The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-04-04
How the Mills
Were Saved
By ELLEN F. MORSE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911

Mine was case Of stepmother and
one of the worst cases Of the kind on
record. Stepmothers are not all bad by
any means. but when they are it's
mighty hard on their stepchildren
Boys. when they become old enough
can go away and fight the world for
themselves. but that's not so easy for
girls. Nevertheless, did that very
thing
After mothers death father took
into the house TO take care OF me-he
saba woman about his own age. he
saw the folly OF this plan when 1t was
too late. There was something about
the woman. or perhaps some weak
spot in father, that enabled her to
dominate him. And as for me, she
made my life one of misery.
When / was seventeen. having stood
well in my classes at school, | was
offered a position as governess in the
Opdyke family. | accepted it to get
away from my stepmother taught
the younger children Of the family.
There was a son. Harry, a year or
two older than ], who was clerk for
his father, manufacturer of paper.
The Opdyke family considered them
selves very well of when / went to
live with them. They were dreadfully
afraid that Harry would fall in love
with me. They had no objection TO me
except that they wished him to make
a good match. which, being interpret
ed. means one with money.
| didn't know 1t at the time, but my
father had considerable property. 1t
was in securities in which he had in.
vested what money he had after a
panic. When l left home he still had
these securities, but they were not
available. He was keeping them for a
time when the commercial depression
had passed and the property they rep
resented would resume the payment of
dividends. Therefore either he was
not in a position TO give me any in
come, or If he was his wife prevented
him from doing SO
remained In the opdyke family
five years Meanwhile Harry had be-
come his fathers right hand man at
the mills. He had permitted himself
to fall in love with me- but knew
that although the family thought a
great deal OF me they were looking
higher for him; consequently would
not yield 10 his wishes for be-
trothal.
Several matters of Importance to US
all came about at very near the same
time. In the first place. Mr. opdyke.
who had been carrying debt on bis
mills. found himself unable TO provide
for 1t any longer. In the second place,
my father died and my stepmother
produced will leaving all hfs prop !
erty to her. Harry told me confiden- |
TALLY Of the condition of the family |
affairs and said that now we were on
the same financial basis. we had bet
ter join our fortunes. what pity"
l said TO him, that my father didn't |
leave me some of his property; might
have helped your father and you
your difficulties.
I gave way 10 Harry's persuasive
efforts and We became engaged,
we kept the engagement a
secret Under these conditions Harry
took an interest in my personal affairs.
| told him a great deal about my step
mother and he suggested taking legal
stebs to break the will But after talk
Ing the matter over we both agreed
that there were no grounds for break
ing it-at least none that we could
prove. MY father was probably of
sound rnind at the time he made IT.
and | could not prove that his wife
had used undue influence 10 induce
him to make e 10 her favor. The only
objection could bring up was that my
father had told me shortly before his
ieath that my stepmo,her had tried TO
force him into making a win in her
'avOr. hut be was firmly resolved 70
make no viii
| made up my mind TO have a look
Il the document took Harry with
ne TO the court where 1t had been
lied. ard 1t was shown to me. It was
lot in my fathers handwriting. but 1
vas familiar with his signature. and il
eemed 20 me to be genuine. noticed
hat the witnesses and and the notary
we're all OF my stepmother's choosing.
1t least. there were none of fathers
rlends among them. The document
lad not been executed on Il regular
orm. but on a sheet OF ordinary paper.
after examining it thoroughly I hand