Morris tribune., 1881-04-21
MARGARETS MONEY.

MAhUARLl . MONE1.
"She has got e5, 900, said the old man,
.'and she's good girl. She'll be catch
for somebody"
Then thought he looked at me.
"Why should he look at me?" I thought,
I'm not husband worth angling for, as
he knows very we'll, this man who pays me
my small salary every week with his own
hands" a.
Still he did look at me, and answered
with word or two; forget what now.
Eyes, he said, talking with meaning,
too. looking at me evidently to see how I
took the news; Eyes, and what do you sup
pose she does with it? Has it locked up in
my fire proof safe in my fire-proof vault;
doesn't use it in any way; doesn't get inter-
est on it; locks it up as she does her rings
and pins. and let's it lie never touched"
Il wonder you don't give her better adj
vice, said.
Give woman advice!" he said. TRY it.
However, I approve of this. Better keep
her dowry locked up safe than risk and lose
it. My fire. proof safe and fire proof vault
will bold her money-the money her hus-
band is to have the day he marries her
fast and safe"
Then the old man trotted away to his
safe and looked over it at me.
I'm her guardian, The said. Her father
and had quarreled you know. But when
he died he left he1 and her money in my
care. A nice thing for an old bachelor to
have young niece quartered on him for
life! I'll marry her off as soon as can. I
say. Fisher, come up and take tea with me
to- plight.
He did mean it! He offered his niece
and s5, 900 to me! He had never liked me,
either
"Shall go?" asked myself. I was not
a man to be bought by money, if she were
a coarse and vulgar creature like her uncle;
but otherwise why not see what she was
made of? At least could do no harm to
take tea with old Simon Giddings. I went
home with him that evening. I noticed
some little changes in the parlor as though
a lady's hand had been busy there, and in a
moment more I saw, sitting in the shadow
of the curtains, girl dressed in deep
mourning,
Margaret, Mr.. Fisher; my niece, Miss
Giddings, Tem," said the old man: and as
I bowed I saw little velvet headed crutch
leaning against the girls chair. She was
lame then. Old Giddings thought this an
obstacle to her making good match, so he
OAOICo uC1 W 4OIh l. 1oAC1.
sit won't do, old man," 7 thought Il
shouldn't mind plain face so much, but
lame wife will never do for me-" Then
something whispered, family in my ear:
"s5, 000?" For the rest Miss Giddings was
fair and pleasant in her manner. She was
a lady, too, which seemed odd for old ST.
mons niece, for he was as vulgar as he was
rich; and she sung for us after tea very
sweetly. I liked girl with dash and col
or, and still her blue eyes and sweet smile
haunted me little after went home.
'Shell never quarrel with one" thought;
@and a woman worth $4,000 would be a
catch certainly; but that crutch! I'll stay
away from old Simon's house for the fu-
ture"
But he would not let me stay away; he
kept on urging me to 60 home with him.
There was Marion More. Perhaps she
liked me little. I admired her intensely;
but she had no money, and shonld take
her away from her snug home to find some
poor sort of place if married her. I should
find it hard work to feed and clothe her
decently.
This fair, sweet Margaret was rich, and
as time passed on began to see her liking
for me. And I sat in the Office one day,
three months from the time of my first
visit, wondering whether I could be quite
sure that should be good enough to the
little thing meant to marry for her money,
to keep he1 from knowing that there was no
actual love for her in my heart. And as I
pondered, the voice of old Simon reached
my ears: tom Fisher, up in the moon
again, Ell? Well, well, when fellow is in
love we excuse laziness in him. There's
my niece Margaret pouring the tea in the
slop- basin and overseeing the milk at
breakfast. Maggie says I, you er think
ing of some one, an ye.' She blushed to
her ears. You've managed to get into good
graces in that quarter, Tom.
do you think so?" said.
81 know so, said the old man. II ought
not to say so, you know, but I'm fran k"
listened to him then, two voices whis-
pering to me.
"You don't love her," said one. "You
don't hate her." said the other" ''You dc
want e5, 900, said the other, 1T would
make man of you. You could go into
business on your own account. You'd
cease to be slave in this dingy Office"
Five thousand pounds! said to myself
Then I started to my feet.
"Mr. Giddings," said, would 70" be
willing to give your niece to me as my
wife?", r
His answer was frank.
tom Fisher, I'd give her to any decen
young man. A girl bothers me; I'm tired
of the charge, Every one doesn't want
lame wife. If you like her, take her, anG
on your wedding day I'll hand the s5 ,O0(
to you. and be rid of the charge. She Il
asked me tonight, and hurry on the wed
ding. .
1 thought I heard the thump CT crutcl
in the church aisle as he spoke. though
of the graceful step of Marion More.
turned faint and sat down to my desk; bu
went to old Simon's house that night ant
saw Margaret. She looked as fair and hap
py as child. sat down by her and tool
her hand. - g
"Are you going to say No., Maggie?"
said. and she lifted her innocent lips t,
mine, and kissed me. ''I'll be very, yer,
good to you"
But there was no lovers warmth in m
heart; only kind of gentle pity, for the gin
who was to bring me G5 900. We'were en-
gagged. Old Simon ioked us coarsely, AM
seemed to exnlt over the affair. i Nigh
| have doubted the existence of the $4,000
but that Maggie told me of it herself.
| "Uncle was keeping it for me to live O.
when was an old maid" she said; "bu
you shall do what you choose with tn
money when belong to you. Well buy
pretty house, sha'n't we, dear, first of al
and live there all our ives-somewher
where we can have a garden?"
So, after that, never doubted, but clun
| to the idea as could not if had loved th
girl. We were married in fortnight
| Uncle Simon and his old housekeeper alon
/ were present It had touched me goo
deal when Margaret has whispered that sh
had rather not have wedding party. %
Fancy the bride limp ng up the ASH
upon q crutchY she said. "Let me b
/ married with none to stare at me. 70
love me, SO / don't care about being LAIN
any more, but I'd rather not be stared ut. /"
4 / took her in my arms and kissed b,
then. &E ta5t
| I'll be good to her, !" I said, as the clerg,
man uttered his prayer livery, very good
and was saying it again when sat wit
4 my wife in old Simon's parlor, and l
coming in Lit the gas and stoe
4 twinkling his eyes at us maliciously.
$50 it is over" he said, with his fiendif
chuckle. "She's yours; now for her g5 ,O0l
I'm going to hand tower tonight. / sha
sleep better" atlf.. Il ,4f .