Marion Marlowe's Escape, or, A Dangerous Mistake on the Road — page 31: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

~ last MY QUEEN. as necessary evils. What reason have you for thinking he would be different from the rest, or that he isin any way a desirable acquaintance? If you meet him properly, all well and good, but we do not advise you to do any scheming to meet him. Be patient and let your lover come to -you. It is not wise nor womanly to chase him ‘‘to cover.” “JT have been engaged to a young man for the ear, and now that he is urging our speedy marriage, I find that I do not love him any more, but love another, who I am not sure loves me. Would you advise me to marry this one, or how ean I find out whether the other loves me, as [ am afraid of being an old maid. Please answer as soOn as possible, as he is not the kind of man to be trifled with. | “STrRicTLY CONFIDENTIAL.”? In spite of the fact that this letter is ‘‘strictly confidential,’ we are obliged to answer it in the columns of ‘‘My Queen,” as itis impossible for the editor to enter into private correspondence, much as she might like to. The writer must remember that other letters have interested her and that itis only fair that her letter should be read by others. We do not advise a girl like the writer of the above letter to marry any one, as her motive for marrying is utterly unworthy. The man who is ‘‘not to be trifled with’’ seems to have been “‘trifled with’ already, and the only honorable thing you can do is to release him from his contract, then wait until the other fel- low sees fit to declare himself. If you lose them both, we trust it will bealesson to you not to engage yourself to any man until you are sure you love him. There are many worse fates than being an old maid. One is to be a wife merely - from a silly motive. “Would you kindly favor me with a reply to the following through the columns of the new magazine,‘My Queen?’ I am a young man of twenty-two, and only earning $12 per week. My position is steady. Do you think that a young man should marry on such a salary? My sweet- heart is a good, sensible girl, and I know would make mea good wife. I have heard it stated that young men can live cheaper married than single, and I write to ask your opinion on the subject. As itis, Ido not save any money. I just live up to what I make. I am anxious to marry the girl, but feel timid, thinking that my salary would not be sufficient to support two. Kindly let me hear from you through the medium of ‘My Queen.’ Wi? We think twelve dollars a week a very small salary to begin married life on, unless you have a snug sum stowed away in the bank, which we judge you have not. Innumerable married couples have begun life on a smaller salary, and, 80 long as there is no one to consider but them- selves, it is all right, but when children come to share that pittance the case assumes a different _ aspect. Every man must consider the question of family when he marries. Upon his decision of _ this important matter the whole question rests. “eo 4 29 What may be right for you and your wife might not be right for your offspring. Do not neglect man’s greatest duty by shirking this subject. “Tam a young man of twenty-two, I ama milkman, and every morning I meet a young girl of about nineteen, I guess. I am very fond of her, and sometimes I think she likes me. She is a perfect stranger to me. I have been trying to draw her attention for the longest while, but all! in vain. She appears to be a perfect lady, for when I wave or speak to her she simply smiles, The more I see her the more I think of her, and I think if I could win her heart I would be per- fectly happy for life. Please give me your advice how I can win her heart. How can I tell whether she really loves me or not? G. G.”’ We are not very good at solving enigmas, so will you please tellus how you can love a girl who has never spoken to you? We do not under- stand this kind of affection. What do you know of her sentiments or hercharacter? The fact that she does not answer when you speak to her looks to us as if she might be deaf anddumb. Weadvise you to settle this point at once, so as to be sure that you are not wasting valuable conversation, Why not offer her a glass of milk some morning? If the milk is good she will be obliged to say “Thank you,’ and then you can pour out your ardent longings upon the stillair of the morning. We sincerely hope that she will reciprocate your love. “T am a young girl of sixteen years. I havea stepmother who is very cruel to meand is jealous of my father’s affection for me. She tries to break my engagement to a young man by telling him falsehoods about me. I am sometimes afraid he believes them, for his love is, or at least I imagine it is, a little cool. Do please tell me what to do! Lam tempted to leave home, but my lover urges me to stand my mother’s cruelty a little longer for his sake. Would it be unmaidenly in me to beg him to marry me at once, I am so mis- erable? HARRIET.”? Oh, these mix-ups of mothers! Will we never hear the end of them? There is no class of women whom we find itso hard to be patient with as those who deliberately marry a widower with a family and then fail to do their duty by the innocent. You have our sympathy, as we are fully aware that you did not choose your step- mother, but, for your own sake, we must advise you to be patient. Treat your stepmother as kindly and considerately as possible, but by no means let your unpleasant surroundings hasten your marriage. Marry for love—not for con- venience. It is time enough to marry when you and your lover have complete confidence in each other—a confidence which the vicious tales of other will never shake or lessen. “I notice that most of your customers are ladies, but I guess you will help me out, as you are a good hand. I have been in love with a girl for two months, and she said she loved me dearly but not long ago she asked me in a pitiful way if €@ mn ClOOOKS:GO