The Osceola times., 1882-04-08
Auyr MARsTON'S LEGACY

her will 10 my Deio'eu ~ Ioy;ng
the faithful nursr, tne ig'ins he
Comforter of my declining years ~
oueath my gold ball earrings, WIN ;n ;n
brooch TO match, marked with my ~ m
itisls in black enamel" Ihus ran 'iio
passage referring to me. II. u.rs,on
When my cousin. Lucinda Marseoin
handed me the case she could scaroet;
repress smile of triumph as she tnoushs
of tbe great difference few short "eehs
had made in our relative positions:
/ had been brought up by Aunt Mas ,',
ton. had lived in ease and luxury al nn1
life. while my cousin had been opilseu
for wears to earn her own living by sew
inc | had always looked upon urey-
lands as nv home, while she had never
been invited to spend even week al
delichtful old country-house on the iiuu'
son since she was child. And now
she had come into possession OF the oid
homestead. and !, the favorlte, whom
she had hated and envied for 80 many
Years was put off with this insignificant
bequest! ,y 0ho so;s
with a sneer. 1T is too bad TO De puI on
with a shilling; but if MIR. Lewis '-the
other executor-''knows anything ABOUT
il tLey are worth a great many shllllngs
for he saws they are solid eighteen carets
cold and that Ormulu, who had them,
wonid give YOU $50 for them to-day
However. YOU are welcome to them
And now / suppose you will see the
necessity of looking about for ahothef
home A., H.
The bitter, insulting words, the DESC
late, deserted feeling at being thus cru
ellv turned out Of the only home | knew,
oyercame the unnatural calmness Win
which | had hitherto borne an lrrepar,,
able loss, and threw myself on my bed
and yept, as never in my short, happy
lie thought it possible could weep,
don't kno. how long it lasted, but
when became calm my heart still ached,
but nv brain seemed clearer and could
look my situation in the face. ! was no
sycophant. | knew that well, for ]
loved my aunt dearly, and had always
given her a daughters willing devotion,
without one thought beyond the pres
emit | even told Charlie Durnet, to
whom was engaged with her consent
and whom | loved with all my heart
that wed better bide wee"-for could
moi leave my serond mother to spend
her last DAYS alone, or be cared for by
heirlngs.
Aunt Eunice had often said to me:
"You and Charlie will not have to wait
long, dear child, and will see that your
future is provided for"
| did not care for myself, but ! felt sc
disappointed for his sake, when | found
that was left absolutely penniless.
think now, az | look back, that aftel
she became paralyzed she wanted to say
something about it; for as she lay there
so white and still, almost like a piece OF
statuary, the muscles about her lip
would twitch as if trying to form words
and the very restless eyes would turn OF
me with an earnest, appealing look lik'
the yearning, pitiful expression Of
dumb animal trying to make its suffer
ing understood.
But she died and made no sign, an,
now Charlie must plod along in the oil,
way, and ! must try TO earn my own liy
ing, for | had made up my mind that
would never be an additional burden oI
the poor fellow.
| threw down the jewel case with
sigh of disappointment rs | thought
all over. and then, ashamed of mysel
took it up again and kissed the wei
known trinkets, in fact, the only one
my aunt ever wore, and put them tel
derly away among my other treasures
her gifts and Charles in the trunk
I n-aa napL inc
Alas, for the frailty of human resoll
tons Charlie would not hear of N
earning my own living, and though
/ did not exactly threaten TO commit su
eide if | refused, he looked so utter
miserable and forloru that | was force
to reconsider my decision.
Charlie and | are quite old mari,
folks now, and four little, curly-pate
restless bodies tumble about in the sms
poor room that serves me as a bedroom
sitting room and nursery, coming
mamma with their small hurts and pail
to be kissed well and petted, while oftt
my head and heart are both aching.
So many little mouths to feed, so mai
little limbs to clothe and sew for; eig
little feet TO cover with shoes that we
out too fast. IL is no wonder tn
Charlie has to wear his coat till il
threadbare, and my only best dress
my black silk made over and over agai
which with lace at the wrists and throi
and Aunt Martson's leg cy, forms II
gala-day toilet.
| would not complain to myself, b
Charlie looks so pale and tired, and h
cough gets worse and worse every da
II he only could 90 into the country
month or two, the doctor says, rt
himself, keep in the open air, dril
plenty of milk and take plenty Of gent
exercise, such as little rowing or ri
ing, he could get well.
My head aches with thinking how
get the money that will save Charli,
life. NV darling husband, so devote
so unselfsh, depriving himself of ev
. the smallest indulgence for me and o
little onesl ! think bitterly on the u
equal distribution Of the good things
the world; SO few have all, and 20 ma
, have nothing, but when ! say so, Cha
, lie laughs and says Pm little commu
ist, dangerous character, and shou
, be suppressed.
As usual, while ! am sitting sew .np
am devising a thousand impractical
schemes, when my revery is interrupt
by my elder boy, Robert.
"Oh, mamma! see those beautiful /
nies.'
look out and see a phaeton drawn
: span OF black ponies, and, seated at /
/, ease, her lap dog beside her, | recogn
! my cousin Lucinda Marston. How ,
cumstances have changed. She and
dog in my place. and my child'
: living life of privation. My husba
dying for the need Of the money I
, lavishes on herse5 and dogs in weel,
cannot help a reproachful feeling
: mnrl my aIlnt as | reGenL ON her ca M