Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1926-02-05
She Feared Family
Pride

BY n. IRVING KING

er a month they got to prefer
each others society TO that Of all the
world besides. Rosa Cameron was
twenty-six; dark beauty, polished by
the best schools, foreign travel and
contact with society-all Of which had
not spoiled her, but on the contrary
added to her natural goodness and
charm. Mr. and Mrs. Cameron had
come 10 New York from somewhere
In New England when Rosa was a
baby, and, socially and financially, the
city had taken them to Its heart.
The Van Vorsts we're a New York
family upon which the increase In
value Of Manhattan real estate had
heaped wealth.
The only weakness which the Van
Vorsts allowed themselves was an IN
tense pride In family" The original
Van Worst, as he leaned on his hoe
on his farm where now are the streets
Of the roaring Forties. would have
been astonished could he have seen
In vision the patriclan bearing Of
his descendants.
Creighton's parents, when he an
nounced his intentions to them, OBJ
jected. Of course, but they consented
after looking up the Cameron pedi-
gree, which they found very passable
Indeed. Such is the force Of environ
ment, and so thoroughly had the 80
ciety In which she moved become i'm
pregnated with the idea that q Van
Worst was just a little better than
any other specimen Of the human
genus that Rosa herself tacitiy ac-
cepted the popular superstition as a
fact. How could she doubt It with
her adored Creighton as a specimen;
So Creighton proposed, Rosa &C
cepted him and went in fearful Joy to
tell her parents all about It. Then
said Mrs Cameron: Rosa must be
told ALL"
Il don't see any necessity for It,"
grumbled Mr.. Cameron.
I'VE have discussed that before"
replied Mrs. Cameron. II do. Rosa,
1t Is but right that at this time you
should know that you are our adopted
daughter-not born to us, but Just as
dear to us as II you were. We had
little daughter, Rosa, who died when
she was two years old. Your mother,
the wife Of the gardener on our place
down in Maine. died at your birth.
Two years after your father died. and
We legally adopted you in place Of the
child We had recently lost. You are
all we have and all we will have will
one day be yours. 1t is better that
Creighton should know this now than
that he should by some accident find
II out after your marriage"
Rosa was thunderstruck. A thought
Of the pride of family which charac-
terized the Van vorsts rushed upon
her and crushed her. Then all her
own pride came to lift her up. She
remained deadly pale and silent for
moment and then said calmly: "Of
Creighton have no doubt. But will
never marry into a family where
cannot be received as an equal. In
spite Of Creighton his parents would
make my life miserable"
Later she sat down and wrote let
ter to Creighton, telling him the whole
story, repeating what she had said
to her adaptive parents and ending
with the rash statement that she
could never be his"
Creighton was vexed, amused, anx-
ious. "The dear little fool" said he,
'as II 1t made any difference But
he knew Rosa and her obstlnacy. So
lie went for counsel to his mother. to
whom he always carried his troubles.
Now Mrs. Van Worst was Van Du-
senberry, and the Van Dusenberrys
had been patrons with cOat-armor
when the Van Vorsts were small farm
ers.
my dear Creighton" said she, "you
love the girl and she loves you-that
is sufficient as long as she is re.
spectacle personals Miss Cameron
is. A wife takes the rank OF her hus.
band-always. Go to Rosa and tell
her So"
"Oh, know she won't listen to me-
groaned Creighton.
Creighton, have William bring
around my car-Ill 90 and see Ross
at once" said his mother.
"Mr. Van Worst and are delighted
that you are going to marry Creigh
ton" gushed the good lady when she
had obtained access to Rosa "Crelgh
ton showed me that foolish letter
You wrote him. How we did laugh al
II Marry into family In which
you would not be received as an
equal? Why, you are our superior
We shall be awfully proud OF YOU
And she ratified on in such a tactfu
way that, at the end of the interview
Rosa had, somehow, come to feel thai
she really was comforting an honor OF
the Van Worst family by marrying
into II.
II was one Of Mr.. Van VOrst's goot
points that he always allowed his wifi,
TO adjust his mind for him. At tina
lady's command he called upon Ros,
and said just what his wife had TOLD
him to say, with the result that thu
young people were married In du'
time and never, In all her long an,
happy m mrled life, was Rosa made t,
feel that she had married above her.
Which was all because Mrs. Van Vors
had com'No sense