The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-10-29
MY PROPERTY.

Aunt Fanny had just come to make
her usual summer visit and l had
proudly taken her through the house
to have her admire the improvements
made since her last visit.
at 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 assuredly not, auntie. Why?"
because thought it very unwise
and that some day you would bitterly
regret it. 1t was your poor fathers
property and should have been re-
tanned in your own name l 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 told her you were
coming"
"The 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 it would be different"
"But she is mine, all l have certain
ly. l love her dearly, and hope to he
a good mother to her, Notwithstanding
all the bitter things written and said
against step mothers"
"Yes, and you are good mother to
her. But to suppose still farther. If
she, too, should be taken away then
your property would not revert oyou,
but 60 to her relatives, of whom you
know nothing, would that be right p
perhaps not. But why do you say
these dreadful things? She and her
father are as likely to live as l. And
a wife is entitled to dover"
Eyes, the interest from one third OF
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"
flashed back, proudly.
81 know, and it was right; but, con
sequently you married poor man
with child as we'll as wife to sup
port on a clerks salary"
"You forget, auntie, that he still
had this beautiful home when all hi;
creditors had been fully paid; the
home in which Ella was born ant
where his poor wife died"
81 forgot nothing and what 1 re
member with the greatest bitterness i:
your unadvised act of yielding up you
little patrimony, intrusted to me b,
your dying father for you, and tha
you took no obligation for it what
ever"
But" l replied, che invested it IL
business which supports US nicely
Besides, it was not his fault. H
wanted me to have interest bearing
notes, or to be the company in tn
business, as if l would! and l told hin
never to mention the subject to M
again, and he never has"
"Then all have to say is You wer
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 tina
my husband would have preferred on
of her daughters if she had held prop
erty in her own right as l did. Tha
he needed the money and married m
simply to obtain it.
Don't, aunty, please" said wit
little shiver.
Nor would /, but to convince yo
that he should have secured your littl
property to you, if only for the opinio
of others"
at is all right just as it is. All
here comes Ella" and my dear oil
worldly wise aunt forget to lecture i
her delight at seeing the little fair
who nearly smothered her with kisse
But had received hurt that ranl
led like thorn in the flesh And's
Mrs. Jones thought he married me ft
my money? And perhaps others hay
the same opinion? Of course l kne
he did not, and said it over and ov,
again to myself as l helped our OF
servant to prepare the evening meal.
And when my husband came wit
his hearty, CHEEKY welcome for AuI
Fanny looked wistfully in his fa'
for an answer to my mental questio
for question it would become in spi
of my firm determination to ignore
as such.
Once more during Aunt Fanny