Mexico weekly ledger., 1881-07-28
AUNT MARSTON's LEGACY.


aer will: "To my beloved niece, Nellie
Stanhope, the faithful nurse, the loving
comfort of my declining years, be-
queath my gold ball earrings, with the
brooch to match marked with my ini-
tials in black enamel" Thus ran the
passage referring to me.
When my cousin, Lucinda Marston,
handed me the little morocco case, she
could scarcely repress smile Of triumph
as she. thought of the difference a few
short weeks had made in our relative
positions.
/ had been brought up by Aunt Mars
ton, had lived in ease and luxury all
my life, while my cousin had been
obliged for years to earn her own living
by sewing.
And now she had come into possession
of the old homestead, and I, the favorite,
whom she had hated and envied for 50
many years, was put off with this in.
significant bequest.
"After all your toadying," she said,
with sneer, sit is too bad to be cut of
With q shilling, but if Mr.. Lewis''-the
other executor-"knows anything about
it, they are worth great many shillings,
for he says they are solid eighteen carat
gold, and that Ormolu, who had them,
would give you fifty dollars for them to.
day. However, you are welcome TO
them. And now 1 Isuppose you will see
the necessity of looking for another
home"
The bitter, insulting words, the DESC
late, deserted feeling at being thus
cruelty turned out of the only home l
knew, overcame the unnatural calnness
with which 1 had hitherto borne my
irreparable loss, and threw myself on
the bed and wept, as I never in my
short, happy life thought it possible
could weep.
don't know how long it lasted, but
when became calm, my heart still
sched, but my brain seemed cleared, and
could look my situation in the face. /
even told Charlie Burnett, to whom
was engaged with all my heart, that
"we'd better bide a wee"-for I could
not leave my second mother to sperd her
last days alone to be cared for by hire
linns. 4"
Aunt Eunice had often said to me,
"You and Charlie will not have to wait
long, dear child, and I will see tina: your
future is provided for" / did not care
for myself, but I felt so disappointed for
his sake, when I found that / was left
absolutely penniless.
think now, as I look back, that after
she became paralyzed she wanted to say
something to me about it, for as she lay
there so white and still, almost like a
piece of statusry, the muscles about her
lips would twitch as if trying to form
words, and the ever-restless eye would
turn on me with an earnest, appealing
look, like the yearning pitiful expression
of dumb animal trying to make it,
suferings understood.
But she died and made no sign, and
now Charlie must plod along in the old
way, and must try and earn my OWE
living, for l had made up my mind that
would never be an additional burden
on the poor fellow. .
2 Alas for the frailty Of human resolu'
tiolis. Charlie would not hear of my
earning my own living, and though he
did not exactly threaten to commit
suicide if I refused, he looked 20 utterly
miserable and forlorn that was forced
to reconsider my decision.
E* = =
Charlie and ! are quite old married
folks now, and four little, curly-pated,
restless bodies tumble about in the, small,
poor room that serves me as bedroom,
sitting-room and nursery, coming to
mamma with their small hurts and pains
u bs kissed well and petted, while often
my heart and head are both aching.
So many little mouths to feed, sc
many little limbs to clothe and sew for
eight little feet that are never still to
cover with shoes that wesz ont too fast
I would not complain to myself, but
Charlie looks 50 pale and tired, and hii
cough gets worse and worse every day
If he only could go into the country fo'
q month or two, the doctor says rest
IhimaeH keep In the open air, drink
plenty of milk and take plenty of gentle
exercise, such - a little rowing or rid
ing, he eonld get wall L. 2SS
My head aches with thinking how te
get thu money that Will Save Chariie'i
life: Ny darling husband, scdevoted
50 unselfish, depriving himself OF ever
the smallest indulgence fer me and oul
little oneafHif}a EE73 ~ .&st 34tf'.f@'