The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1895-02-01
miscellaneous.
BEATRICE TOWERS.

Written for the Egis.
One bleak, cherries day in Janu-
airy Mrs. Towers stood at the window,
very perpleXed expression upon her
| face. She was tall, slender woman
of near fifty, although she did not
! look that old. In her younger days
she had been quite pretty, and as
proud as she was good looking. Proud
| she still was, for pride is an attribute
| that seldom diminishes with APP
preaching age, while beauty does.
| Her daughter Julia, aged %, sat near,
| Just such woman as her mother had
been at her age. Her son Robert, a
| few years younger, reclined upon a
| lounge, his very attitude showing his
dislike of work. Even a casual OBJ
server would have noticed that some
| thing was amiss this morning The
weather, bad though it was, would
never have irritated this easy-going
household thus.
There was another daughter, the
youngest child, Beatrice by name,
but as almost all of the work was
done by her, she seldom had time to
join the rest, and the family had fall
len into the habit of leaving her out
of their councils, while allowing her
to manage the household affairs in her
own way. The present trouble was
caused by failing to consult her
sooner, as will be surmised from the
following conversations:
But MOTHER said Robert, you
will not let Beatrice interfere with
our plans?'
Certainly not" interposed Julia,
''she cannot prevent it, can she
mother?"
Il am afraid she can prevent the
sale of the farm said Mrs. Towers,
las your father decided it to you
three, share and share alike. We
need not let this hinder us from NOV
ing to town. Robert having secured
a position We can live with him
Robert could not agree to this, for,
although Mrs. Towers did not know
but that his meagre salary would
keep them all in idleness, he had
thought it too small for his own
needs, and wished to have part of
the money received for the farm.
Indeed, it is doubtful if he would
have accepted his position "a clerk
ship in dry goods store, if he had
not acquired several expensive habits,
and money must be forthcoming.
Mrs. Towers never could understand
financial affairs. She had accepted
George Towers when he proposed,
partly because she could not help
liking him, he seemed so noble, so
manly, and partly because he never
refused her anything money could
buy. AS for him, he fairly wor-
shipped his pretty wife, and never
could refuse when she asked for
money, even though he knew he
should be providing for his children.
He was large manufacturer, and
his wife believed his wealth ineXhaust-
ibe But a few years before his
death he had endorsed heavily for a
friend. never thinking it more than a
mere form, as he believed this friend
to be all right financially. But he
soon learned his mistake. 1t became
evident that he would have the full
amount to pay. When the crisis
came, everything had to be sold. 1t
was terrible blow to him, and prob
ably fastened his death by many
years. Out of all his wealth there
was nothing left but a farm some
miles from the city. He had accepted
this i'll payment for a debt there
seemed no other way of collecting,
and jokingly offered it to his wife.
She had refused to have anything to
do with it, and so he decided it to his
children. This was some six years
ago. After moving to the farm, Be-
atrice, although but twelve years of
age, was of more use than Julia and
Robert both Mrs Towers spent her
time in lamenting their past wealth,
and in reproducing her husband for
selling and moving to the farm. He
had now been de;,d for two ears, and
| -, la Inafh fl,n fnr ,,,,l.,,
rice's management, supported them.
No wonder she was 10th to part with
it. No" thought she, Il will not
give it up unless | see some other
means of living. Even though do not
like the work | believe it to be my
duty Her meditations were inter,
rupted by a call from Robert, who
was determined she should be
brought to terms, Us he expressed it.
"Well," asked she, upon entering
the room; for be it observed, Robert
never went to his sisters when he
wanted them, but called them to him.
See here. Bee," says he, Julia
and | want to sell this mean old place,
and mother is willing, and you must
agree to it."
How do you propose to live if you
do sell it 90 asked She
Take the money and board some,
where in the city,
What then?''
What then?' repeated Robert, 81
do not understand"
Il mean, what will we all do when
the money is gomez
"Oh may be getting better pay
Them says Robert.
Maybe that is a very slender
hope to trust to. | prefer to stay
here"
Now, Beatrice says Julia, you
talk as if the farm is all yours. Rob-
ert and l own two-thirds of it, and
you are horribly mean to interfere
with u.s."
80, dear" sighed Mrs. Towers, If
| had known we would come to this,
would never have married your
poor father. 1t was not right to sell
out and come here, and | told him so
many time before he died. And
Beatrice is just like him, never wish
ing for anything better"
But mother" asked Beatrice,
"what would we all have done if |
had not worked? No one else would,
and we had to live"
Yes, poor thing, suppose you do
the best you know how, but L do so
want to live in the city and go into
society"
But mamma, the money, where is
that to come from?'
80, dear; there it is again. Why
bother about money? We can get it
some way after the farm money is
gone"
Yes" says Julia, 81 can take in
boarders.
Il would like to know who would