Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-04-25
LOVE OR MONEY.

Atwaterites were accustomed to remark
upon the fact that it was love or money
with them, and that Miss Gillet who
married would cease to be her uncle,
heiress.
Nobody knew Just how much Mr.. Gil
let was "worth," but that he was uncom
monty wealthy was certain. lie had nc
other living relations but these three girls
and lis peculiar preiudices rendered il
unlikely that he would will his wealt
away to any benevolent or public nstitu,
ton whatever. So to whom could he
leave the gold that he could not take Out
of the world with him, unless it were tc
Georgina, Millicent and Dolly Gilet2
All regularly instituted public charities
Mr.. Gillet declared were "trauds;" and
friends lie had none averred that friend.
ship was call humbug.n AS formarriage
it was in his opinion, something which
all sensible people eschewed.
The fact that in his earliest youth O
dear friend had stolen from him the atfec.
tons of the girl to whom lie was betroth,
cd, and eloped with her on the very eve
of his weddlng.day, was at the bottom OF
all this. lie trusted no one, because the
two beings he had once loved and trusted
had utterly deceived him.
When his brother and his wife died in
one week of q fever, the bachelor uncle
had done his best for the young people.
lie managed their little income, and pro-
vided luxuries for them which their means
would not have allowed. lie educated
them, and allowed them a few female
friends. But az they grew up, one law
was maintained with inviolable rigidity.
There was to be no counting and no mar
ryng beneath lis roof. Beaux were
utterly forbidden, and it was understood
in the family that Miss Gillet who mar
ried would be blotted from her uncle
will.
"What infatuation! They'll fight like
cats and dogs in year" he would exclam
when wedding cards were sent to him.
"Take warning by this poor couple, who
don't know what is before them, girls.
Oh, what infatuation!".
And Miss Georgina Gillet would shake
her head, and her younger sisters would
follow her example, and they would cry in
chorus:
"What infatuation"
They were pretty girls, tall, slender,
red-cheeked and bIue-eyed; little ears like
pearl, little mouths like coral, dainty
waists and cunning hands-grs to be
loved and married by nature; hut there
was Uncle Gillet's money. So they grew
up and grew older, still single, and not
one of them had ever had u thought of
marriage in all her life.
There was Oliver Robb, who had follow
ed Georgna about to and from church for
a year. don't think he wanted the
heires4, | believe lie loved the girl: but
what use was it2 Georgna had given him
a G lance or two, and he had found favor
in her sight; but he had only u clerk S
salary, and it would be so delightful to
handle thousands Of her own. And Mill.
cent had met Rufus King in the apple
orchard once or twice; but Dolly had
never had even passing firtation-Dolly
who was now eighteen, and prettiest OF
the three.
1t was MISUNDERSTOOD matter in the
Vlii"Se' as wen as IN inc family, that mar
y ny MISS u'iIet lost her inheritance.
1ocVoF NuSh liad hear1 II, ana OeIleved 1t
to be true, when Uncle Gillet having n
touch Of rheumatism, sent for him to pre-
scFlCe' ne had always thought the three
slender girls, with ripe round cheeks.
dappled with peach color, tue prettiest
Vn'"3S ne liaa ever seen; nut when lie
$1,000 lace 10 face with Dolly, he fell in
rove WIN her' lie looked after her as she
"enC ou' OF tle room' and Uncle GiIlet
looNed "t nm Sharply,
my niece Is pretty g'rl, ne sad VI
Fee you thlnK so. She's sensible girl too
Ihey are all senSlbIc girls; they prefer a
single LIE and Pecunlary independence to
the m'serles OF marriage"
ny your advice, | believe" said the
doctor
ihey consider me man OF experience,
ana III ehtllled 10 respect"
But are you not rather hard. sir2'
shlu inc doctor. " A beautiful girl like
Ihat-
lizard T. cried Uncle GiIlet. Whats
rove wortIlf IL IadeS IN week, and Is
stone dead in year. What DO men give
their wives but deCeltand neglect Either
the wl,e deceiVes the hu,band, or the hus-
Dahd the W',e' Better never to love than
10 see love dle. lhey used to sing song
"len was boy Love not
II" Love not the thing you love may die
Love not; 'ne 'h'ns you love may change
ltS sensiQie song, SIR that's dear
niue gri' nope shell never fling her,