Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-04-12
AsHTABULA, OHIO FRIDAY. APRIL 19 1878

of you and your poetry"
Mrs. John Moreland smiled
Il assure you, uncle" said she, w
never had the least idea of becomin
pensioners upon your bounty"
perhaps you had, perhaps you hadn't,
SAID Dr. Moreland, catching up his hal
Il wish you a very goOd-morning."
And he descended the stairway, tw,
steps at time, and shook the dust OF
the offending household from his feet.
Scarcely three months afterward poo
little Keziah came in with a red nos,
and swollen eyelids, to tell Uncle More
land that poor John was dead.
Dead, is he'T said DR.. Moreland.
81 said when he married that poetry
writing girl that he had committed the
last blunder he could be capable of, but
it seems was mistaken. He could die
and leave her on our handsP
"Oh, Uncle Moreland !' shifted poor
little Keziah, between her tears.
Don't be fool" said Uncle Moreland
II liked John as well as you did until he
wore my patience out. And Pm sorry
that he must needs go and die and put
us all to the expense of a funeral
What is to become of Johns wife y
] IdllcTtu h6LldI, IlUlQlY.
81 don't know that that's any of my
business" said DR.. Moreland.
1t was scarcely a month after poor
| Johns remains were laid in Greenwood
Cemetery when DR.. Moreland received
a black-edged note.
From Johns wife," said he contract
ing his brOws. Il wonder what she has
got to say to me after all my warnings"
From Johns wife it was-a neatly
written missive which ran thus:
DEAR UNCLE MoRELAND: Win you come to me
/ this afternoon at O'Clock and Oblige,
Your anectionate neice, CLARA MoRELAND'
"AhI" said DIR. Moreland to himself.
81 knew very well how it would be.
predicted it all along. She's going to
| throw herself on my compassion. Wild
| Ow-penniless- -blighted hopes-and all
that sort of thing. But it 1Con't 90 dO1C7l !"
-buttOning his pockets with a signifi-
cant air-"I warned her Just how it
would be, and l shall give her to under
stand that as she has made her bed so
| must she lie upon it"
Keziah picked up the note when she
was busting her uncle's library, and look
ed piteOusly at it.
you'll 60 uncle, won't you ?' said she.
"0h, yes" said DR.. Moreland, 81 shall
go"
And he went accordingly.
Johns wife was sitting by the freside,
dressed in the deepest Of black and look
ing prettier than ever. DR.. Moreland
sat himself down opposite, and looked
hard at her.
WELL" said he, 'what do you want of
me?"
81 wanted to ask your advice, uncle"
said the young widow.
"About whatp (instinctively clapping
his hands over the pocket where he
kept his money!
about the investment of my money"
"0f-your-money" !" Moreland could
scarcely credit his own ears.
eyes, my money; the money have
earned by sending poetical contributions
to the various magazines and periodicals
of the day. 1t is not great deal but
it is enough to enable me to live COM
Portable for the rest of my life, if can
only manage to get it suitably invested.
DR.. Moreland stared. He had come
thither prepared to steel himself against
the supphcation of a penniless poor
relation but here was Johns wife,
entirely Independent of him-a moneyed
persOnage in her own right. And the
idea that that pale-faced woman should
absolutely have accumulated little for
tune by her pen seemed incredible to
him. -
Success is a wonderful softener of
human nature, and DR.. Moreland's hard
features relaxed, in spite of himself. 4
81 shall be very glad to help you in
vest it, my dear" said he. "And-and l
really think you're very sensible girl
And if you have not decided upon a
home, my niece, Keziah and shall be
very glad to have you come and live
with US"
NO" said Clara, serenely. "I prefer
my own home"
"Is there nothing else can do for
you% asked DR.. Moreland as he took
his leave, after receiving the young
widows detailed instructions.
Nothing more, 1 thank you," said
Clara, coldly.
Dr. Moreland went home, seated him
self before his desk, and drew long
breath.
"a superior woman" said he /; a very
superior woman"
"What did she want, uncle% said
Keziah.
'That's the strangest part of it." said
DR.. Moreland. "She didn't want any
thing. My dear, 1 never was more mis-
taken in my life than about-John's
wifeI"