Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-02-27

both to live carefully for a few years,
and have to think and plan, and have
budget He said we'd live in little
flat in town, or in a little house in
the country if I preferred that. He
said ned love me to the last day of
his life and that he would surely make
me happy because he himself would
be the happiest man in the world" ~
Hilary was sitting up very straight,
looking at her in growing amaZement.
"Then-you two really talked it over
seriously" he said slowly.
"Oh, no." Edna told him easily. He
talked it over. merely listened. I was
interested. He was doing it so well and
yet with such deep feeling. It's rather
interesting to know" she ended, that
one is loved like that
Hilary got up, took two steps to the
fireplace and kicked a blazing log.
Then, very quietly, he returned to his
seat and drew the chair forward so
that he could face her.
Edna" he said quietly, I'm going
to tell you the way I feel"
Its high time" she murmured.
1--WE often wondered in the last three
years just how you feel"
That was another jolt. but he took
it without change of expression.
II think a man who asks a girl to
marry him when he can't support her
properly is a cad!" he told her very
quietly.
Edna was stunned by the unexpect-
edness of the charge and showed it.
Bob has $4,000 a year." she coldly
reminded him.
And your father makes 10 or y 900
year. That isn't riches, heaven
knows, and I don't believe he saves
much of it, with you and himself and
your mother living the way you do.
do know he carries enough life in
surance to keep you and your mother
going comfortably, if he should die
and you two are all he's got. He told
me once no man in our position should
marry on less than $4,000 a year. He's
right. But before he said it, and even
before I got out of college, I resolved
not to marry or even talk marriage on
less than that. What Bob could give
you on his $1,000 a year would seem
stark poverty compared to what you've
always had. He's a cowardly cad to
suggest it. All he's thinking about is
himself.
II know what I'm talking about he
went on when she did not speak: but
stared silently into the fire, Il watched
my mother and father struggle along
and bring up my younger brother and
me on an insufficient income. They
both died in their fifties, from over
work and worry. I worked my way
through college and after I graduated
I helped Phil-my brother. He's only a
year younger than I am. He's doing
well now.
Hes been off my hands for two
years. He worked his way, doing odd
jobs in college as did. Neither of us
will marry on less than 5000 a year.
We know better than to do it. We saw
too much managing and scraping and
self-Sacrifice at home. The most Dad
ever earned was $1,000, and that was
only in the last few years. We learned
our lesson. When I earn 5000 year,
which will be in about two years more, |
I'll ask the girl love to marry me.
I won't ask her before that-and," he
added on deep breath, Il won't make
love to her till I can marry her!"
you were not so cautious between
S and 15," Edna reminded him.
He grinned for the first time, then
sobered suddenly.
II was almost Is before began to
take notes at home and catch on fully
to the burden father and mother were
carrying" he said. Phil and were
always needing things clothes, shoes.
school books, bus fares. broke my leg
when was IS, and both Phil and .