The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-06-01

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that at present we had not better say
anything at present 80 your brother and
Lucy about young Keeley's death. They
might think that we were acting from
interested motives and, besides, Lucy
might be beforehand @ith me. She is
so grasping."
I" GraspingP / never before heard
that of Johns wife"
"Oh, most people are, you know
when the temptation offers"
Mr.. Goldsbury shrugged his shoulders.
Well, do as you please and if the
old lady chooses to leave us her money,
why it won't do her or ourselves vny
harm
So the letter was written, and in due
time Aunt Keeley arrived.
She was tall, stiff, precise old lady
with a stately manner and a hard, pene-
trating look. She dressed in old-fash-
ioned black silks and velvets, and talked
much about her family, with allusions to
her style of living before the death of
her husband-her carriage and SER
wants.
"Of course I do not keep up the
same style since Samuels death" she
said "When one gets old and feeble,
ne cares little for society or show of
any kind, though confess that still
like to have things about me handsome
and well appointed"
Mrs. Henry Goldsbury felt little
anxious. Though able to live in COM
fort and even in some degree of luxury,
her husbands income was barely suffi-
osork - o,,,,,oork 4ba,,, 41,,,a o~J -
would cost 80 much to make Aunt
Kelley comfortable, according to the
old lady's own ideas of comfort.
But it would not do to begrudge the
expense; for Lucy, who had discovered
the death of Aunt Keeley's appointed
heir, was already beginning to maneuver
to get her to her house, which was
handsomer and more luxuriously fur
nished than Emma's, though the income
Of the brothers was about the same.
So new suit of furniture was bought
for Aunt Kelley, the table kept supplied
with unwonted Injuries, and everything
done to make her comfortable and con-
tented where she Was.
She was very reserved and reticent in
regard to her own affairs and property.
Indeed, when once or twice Mr.. Colds
bury was imprudent enough to approach
the subject Aunt Keeley raised her eyes
flom her knitting and fixed them upon
him SO sharply and suspiciously that his
wife was on thorns.
Sometimes, however, when left to
herself, she would make Incidental al
insions to "plate,"" " lands or " bonds"
which caused Emma to exchange signi-
fioant glances with her husband, and
an expression of satisfaction to over
spread the latter's placid visage.
There were other things, however,
which were not SO agreeable to the
Goldsburys. Aunt Kelley had very de-
cided opinions of her own, and ex-
pressed them freely. She was liberal
with advice, and not overpleased when
this was not taken.
She disapproved of great many
things in tho household, and was per-
sistent in her efforts at reform. The
children should not be allowed to wear
tight dresses and high-heeled shoes.
The windows should be left open at
the top, and fires be kept burning dur
ing the night, for sake of ventilation.
Emma should not drink coffee, which
would make her bilious; and Mr.. Colds
bury ought to learn to take his tea
without sugar and milk, which ingredi-
ents changed the nature of the beverage
into tannin. But above all things did
Aunt Kelley loathe and despise tobacco
in all its shapes; and Mr.. Goldsbury,
who could not give up his cigar, was at
length reduced to having a closet fitted
up as a smoking-room for the exclusive
use of himself and friends.
Goldsbury grew discontented and
morose.
:" I suppose she will restrict me to a
vegetable diet next" he grumbled.
" And there are the children, forbidd
to eat any but rice pudding, and sent
out Of the parlJr in the evenings be-
cause she don't like their noise. I tell
you, Emma, you and Aunt Kelley are
going too far"
I" It's for the children's good, Harry,
as you must know. We ought to be
willing to submit to little unpleasant
ness for their sake"
I" don't see the necessity of sacrific-
ing their and our present happiness for
sake Of future benefit. If Aunt Kelley
chooses to leave us her money, like a
rational being, wen and good; but she
has no right to expect us to make slaves
of ourselves to her caprices."
''Now, Henry, 1 call that foolish and
ungrateful. Aunt Kelley doesn't ex-
pect or wish to make slaveso of us. What
we do is done of our own choice, TO
please and crafty her How can we
expect her to leave us her wealth while
we do nothing to deserve ity'
Between the hitherto friendly fami-
lies of the Goldsburys there now arose
a sharp rivalship for the favor of Aunt
Keeley. Their pleasant and familiar
intercourse was in a great measure
broken of, and each kept keen watch
upon the otheg, suspicious Of being out
witted and outdone.
Mrs. John Goldsbury had the pleas
ATTEST chamber in her house furnished