Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-11-12
MY PATRiMONY.

Aunt Fanny had just come to make
her usual summer visit and I had
proudly taken her through the house
TO have her admire the improvements
made since her last visit.
ct is all very nice and convenient,
DEAR" she said, as she seated herself
in the easy chair [ offered her, "but
did you never regret giving those
bonds to your husband, May?"
Most assurediy not, auntie. Why?"
Because [ thought it very unwlse
and that some day you would bitterly
regret it. It was your poor fathers
property and should have beea retain
ed IN your name, I am sure"
''Now, don't worry, auntie, please.
You came to have a pleasant visit
with us. Ella has been nearly frantic
with delight since I told her you were
coming"
1.-The child, yes. She is a dear liz
tie thing, to be sure2 But do you
Know that if your husband should die
to-day she would inherit the property
you gave nina. IF she were your
child it would be different"
But she is mine, all [ have GER
tainly. | love her dearly, and hope
to be a good mother to her, notwith~
standing all the bitter things written
and said against stepmOthers."
Eyes, and you are a good mother
to her. But to suppose still further.
If she, too, should be taken away,
then your property would not revert
to you, but go to her relatives, of
whom you know nothing. Would
that be right?"
perhaps not. But why do you
say such dreadful things? She and
her father are as likely to live as I.
And then wife is entitled to dow
err"
eyes, the interest from one~third of
what the husband leaves. Just the ia
terest, mind you. And you gave him
the means to go into business. You
know he failed once, and may, pos
sibly again"
But he paid every penny" I fash
ed back, proudly.
81 know it, and it was right; but
consequently you married poor nam
with a child as well as wife to sup
port on a clerks salary"
"You forget, auntie, that he still
had his beautiful home when his
creditors lad been fully paid; the
house in which Ella was born, and
where his poor wife died"
81 forget nothing, and what I re-
member with the greatest bitterness is
your little patrimony, intrusted to me
by your dying father for you, and that
you took no obligation for it whats
ever"
But" I replied, "he invested it in
a business which supports us nicely.
Besides, it was not his fault. He
wanted me to have interest bearing
notes, or to be the company in the
business, as if l would and told him
never to mention tie subject to me
again, and he never has"
''Then all have to say is you were
very silly as well as imprudent"
But it was not all she had to say,
even to telling me that certain
matchmaking mother had said that
my husband would have preferred one
of her daughters if she had held props
erty IN her right as / did; that he
needed the money and married me
simply to obtain it.
Don't, aunty, please, | said with
q LULU ShlN01s
''Nor would [, but to convince you
that he should have secured your lit
tie property 10 you, if only for the
opinion of Others"
'It's all right just as it is. All!
here comes Ella, and my dear old
worldly wise aunt forgot to lecture in
her delight at seeing the fairy, who
nearly .smothered her with kisses.
But had received hurt that rank
led like thorn in the flesh. And so
Mrs. Jones thought he married me for
my moneys And perhaps others have
the same opinioA? Of course l knew
lac did not, and said it over and over
again to myself as I helped our one
servant prepare the evening meal.
And when my husband came with
his hearty, CHEEKY welcome for Aunt
Fanny I looked wistfully ia his face
for an answer to my mental question,
for question it would become In spite
OF my firm determination to ignore it
as such.
Once more during Aunt Fanny
stay did she attempt to renew the con.
versation interrupted by Elias en-
trance. But / only said: eff you
please, Auntie, I would rather not
say anything more about that"
And she, who thought she was only
striving for nay interest, replied cold
ly:
pardon me, May, shall not offend
again"
"Ofender you, who have been
father. mother and auntie all in one?''
and I kissed her as I had ever done
since she drew me away from her
brothers coffin, hiding her own grief
to assuage mine.
''Do you remember, auntie, dear,
when I used to have the sulks, and