National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-10-03

reduce our expenses TO the limits Of ou,
present income? Was itnot rep esent.
ed to me that my present hoa Il was
sufficient to meet the requirem nts ol
two in this domicile? In short, Miss
Markham, in what way was l ever led
to suppose that the fortune of your
spinster aunt was to influence in the
slightest degree your matrimonial rela-
tions in regard to myself? | paused
for reply"
Jessie stood up, her hands meekly
folded together, and her happy eyes
downcost till the long lashes kissed her
cheek.
" Please forgive me this time and I'll
never do it again." she said and then
the laugh dimpioa hcr cheek, da
in her eyes, and rippled out clear and
sweet upon the air.
ooh, Charlie Charlie (! l knew
You never thought of Aunt Jessie $
money"
"And you," said Charlie, holding her
off at arms length, "you can have it
all if you give me up"
GAS if | loved money better than
you, said Jessie, nesting now in the
| nNipAb III lOiNitNt tloStlN NTOulIu lltT.
1t seemed, however, as if 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
an 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 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
a pity if two of them could not do it
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 a wedding in the vii
lage church, and breakfast in the cot
tage for few chosen friends. Among
these was Aunt Jessies lawyer, for the
will stipulated that the sealed codicil
was to be opened at Jessie's wedding, if
she preferred love to money.
The bride was little paler than
usual when with a solemn face the New
York lawyer broke the big red seal.
Visions of John Garland holding drunk
en- revels I her aunt's house fitted
across hel nd, and then she looked
into Charles face, and over her own
crept an expression of perfect content.
The will was opened and found to
contain only letter directed to Jessie,
and a 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.
Il do not" she wrote, "approve of
the money power in 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 self, not for your fortune"
During the wedding tour of the young
couple, Mrs. Markham, at their earnest
solicitation, took an affectionate fare
well of her pupils, and removed her
household treasures to the New York
mansion, to whicli due time came
Charlie and Jessie to brighten the long
silent rooms It'll their happiness, and
establish - loving circle that makes
home of any house, however grand or