Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-03-08
AMan Halter
Bitter Experience Made
Her One
By MARTHA a. HARDING

C>~~~~~~>>-~~~>~-~->>-~~~
NV father died when | was six years
old aud my mother two years later Al
my mothers death | went 70 live witt
my aunt. She had made an unfor,u
nate marriage in her youth and had
been divorced Her husband was still
living. and she did not marry again
One matrimonial experience was quite
enough for her. But she possessed .
fortune. and her husband. who was u
lawyer by profession. was on the
watch for any technically that would
enable him to get any Of II. For ~
stance. the laws of the state In whieh
she lived required that the husband
should join with the wife IN conveying
real estate. My aunt owned the houSs
In which she lived. and her husband
would not join In Il deed conveying Il
unless she would give him half the
amount Of the purchase money.
My aunt did not wish TO sell hes
house. but the matter opened her eye
to what she had to fear from her hus
band, especially If he outllyed her J.
was to be her heir, and she dreaded
lest he should attempt 10 break any
will she should make in my favor witt
a view to deprlying me of my inherit
nnce
Her fears did not end here. SUP
pose should have the III luck she had
experienced in making n marriage
The idea was horrible to her. Scarcely
day passed that she did not remind
me Of the dangers incurred In taking !.
husband and alwal ended by advisiar
me to lead life of spinstcrhood
These constant admonitions served t.
defeat the purpose for which they Were
intended. The quickest way 10 get j
young person to DO anything Is 10 warn
him or her against II. Youngsters wish
20 see the folly Of it, as well as their
seniors. There is another adase tlHi
works in connection with this one
stolen fruit is the sweetest" ! uni
only wished to marry because my aunt
warned me not TO do so. but | WI,
ready to enter upon love affair with
out her knowing II.
was but seventeen when mex
Charlie Edison, and he showed predis
position IN my favor. He was hall &
dozen years Older than ! aud was cot
sidered a tine young man by all VIII
knew him.
Nevertheless ! question IL our int
macy would have ripened into love haG
not told him that my aunt was or
posed to my marrying any one. and /,
expected to be an old maid My aunt :
action had the same effect on Charlie
that 1t had on me- He began to make
love TO ME nj once. and experienced
the delightful sensation of eating stolen
truit.
This was enjoyable only for shori
time. Love leads TO matrimony. aud
the first thing ! knew my delight was
turned TO worry My lover. who was
more farsighied than |. Inferred that
II | took n step toward marriage with
out my auuts consent she might cut
me off from my expected inheritance
! did not think she would do that bnl
the possibility Of her doing il troubled
me. Charlie was clerk with saiart
Of $50 month. and he nj least haG
sense enough to know that marriage
between us on such an income nenm
hard times ahead.
But when two persons are Violent,
in love with each other prudence hitias
her face. After much trIbnlation ~.
did what many youngsters have don.
before us to their cost. We went to !
parson and 1ot married. he alone know
ing of the marriage. Then | went hon'
and Charlie went home. and wher'
there was worry before there was no"
misery.
u happened soon after this that u,
aunts divorced husband attempted by
process of law 10 get possession OF =
certain piece Of property she owned ~
means OF paper he had induced her I.
sign when they were living together
or rather. the attempt was 10 lev,
hlackmail. since he offered TO with
VIIN iAt SUIT rAt NRNtt its htftA
stipulated sum. This act so infuriatee
her. so filed her with horror M wha
she called the iron chains Of matrimons
that she sent for her attorney and mad
new will. which prevented my get
ting possession OF her estate after he
death IN case | was then married. Her
object was 10 save me from the iron
chains. and this was the only way sh,
could effect that object
No sooner had she made this new
will than she informed me Of the fac
Imagine my establishment and my cha
grin My first Impulse was TO throw
myself into her arms and confess. bl'
remembered that | had q husband
with whom TO consult so only said
We'll. annty. | suppose that mike
me an old maid"
"Rather say II insures you from thu
persecution of some demon OF a.fnan
When told Charlie Of what haf
haupeued no WINS sick M hpnrf biaut