Otherwise he was poor. He earned a decent
living by his painting, but each year's living depended on each
year's work. Hence he was in the proletarian class.
Alice Mackaye, on the other hand, belonged to the capitalist class.
I say "belonged," because that is precisely the word to describe her
situation. Her father was a millionaire sugar-merchant, who lived
in an ugly palace near Morristown, New Jersey, and was accustomed
to have his own way in that and other States. He was the Obstacle.
He was a florid, handsome old Scotchman, orthodox in religion,
shrewd in business, correct in conduct, but with no more sentiment
than a hard-shell crab, and obstinate as the devil. His fixed
idea was that none of his daughters should ever be carried off by
a fortune-hunter. The two older girls apparently escaped this danger
by making fairly wealthy matches. But Alice--come away! why should
she take up with this impecunious painter? He was good-looking and
had the gift of the gab, but what was that worth? If he would come
into the sugar-business, where a place was waiting for him, and
make good there, it would be all right.
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