The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1933-04-21
Rich or Poor
BY MARY GOULD
eby Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Service

all along, tn6t wanted 10
marry your
Fred raised troubled eyes to the
small. slender girl.
'Well." Vivian countered, what II
l did? And OF course I did think
But you never said anything-and now
this has just swept me of my feet,
Fred. Can't you understand"
Understand" Fred's eyes were an
cry now. "Of course understand.
Here I am, poor young man. But
I'm good enough till this rich old fell
low comes along and"
That's not fair, Fred, and you
know 1t. love Thorley Morehouse.
II he didn't have 4 penny I'd still
want to marry him."
I'm sorry, Vivian. 1t sounds rot
ten. But you sec how 1t looks. You
and I've known each other for months
and batted around together and I
thought It was all settled
vivian's hard dignity left her.
"Fred, I'm awfully sorry" she said.
II thought so, too, honestly. l did,
do-lika you. And l didn't meet
Thorlsy until last month. And I'm re-
fusing you because hope he'll ask me
to marry him. It's my fault"
you're right, of course, Vivian. It's
just my hard luck. Well. I'll have to
run along now"
As the hall door of her small apart
ment shut noisily behind Fred, Vivian
sank down in big, cushioned wicker
chair. She forced back the tears and
looked about her cheerful, comfortable
little living room. A great vase of
Thorley's roses-the outstanding thing
in the ROOM. But the real room with
its charm and Its comfort had been
there before she knew there was a
Thorley Morehouse In the world-ex-
cepting as she had heard OF the big
brokerage house of Morehouse and
Morehouse.
But she had met Thorley-she'd
been sent to get 4 story from his
brothers wife on how the women Of
Russia were meeting their new re-
sponsibilitfes. Thorley's brother had
been doing some investigating In Rus
sia, and the Star, on which Vivian was
4 reporter, had given her the assign
ment She hadn't got the story. Mrs.
Jack Morehouse wouldn't talk And
Thorley, who lived with them, had
walked in on them chatting over tea
and cinnamon toast.
That was the end of things-or the
beginning-for Vivian. Thorley was
forty an impossibly old man
to vivian's twenty-five years, though
Fred seemed to think so. He was
coming to see her tonight and Vivian
knew the message he was bringing.
door into the hall and waited, listen
ing to firm, running steps coming up
the stairs.
Hello, Vivian" said Thorlsy, as he
came, with a breath of the cold out
doors, into the warm little room
"Thank you for the roses" she said
stifrly.
"Oh!" Some of the youth had gone
from Thorleys voice Were they all
right? Color and everything?"
Lovely" said Vivian. They're
in the kitchenette. 1t seemed warm
here"
"Oh" said Thorley again. "Well
Vivian, / suppose you know why I've
come tonight" He took her cold
hands in his firm warm ones. But he
did not try to keep them when she
drew them away. II know I'm not
good enough, Vivian-too old, and all
that. But adore you. When l was a
yOungster there was girl l liked 4
lot-but she turned me down because
l was poor. And there's never been
anybody else, Vivian"
Because you were poor, Thorley?
How despicable. But-Fm sorry,
Thorley. / can't"
Fifteen minutes later Vivian sat
alone again In her room. She'd give
herself five minutes more-the last
she'd ever let herself think of Thor
ley. Then she'd telephone Fred.
The telephone rang. The Star of
fee. One Of the young reporters. Had
she heard the nsws7 Another big
crash. Morehouse and Morehouse had
gone under. Thought she'd be inter
ested. Maybe she'd like chance to
come down and write up good
story of that Mrs. Jack Morehouse she
interviewed the other day.
rs Mr.. Morehouse poor 2" asked
Vivian. "Then I'm through mean,
I'm resigning. Tell the boss Good
by" And as quickly as she could she
got Thorley's house on the telephone
His voice, after minute of waiting.
"Oh, Thorley," she said. you're
poor. And Pm SO glad. Come back,
Thorley, as fast as you can. l want
to tell you why / said / couldn't
marry you and tell you why now
can"
To Vivian, the things she said made
sense. To Thorley, 1t didn't matter
that they didn't. He was with her in
ten minutes.
"But, Vivian he said, as he held
her, sobbing, In his arms. II don't
know what you mean. But / don't
care. I'm not poor, Vivian. But does
that matter? 1t doesn't really mat
ter. Money isn't what matters"
AS Vivian stammered out her story
the telephone rang again. The Star
ofice. Sorry, but that was wild
rumor they telephoned her before. II
was Mlllhouse and company that had
gone under.
Vivian went back to Thorley
''Thorley. love you," she said. a