New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1884-07-02
HER AUNTs CHOICE.

IL the kind of man for you and mel
James Whitcomb Riley.
HER AUNTS CHOICE.
elizabeth! Elizabeth
Eyes, auntie. -
Don't .auntie' me in that listless,
don't care sort Of voice. lwant your
attention. Ihave something important
to say to you.'
Elizabeth, or Gas she was more Ia
miliarly called by her five hundred
dear friends) Beth Bruce, just percep-
tibly raised her arched brows, and her
curved lip curled.
II am all attention, auntie, = she an-
swered, and threw more positive In
Election into her voice.
LAY down that book and wheel
your chair 50 that can see your face.
l can never bear talking to peoples
backs"
Beth dropped the paper covered nov
el she had been reading, and wheeled
around her easy chair until she was
face to face with Millicent Devereux,
spinster, aged ffty-6ve, Beth's maternal
aunt and guardian, and her only living
relative.
Miss Millicent's face was thin, and
scanned and furrowed by heavy lines.
Her body matched her face in thinness
and her iron grey hair was very thin
also.
She had very sharp eye, however,
and she looked at poor Beth so keenly
that the girls face flushed painfully. 1
.'Elizabeth Bruce . began Miss
Millicent again and then paused.
Eyes, auntie.'
':Don't interrupt me. can't bear
to be interrupted. y
She paused again; and this time Beth
did not break the silence.
elizabeth Bruce, you will be eight.
en- years old tomorrow. suppose you
are aware of that fact?"
eyes, auntie.''
''You will be eighteen years old, and
I think it is high time that you were
made aware of the terms of your ia
theirs will. Your father lacked wis
dom in many things, but he showed his
good sense when he made his will. You
were left q very comfortable fortune,
Elizabeth"
WAS I?''
about one hundred and twenty-five
thousand dollars
That's large sum of money" said
Beth, and her eyes glowed with q vague
wonder. II had no idea that ] was 80
rich.'
..You will have as much more when
die.''
.'Oh, auntie!' cried Beth, and her
eyes moistened. Don't talk shout
dying in that sort of manner! would
rather be beggar than lose you!''
'.Humphr' was Miss Devereux's
comment, and she tossed her head.
''You're helpless enough now, and
the Lord knows what you be without
money"
II suppose it would be inconvenient
to be poor" said Beth, gravely.
do you know what you are talking
about, Elizabeth! Listen to me, pray"
Eyes, auntie.'
This money was left to you on GER
tain conditions
.'Oh!'
..Your father promised that you
would marry, though why I don't see.
Women are deal better off without
husbands. never had . husband. "
Beth made no reply to this, but .
smile crept across her face, and the Of
der woman continued:
with q mans poor judgment he
concluded that at eighteen . woman
ought to marry"
@Oh. mv!'' said Beth. and she blush
ed slightly.
Il. however, am to pick you out an
eligible husband
:?You. auntiep''
..And why notp It has always been
allowed that have as much Judgment
as the average woman, and q deal more
than the average man.
II didn't mean that, auntie.''
"Well, then, please refrain from
comment until I have finished. Your
father had confidence in nv Judgment
and under the terms of the will I am to
pick out husband for, you. II you do
not marry the man of nv choice, Ihave
the power. under the win, to divert
the monoy. which would otherwise be
yours. to q different purpose. .
..Whatp'' -
..You heard what / said. But, Of
course. Won can't object to the man that
/ select :,
ooh. no, . said Beth rather family
s.of course not
II have selected = husband for you, .
continued Miss Millicent.
.sYou hayeP''
.:A man who is the only one among
the great number that know who "a
qualified in every respect to be any wo-
mans husband. .