The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1927-07-28
Dreams OF Wealth
and Luxury
BY H. IRVING KING

and she knew it. But knowl-
edge of her beauty, added to her
unhappiness. Ii she could only
have snapped off a considerable
portion of her good locks +some-
times she told herself all OF them
for wealth. she would have been
contented. For Rosa longed for
the good things of this world, was
deprived of them, and was con-
vinced that she could never obtain
them. 1t took money. lots of it,
to compass the luxuries with which
Rose felt she ought to be surround
ed and she had no money, her par
ents had none and nobody in her
little circle of life had any amount
to speak of.
So, as she declared she would
not marry for money, she just re-
signed herself to fate and made
herself as unhappy as she could
over 1t by way of revenge.
Her parents, while they were in
Ordinately proud of their daugh-
ter's beauty, did wish she were
more like other girls, and quarreled
with her over her scruples about
marrying for money.
Rosa's parents had managed to
give her fair education; she had
taken up stenography and type
writing and she was going to get
job and stick to it. And" said
she, "if / get a job with an aged
millionaire am not going to vamp
him and marry him for his money"
She did get job; but 1t was not
the secretary of an aged plutocrat !;
1t was in public typewriting office
where about thirty girls were en-
ployed. Had she lived in Russia
she might have turned Bolshevist
and helped sack palace. AS 1t
was her happiest moments were
when she was alone by herself aft
er work hours and let her mag
nation loose, dreaming of what
she would buy, what she would
eat and wear, and where she would
go if she had wealth.
Carter Blanding came into the of
fee one day and wanted to dictate
some letters. Rosa was assigned
to him. Carter looked at her, real
lied in a vague way that she was
unusually good looking, and pro-
ceeded to business. Some little sug-
gestions which Rosa made about
the wording of the letters he was
debating seemed so intelligent that
he became interested in her-was
quite chatty, in fact, before he left.
%hnH hn aor o. N
times, and Rosa found herself be-
ing really agreeable TO Carter
Blanding. They became great
friends. So much so that Rosa, at
last, told him Of her suburban
home and said that he might come
out and take her for motor ride
the ensuing holiday.
HE is poor, of course" thought
Rosa sbut what of it; might as
well be resigned to fate. Poverty
with-with him-wouldn't be so
bad, after ALL" There was every
reason why Rosa should consider
Carter to be poor; or at least very
moderately off. There was nothing
In what he dictated to indicate his
possession of wealth, and he even
went so far as to say that the only
reason he dicrated his letters In
stead of writing them himself was
because of a sprained FINGER OF his
right hand When he came to take
Rosa to ride he came in f1ivver,
driving himself. Rosa had often
longed for town cars and limOu-
sfnes: but the f1ivver seemed a
limousine to her-she thoroughly
enjoyed the ride. Carter was ten
years older than Rosa, that is. to
be exact, thirty-five. He seemed
much older to her. Somehow she
felt las If she had known him for
years and. becoming quite confiden-
tial, told him of her dreams OF
wealth and luxury; that they had
embittered her life, and that she
was determined to let such phan-
tastes bother her no more. They
had known each other three months
by this time.
$50 you would not marry rich
man, even If he asked your" COM
mented Carter.
NO. replied Rosa, unless we
happened to be in love with each
other, and even then / should hesi-
tate, tearing it was his money and
not himself, / loved"
would you marry poor man 2
went on Carter.
"Why, yes, If loved him." said
Rosa frankly.
"Well, I'm poor; I've only got a
million" said Carter. Twill you
marry me?"
"Stop this ear. right off, cried
Rosa, "and let Inc out. I'll walk
home. You have taken advantage
of my confidence"
"No, I haven't" said Carter dog
gedly. "You said you would marry
a poor man If he loved you and
you loved him, and that you would
marry rich man under like cir
cumstances. A million isn't much
In these days. But 1t is something,
of course. You can consider me
in either class you want to, rich or
poor. Uncle Jabez, who is trust
'magnate,' thinks I'm poor; my
chauffeur left him at home to-
day on purpOse-this is his car
considers me rich. Financial status
doubtful, you see. But as to the
other consideration you mentioned