"And as, for Lawford Tapp——Why, his people are impossible, Louise. Wherever you have your establishment, if you marry him, his people, when they visit you will have to be apologized for," the indignant woman continued.
"Let—me—see," murmured Louise. "How large an 'establishment' should you think, auntie, we could keep up on eighteen dollars a week?"
"Eighteen dollars a week!" exclaimed Aunt Euphemia, aghast.
"Yes. That is Lawford's present salary. Wages, I think they call it at the factory. He gets it in cash—in a pay envelope."
"Mercy, Louise! You are not in earnest?"
"Certainly. My young man is going to earn our living. If he marries me his father will cut him off with the proverbial shilling. I. Tapp has other matrimonial plans for Lawford."
"What?" gasped the horrified Mrs. Conroth. "He does not approve of you?"
"Too true, auntie. I have driven poor Lawford to work in a candy factory."
"That—that upstart!" exploded the lady. But she did not refer to
Lawford.
It was evident that Aunt Euphemia saw nothing but the threat of storm clouds for her niece in the offing. Trouble, deep and black, seemed, to her mind to be hovering upon the horizon of the future,