Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-10-28
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.
"It is all very nice and convenient,
DEAR" she said, as she seated herself
in the easy-chair l offered her "but did
you never regret giving those bonds to
your husband, May?"
Most assuredly not, auntie. Why?"
Because l 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 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 have, certain
ly. l love her dearly, and l hope to bt
a good mother to her, notwithstanding
all the bitter things written and said
against step-mothers."
"Yes. and you are good mother tt
her. But to suppose still farther. L
she, too, should be taken away ther
your property would not revert to you
but go to her relatives, of whom yol
know nothing, would that be right ?
Perhaps not. But why do you sa.
these dreadful things? She and he
father are as likely to live as /. Ant
a wife is entitled to dover"
"Yes, the interest from one-third o
what her husband leaves. Just the in
terest, mind you. And you gave hin
the means to go into business. Yol
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 mar
with child as well as a 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; tn
home in which Ella was born an,
where his poor wife died"
"I 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," I replied, "he invested it Il
a business which supports us nicely
Besides, it was not his fault II
wanted me to have interest -bearin
notes, or to be the company in tn
business, as if l would and | told hir
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 a certai
matchmaking mother had said tha
my husband would have preferred on
of her daughters if she had held proE
erty in her own right as l did. Ths
he needed the money and married m
simply to obtain it.
Don't, aunty, please" I said wit
a little shiver.
"Nor would /. but to convince 20
that he should have secured your littl
property to you, if only for the opinio
Of others"
ut is all right just as it is. All
here comes Ella" and my dear ol
worldly wise aunt forget to lecture
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 {
Mrs Jones thought he married me #
my money? And perhaps others ha,
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 Aul
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,
Qnca mora during Aunt Fanny