The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-01-27
MRS. HETTY's HUSBAND.
by HARRIET PRESCOTT spoFroRD.
Cosmopolitan
Concluded.

Cosmopolitan
Concluded.
Mrs. Hetty, looking far away into the dis
lance, while the sun reflected on her specta-
ces ray of light from the brook far up the
side of Old Morning, did not heed the pleas
antry about the pew.
81 might arrange that you should have
sufficient income during your life," she said
'ff YOU would 60 into another part of the
State
"Oh. that wouldn't do at all, he answered
take more than that to move Bel. Don't
think I've looked at it much in this light /;
but Bel doesn't bulge without good in
come, reversion of the property when you
are done with it, will his favor"
81 am less likely to die than you are, BEL,
she said, laying down her knitting. 81 am
hale and hearty, rugged and of a long-lived
race"
THAT'S So" said Bel, ruefully, scratching
his head with the end of his bow.
THAT is so,7 she echoed. "And I'm so
sure of it, and think so poorly of your
chances, with the dissolute life you've led,
that
And you can speculate in that way on
the chances of your husbands DEATH" cried
the injured Bel. pretty Christian you!
Nice wife, Good womanp'
THAT I'm willing" she continued, disre-
garding his satire, ito give you something
handsome in my will, for the looks of it;
that is to say to enjoy while you live"
"And the will adead-letter as I'm not to
live, aud so never to touch apenny of it?
Pshawl Lollpops for babies"
And he tucked his fiddle under his chin
and played measure con spirito.
''Come," he said, when he had finished his
air and laid down the instrument, 'Pll tell
you what I'll do. Well go down to Lawyer
Keene's together, and you make your will in
my favor, and I'll make my will in yours"
"You-make-your-w For pity sake,
Bel Symmes. what will have you to make?
What on earth have you to will?"
swell, Lawyer Keene'll tell you about
that I'll do better than l said. I'll make
my will in favor of those little wenches of
yours. if that'll suit you. Me first; but it's
no more than fair that they should come
after me-
'I'll put on my things and go right down
to Lawyer Keene's this minute!' cried Mrs.
Hetty. with eyes flashing enough to melt her
glasses, shame and fear Of humiliation going
to the winds in her desperation. "Ill see
about this now"
"Do," said Bel land I'll go with you.
The mare'll be harnessed in a jiffy:'
Before the hot tears were dry on her cheeks
she was in the wagon, spinning down, the
road beside Bel in way that made her hold
ON the sides and expect to see the spokes fly
sHer glasses fell off, and her false hair fell
down." said Bel, relating the incident an
hntrr or two aftarvvard his in the
inn, land her false teeth all but fell out:
But she never lost heart through it all, and
made the mare trot along till the ground
smoked. Somehow l sometimes wish the
young girl. and pretty girl, never saw
one I'd put before her. she used to set
sight by me. don't see what changed her.
I'm not changed. I'm the same old Bel"
Il have come, Squire Keene, said Mrs.
Hetty, "to make my will. This is my hus-
band"
The lawyer nodded to Bel. He had known
him of old.
u, too,'' said Bel, Iaconically.
"To make your will?" said the lawyer, po-
litely to Mrs. Hetty. pray be seated.
Well, it is best to be prepared for any emer-
gency. But the day Is far distant, Mrs.
Symmes when that document will be ad-
mitted to probate"
THAT is at it may" said the testatrix.
"But I'm not going to see my own flesh and
blood wronged by that man
''Oh, come. | say now, stop that!' said her
husband. THAT'S going too, far. l,ye no
disposition to wrong your flesh and blood
It's you that want to wrong me for the sake
Of your flesh and blood. THAT'S ABOUT the
size of it as / look"
LAS you lookl You never looked straight
atanything Crookedness is your life
Safeguarding" said Bel, with GOODNESS,
"blackguarding ISM business, Mrs. .Symmes;
and if VIC have come here to make our
wills
ITO make our Wills Now, Squire Keene,
this"-
This is the very nut of the matter"
II want to know if that man, without
penny in the WORLD
squire Keene, you're acquainted with the
law
Zone at time, one at a time, if you
please, said the bewildered lawyer.
"Then Bells that one," said that worthy
with an air not to be withstood. Squire
Keene. want you to tell this lady what
In making her will. what can She
Alternate from him?"
EXACTLY. How much is it the law gives
him in case of her death, and that she can't
hinder let her do her best?"
"Do you wish me to answer this question,
Mrs. Symmes ?" asked the lawyer.
'To be sure" said Bells wife, her set,
white face and trembling chin showing that
at last she realized some force in BeIs claim.
Then I'm sorry TO say that IN tnls ota.e
n,
sonal property and thirds the realty;
sand ii don't give him that?" she asked,
under breath, unable to control her voice,
Then he can break the will and take IL.
SIS that OF" she asked slowly, with great
awe in her tone.
Positively"
A great wall went up in that dusty, dingy
little office, wall that opened the narrow
walls into infinite space, as suffering makes
all places sacramental.
"And have ruined my little dears," cried
Mrs. Hetty, ''for that man. Oh. why was
spared to do i'll Why was l spared to do u
Why didn't | listen? Everybody said. oh!
everybody said-And have beggared them
for this iddling, dicing, drunken fool! And
he Is left TO cumber the ground! My chill
drenl oh, my childrenw
Bel was looking little scared, and the
lawyer himself had turned pale before the
distress OF that piercing cry.
perhaps" said Mr.. Keene, "s0me arrange
ment, some accommodations
None whatever" said Bel mounting to
the occasion. ''She knows that / shouldn't
have married her, if she hadn't had money;
and she's not going to jockey me out of the
price now. never expected she'd be alive
to-day; and I'm the wronged party in so
much. But I've no objection to her living,
nroyidcd she's reasonable Pm the head of
The house and Pm going to be master of the
house. Now what is there to say to that?''
he asked as he gave the lawyer a sharp
look.
MIS-. IbILy lOb dcHluB eyes
on the lawyer too.
ppm afraid the law is on his side, Mrs.
Symmes," said the lawyer, although neither
God nor humanity is;
"Half the personal and two-thrds of the
realry" chuckled Bel.
"Bnt can sell the realty
"No, you can't" said Bel, mot BIT Of it
without my consent. lookeu all Ihat up,
you'd better believe. n.v, Il, A..
~ am taken in my own toilsP cried the
unhappy wife. THAT was why he was al
ways advising me TO put, my money, as u
came in, into that piece of land ana t1e ON,
err 70 buy the Wilson farm and the -,
meadow and the Lawrence woodland
Just why" said the scamp. SomseDou tt
had TO look out for Bells interests. ia JUST
as lief tell you. That's why urged you 10
sell the colt and the yearlings. and put Ine
money into lands and buildings, and change
the railroad stock for city lots. Two-thirds
of the realty! Bel isn't quite the fool you've
thought he was"
And then be began to whistle softly be-
tween his seetn. while his wife stared at her
black gloves, the ends of which stood out IN
little stiff points from all the ten nervous,
restless tnger-tips.