The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1892-10-01
MY MONEY.
How I Disposed of It and All MY
Troubles.

How I Disposed Of It and An My
Troubles.
was by several years the youngest
Of the six children in nv fathers fam.
lily. The others left home while I re.
manned to care for our parents in their
old age. They both died within a few
months of each other, and at the death
Of my father and the breaking up of
that household, Robert urged that we
be married at once, instead of waiting
a. VIC had planned to do. Immediately
after the wedding we went west and
began life together. He was honest
and industrious, and possessed the love
and confidence of the people among
whom we lived.
One day. when Robert and I had
passed the middle Of life and were jog
ging along the down-hill road, still nm
conscious That we had started on down
hill, he came home looking pale and
p;nched with suffering. All that win
ter the pain came sometimes. but not
severe enough &c convince him that it
was serious.
One morning in March he came in
looking i'll. He would rest a little be-
fore breakfast" In five minutes break
fast was on the table and jamie called
him. He did not answer. His hat had
fallen over his eyes and his head had
fallen upon his breast. When we looked
into his face ! felt that life had gone
and that | stood alone in the world.
The shock was a terrible one to my
nervous system, and it was weeks be-
fore rallied SO as to be able to look
after my affairs We were counted, by
the rural people of our neighborhood,
as rich people. We had not thought
of ourselves as such, but we had much
more than enough for our simple
wants. My own inheritance from my
father had been prudently invested
and allowed to accumulate; while Rob-
ert's u~nflagging industry had made for
US a competence. He had long since
provided that this should all belong to
me at his death, save a few iegacies
which he bequeathed to the sons of
his only brother.
Alas! had my husband foreseen what
all this money would do for me l am
he would never have thus bur-
dened me. / had the misfortune to
bear a very mild tanner. My has
bands nephews mistook this for weak
ness of will. They each claimed at
once the right of caring for Aunt Nal
why. Robert, because he was my hus-
bands namesake; Frank, because he
was the oldest, and therefore the
natural representative of the family.
"Preposterous," l could imagine I
heard my husband saying. You never
yet could take care of yourselves.
Pretty subjects you to take care of your
aunt"
But my husband was not here to say
this, and I was too ill to say anything.
Both ordered their trunks sent to the
house and took possession Of the two
best rooms in the house.
My faithful jamie worked hard and
tried to saw me trouble, but night
she came to my room with tears in her
eyes. 81 guess I'll have to leave you,
Mrs. Reed"
l was reused into energy by this.
"Janie, leave me-"
I'm very sorry, Mrs. Reed, but I
stand the work"
"But, jamie. you have always done
the work and had plenty of time to
spare. Now, do you want to go when
l am left all alone?"
That's it, Mrs. Reed. I'd be gladto
stay with you if you VISA alone, but
the two gentlemen in the house order
me about so and make such looking
that it takes every minute to get
through the work. Mr.. Robert a v I
am to have soup every day and Mr.. |
Frank say "A man as rich as Uncle Reed |
should have more than one kind of
at dinner and they've sent in
so much victuals that it's just kept me
to cook it and then keep i:
from spelling. The cellar is full now
and things will spoil before they can
be half eat up"
"Well! and this is what has been go
ing on while / have been staying in my
room trying to realize what has hap
Evidently these worthy neph-
ews have a full and realizing sense Of
what has happened"
As ] sat in the moonlight that night
with my window raised to get the cool
ness upon my heated forehead 1 heard
voices from the porch below.
Il think Noah's ark has about served
It's time as a carriage and can be kept
low as a curiosity. The new carriage
will be done next Wednesday. The
dea of as rich a man as Uncle Robert
around in that old RAM
'hackle,r'
My deal old comfort, the easy carry
Ill which could carry my poor, sensi-
i've back without a jar, to be stored
e a curiosity l began to realize
hat l had a will. While l had been
o tenderly cared for first by my father
md then by my husband. it had been
allowed to slumber. Now l could feel
{ asserting itself and 1t BODIED no good
or the managers below stairs. Still I
not bring myself to turn them
of doors and thus make talk" in
he neighborhood. Instead, i would
70 away myself, and close the house,
sking jamie with me. I
1t was all arranged with her very
that night when she came up
o bed At breakfast next morning / {
announced my intention of going east
or the summer. Both Of my nephews
ncouraged the plan. d,
You need rest and change, Aunt
Ialviny," Frank said. Il
sYes. indeed" Robert said. land we
an look after everything here. jamie
an do the work with us to manage" '
sJanie is going with me and I shall u