Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-11-09

Pleasant storynra widows VILE


Mrs. Banwell was widow doubly so,
indeed, for she had "plantod' two hus-
bands-itcm, retired butcher, and item,
small mouey-lcnder Each had borne
fruit after his own kind and Mrs. Ban
well lived comfortably on the produce,
about four hundred Il year. We called
her, perhaps rather unkiudly, the Vam-
pre-.
Yet there was one thing VIC could not
but admire about the widow-she was SO
consistent. There was no nonsense about
her, no hypocrisy, nor atfectation of fine
motives. We had known her MS n girl
well, say of seven or eight and thirty.
buxom, comely, and with n capacity for
making herself exceeding agreeable when
she choose.
She never made any secret of her in
ten!ions she dotted on old men. and
would marry an old manor two, if need
full Ito obtain respectable maintenance
aud due provision for the future. There
was no reliance to be placed in young
men, she used to say (regarding them in
the light OF an lnvestmcnD no knowing
how they would turn ont whether, lay-
ing money, they would not risk and lose
1t or having none, ii they would ever
push their way on to fortune 1t was a
great speculation to marry young man
and not being of a speculative turn OF
mind, she preferred the more solid in
vestment OF a comfortable old gentleman
who had been through the world gather
ed up his earthly dross into the Three
per Cents, and only wanted a companion
to see him home the last mile or two
through this vale of tears.
SO she married the butcher. All butch.
ers are mortal ; but old butchers, accus-
toned all their lives TO the blue serge
smock and the dangling steel, when
they retire, go out Of business, out Of
their element, and out OF the world neail
ly together. With nothing more TO kill.
there was nothing more to live for, so the
retired butcher retired for good. The
butcher died and, after decently mourn,
ing his loss for two years, and settling IN
his affairs, his relict became Mrs. Ban.
we'll.
Three per Cents killed Mr.. Banwell
Deprived OF the risk and excitement at,
tached to lending small sums, and dis
counting bills at exorbitant rates, and re.
ceiving nothing but steady, fixed, half.
yearly payments of three per cent, broke
his heart He would gladly have return.
cd to business, but had sold his connec.
ton and he possessed neither aptitude
nor hiking for any other sort of monetar,
business than his own particular walk
and he was too old to commence again il
that in some other town. There was littl,
left for him to do but to die which, afte,
mature reflection, he did.
Mrs. Banwell had done her duty b,
both husbands. She had been kindly
and atfectionate, and had proved a mos
agreeable companion to smooth the de
CHUNG years of each. She had spent th,
evening OF their days with them, seer
them home and having herself returned
to the world, she lived on the two deat
men. That was why we called her tn,
Vampire. ''''
Her first husband, the butcher, had n,
immediate relatives who felt themselye
aGgneved at the disposition of his pro
perry. The widow took her third share
whilst the remainder was Distribute,
among the distant relations.
In Mr.. Banwell's case however hi
widow received, by the will, two-thirds O
the estate real and personal of which h,
died possessed, whilst the residue went t.
deccased's nephew, Mr.. Loney, whar6n
ger OF st. Katherine's Docks, London
who had always been brought up TO con
slider himself heir to his nncles cntir
property.
Or course Mr.. Loney was NOT wei
pleased on first hearing of his uncle
marriage; but frequent visits had con
WINGED him that Mrs. Banwell was YER,
aiiable and agreeable sort of person
whom it was desirable, moreover to exec,
m with. 30 they had always been OF
friendly terms. Mr.. Loney was even les
pleased on hearing the will read; but no
seeing how rupture with his aunt coult
mend matters, he continued to MAINTAIN
friendly relations with her. Indeed. Mrs
Banweli found his services of great use i,
settling Mr.. Banwell's affairs and il
many difficult matters had appealed t,
MN Tor advice, which he always gave il
puslness-like way, still, however, re
garding Mrs. Banwell in his heart not
wlthstanding her ufiability, as profes
slonal woman, WIG made it her business
TO marry old men, and live on them afte
tney were dead, and one who, in the exer
else OF that profession, had "done him
out OF considerable sum of money.
we must all live-if we can-but we
none u us, like those who, very imme
dlately and very obviously, live upon us
Whilst, therefore, Mr.. Loney fully ac
corded Mrs. Banwell her right and It'll,
10 i've upon him Gas he considered sh,
was dong by receiving the largest shar,
OF MS uncles money under the will, h,
did not like her any the more for it, ospe
cially as he had wife and large famil,
to provide for. Yet, as he said, what L
the good OF quarrel? 1t would infalli
biy ALLEVIATE any possible intentions 81.