St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1892-06-11
MY HUSBANDS COUSIN.
BY ANNA NJ. DWIGHT.

led the gayest and happiest of
lives until l was 20. Then my IA
ther died suddenly, and was found
like so many men who are supposed
to be rich during life, to have left al
most nothing. My mother did not
survive his death very long, and I
near relatives were concerned.
| sent at once for cousin Rachel
Armstrong, the resource of all her kin
dred when they were in trouble, and
she promptly responded to my call,
as she did to all demands OH her good
nature. It was at this juncture that
Mr.. Laurence, my fathers lawyer
and most intimate friend, very unex-
pectedly asked me to marry him. At
first was too much astonished to re-
ply; but. as grew more accustomed
to the idea, it lost its strangeness,
and even appealed to me. Brought
up as / had been, amidst unbounded
tenderness as we'll as luxury, it was
terrible to find myself without any
one to depend on. I had no one,
however, but Cousin Rachel; and
she owned nearer and more inpera-
tive claims than mine-she had an
invalid mother who needed her con-
stantly. Beside this, I would be
obliged to support myself, who
knew nothing useful or practical.
Looking back now, do not think
regret my marriage; but do regret
some Of the motives which mixed
with my real attachment for Mr.. Lau-
renee and urged me 70 the step.
I said yes after some hesitation,
and we were quietly married within
two months OF my mothers death.
When / first told her Of my decision,
Cousin Rachel looked grave and
said:
"Are you sure you do not care for
Charlie Morris, Helen?"
Charles Morris was q scapegrace
cousin Of mine, who was studying
medicine in Berlin. AS soon as he
heard Of my parents death, he did
as k me to marry him; but I would
as soon have thought of marrying
my pet canary as Charlie-he would
have been about as we'll fitted for the
position. We had had many flirta-
lions in the past, but that was a diff
terent thing. / answered Charles
letter, telling him Of. my intentions,
and he sent me in return several
epistles in which he INDUCED in his
trionics. Some of them did not
reach me until after the wedding,
but burned them at once; I did not
wish to be disloyal to my husband,
even in thought.
Mr.Laurence was very, very kind
to me during our year Of welded life,
and was genuinely sorry when, at
tho ovnirofinp of +hot fi,,o1 ho l;ol
after q brief illness, of pneumonia.
He had gratifled my every wish, and
made life exceedingly pleasant to me,
so it was no wonder, when I found
myself again alone, that my grief
was deep and sincere, IL not over
whelming. Cousin Rachel came as
usual, to my assistance; and, as she
had lost her mother within the year,
had leisure to devote herself entirely
to my comfort.
When the will was read, every
body's sympathy with me was turned
to anger against Mr.. Laurence. l
was astonished at it's contents my
self, though was less angry with my
husband than my relatives and
friends were. It was strange will,
and not at all the sort [ would have
expected Mr. Laurence to make. He
left me bis property, but not uncon-
ditionally; in fact, there were two
very positive and annoying provisos
attached to my enjoyment Of his
wealth; l must agree to live at Grey
stone, the old Laurence homestead,
for five years after my husbands
death, or forfeit two-thirds of the
estate, which would in that case 90
to a distant cousin of his. / must
also remain widow for the same
period of time; for, in the event of
remarring within the five years, I
would lose all Of the money, which
was in that case to revert to the same
relatives.
l was indignant at the latter clause
for / had fully meant to remain faith
full to my husbands memory, and
resented the imputation that [ might
not. wonder whether he suspect
ed me of a weakness for Charlie Nor
ris. The first condition was displeas-
ing, because it restricted my freedom
Of movement and condemned me to
what L knew must be very like ban
ishment. From what Mr. Laurence
had told me, I was aware that Grey
stone, though a fine old place, was
situated in the interior of Pennsyl-
vania, far from any large town; and
to a young woman like myself, it
could not seem very desirable resi-
dence during the best part of my
youth.
They wanted me to break the will :;
but this I Indignantly refused, al
though they said I could easily do it,
I owed Mr.. Laurence a good deal
more thanrhe owed me, and 7 was
better off than had been year ago.
No, would take my choice of money
or independence. I did choose, aft
er some hesitation, and SO great was
my horror at the thought Of poverty