and
the look on his face touched her to
the heart.
'Ralph. did care at first, till
you seemed to repulse my love. No,
| don't answer that. We don't want
to quarrel now. Ralph, dear, IL
want to go through with it. You
see, nobody has ever cared for me,
and II you say you do"
And then suddenly she knew she
was no longer poor girl but avery
rich girl indeed.
e. 1924. Western Newspaper Union,