The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-12-05
My Property.

Aunt Fanny had just come to make
her usual summer visit and had proud
ly taken her through the house to have
her admire the improvements made
since her last visit.
1T is all very nice and convenient,
dear, she said, as she seated herself in
the easy-chair I offered her, 'but did
you never regret giving those bonds to
your husband, May2"
Most assuredly not, auntie. Why2'
Because I thought it very unwise
and that some day you would bitterly
regret it. 1t was your poor fathers
property and should have been retained
in your own name I am sure
'Now, don't worry, auntie, please.
You came to have pleasant visit with
us. Ella has been nearly frantic with
delight since I told her you were COM
ing
sThe child, yes. She is dear little
thing, to be sure! But do you know
that if your husband should die to-day
she would inherit the property you gave
him. If she were your own child ii
would be different
'But she is mine, all I have, certain
ly. I love her dearly, and I hope to be
good mother to her, Notwithstanding
all the bitter things written and said
against step-mothers.'
Eyes, and you are a good mother to
her. But to suppose still farther. II
she, too, should be taken away then
your property would not revert to you,
but 60 to her relatives, of whom you
know nothing, would that be right?
Perhaps not. But why do you say
these dreadful things? She and her
father are as likely to live as I. And a
wife is entitled to her DOVER
Eyes, the interest from one-third oi
what her husband leaves. Just the in
terest, mind you. And you gave him
the means to go into business. You
know he failed once, and may, posi-
bly,, again.
But he paid up every penny fash
ed back, proudly.
Il know, and it was right; but, con-
sequently you married poor man with
a child as well as wife to support on
clerks salary
'You forget, auntie, that he still had
this beautiful home when all his credi-
tors had been fully paid; the home in
which Ella was born and where his
poor wife died.
Il forget nothing and what I re-
member with the greatest bitterness is
your unadvised act of yielding up your
little patrimony, intrusted to me by
your dying father for you, and that you
took no obligation for it whatever
'But,' I replied, che invested it in a
business which supports us nicely. Be-
sides, it was not his fault. He wanted
me to have nterest-bearing notes, or to
be the company in the business, as if l
would and 1 told him never to men,
ton the subject to me again, and he
never has,
"rhen all I have to say is you were
very silly as well as imprudent.'
But it was not all she had to say,
even to tell me that certain match
making mother had said that my hus-
band would have preferred one of he1
daughters if she had held property in
her own right as I did. That he need.
ed the money and married me simply
to obtain it.
Don't, aunty, please I said with
little shiver.
Nor would I, but to convince yor
that he should have secured your little
property to you, if only for the opinion
of Others
1T is all right just as it is. All! here
comes Ella and my dear old worldly
wise aunt forgot to lecture in her de-
light at seeing the little fairy who near
ly smoothered her with kisses.
But 1 had received a hurt that ran
kled like thorn in the flesh. And Sc
Mrs. Jones thought he married me fol
my money! And perhaps others have
the same opinion2 Of course I know
he did not, and said it over and owe
again to myself as helped our one ser
want to prepare the evening meal.
And when my husband came with hi
hearty, CHEEKY welcome for Aunt Fam!
l looked wistfully in his face for an an
swer to my mental question, for it woul(
become in spite of my firm determine
ton to ignore it as such.
Once more during Aunt Fanny's sta,
did she attempt to renew the converse
tion interrupted by Elias entrance. Blu
I.only said: IF you please, auntie,
would rather not say anything NOR
about that
And she who thought she was onl,
striving for my interest, replied, coldly
Pardon me May, I shall not offent
again."
Offend, you who have been father
mother and auntie all in one?' and
kissed her as had ever done since sh
drew me away from her only brother
coffin, hiding her own grief to assuag
mine.