The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-10-06

EuhuSo Jul eAppn9Ga W VIC llL1lta VI OuI
present income? Was itnot rep esent-
ed TO me that my present hon d was
sufficient TO meet the requiem nts Of
two in this domicile9 In short, Miss
Markham, in what way was ever led
TO suppose that the fortune Of your
spinster aunt was to influence in the
slightest degree your matrimonial rela-
tions in regard 70 myselfH I paused
for q reply"
Jessie stood up, her hands meekly
folded together, and her happy eyes
downcost till the long lashes kissed her
cheek.
"Pleuse forgive mo this time and TIL
never do il again" she said; and then
the laugh dimpled her cheek, da
in her eyes, and rippled out clear and
sweet upon the mir.
"oh, Charliel Charlie knew
you never thought Of Aunt Jessic's
"1nd you,p said Charlie, holding her
of at arms length, "you can have it
'"As il I loved monS$ better than
you," said Jessie, Nesting now in the
strong arms folded closely around her.
II seemed, however, rs II Charlie were
actually afraid OF the money that was
so temptingly near Jessie's grasp, for
he commenced series Of Interviews
that bore entirely upon the subject Of
IN immediate marriage.
"What is there to wait for?" he would
ask, and then enter upon calculations
OF his present expenses and those OF the
future, proving most conclusively that
there was q decided saving for both in
uniting their incomes"
"You remind me-" said Jessie, "of
the Dutchman who said he could al-
most support himself alone, and it was
q pity II two Of them could not do 1t
entirely"
But though she laughed at him, Jes-
sic was quite willing to admit the force
of his reasoning; and one bright June
morning, six months after Aunt Jessie's
death, there was n wedding in the vii
lage church, and breakfast in the cot
tage for few chosen friends. Among
these was Aunt Jessie's lawyer, for the
will stipulated that tho sealed codicil
was 10 be opened at Jessic's wedding, II
she preferred love to money.
The bride was a little paler than
usual when with o solemn face the New
York lawyer broke the big red seal.
Visions OF John Garland holding drunk
en- revels in her aunt's house fitted
across her mind, and then she looked
into Charles face, and over her own
crept m expression Of perfect content
The will was opened and found to
contain only q letter directed to Jessie,
and short, legally worded formula,
making herself and her chosen husband
joint inheritors Of her aunt's fortune.
Truly the bride opened the letter from
the dead.
With loving words Aunt Jessie
blessed her and wished her happiness.
"I do not" she wrote, "approye Of
the money power in q family being en-
tirely in the hands OF a woman there
fore you will find, dear Jessie, that half
Of my fortune only Is yours, the remain
ing half TO go to the husband who has
proved that he loved you for your own
sweet sell, not for your fortune"
During the wedding tour Of the young
couple, Mrs. Markham, at their earnest
solicitation, took IN aifectionate fare-
well OF her pupils, and removed her
household treasurer to the New York
mansion, to which, Due time came
Charlie and Jessie TO brighten the long
silent rooms with their happiness, and
establish that loving circle that makes
home Of any house, however grand or
humble.