The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1913-08-23

cepti0D. We arc all prone 70 put on
an evil day, and Charlie and I con-
Guided 70 keep our secret and live the
lives we were living apart till such
time ~ we could see our way to set
up housekeeping In its simplest form.
It was q long while before my aunt
recovered from the c6ects Of her hus-
bands attempt sufficiently to cease
talking shout II. inveighing against
matrimony and an. occasional remark
to me:
.If ever I catch 700 listening to the
poisoned words Of any young rascal
Ill turn you out Of the house" But
after awhile she ceased to get wrought
MP over 1t and in time not to speak OF
It at all.
Then the old lady was taken with an
illness from which she was not des-
tined to recover. She had been very
good to me and loved me very dearly.
I felt 1t my duty as well ~ my choice
to devote myself to her comfort. While
doing this 1t was impossible for me to
meet my husband except at long inter
walls and then for brief interviews. Ny
aunt WINS very exncting and kept me
with her nearly all the while. More
over. I would not for the world have
her discover that had repaid her kind.
ness to me By rejecting her wishes for
me and deceiving her in doing it 80
anxious was to save hei this disap-
pointment that pretended to agree
with the repugnancs to marriage she
had expressed and declared that l
would never marry. In this faisehood
my conscience was soothed by men
tai reservation. What I meant was
that would not marry 4 second time.
supposed that this satisfied my dear
aunt. for she never again referred to
the subject either generally or pertain
ing especially to me. But from this
dime forward judged that she was
chiefly concerned for herself. for she
was falling every day. and the Affairs
Of this world seemed to be recedlns
further and further from her. For q
week before her death she knew that
her end was approaching and for the
nrst time seemed concerned about leav-
ing me to live alone.
One day shortly before her death she
said to me: you are looking pale and
thin. ! am wearing the life out OF you.
I wish you to 60 out this afternoon and
not return till 1t II dark"
I protested that was perfectly able
to bear the strain and did not need an
outing, but she insisted on 1t, and since
she was in NO condition to be opposed
assented. was not sorry to be sent
out and went ct once to a telephone.
where called up Charlie. and We
spent the afternoon together. l did
not ret back to the sick chamber till
IN hour aftsf dark.
WIS INST In The hall By he trained
nurss. who tod - tat NJ aunt was
dead.
Nstwittstan1iAg tAat ~ svsst was
expected was sAoeka. especially
that was sway when II occurred. ]
was doubiy panied when TIE nurse told
No that my aunt had called for me and
seemed much disturbed that ! had mot
left word where was going. The poor
woman seemed to have something Of
importance to say to me before she
died that she would not cOnfde to any
one eise.
The day after the funeral took my
aunt's will-she had turned It over to
me soon after being stricken BY her
last Illness-and in company with my
husband went TO her attorney to turn
1t over to him and confess that was
4 married woman and could not In
herlt under it's provisions He looked
at It. noticing its date. signature and
other points with that method com.
mon to those Of his profession. then.
going to his safe. opened = drawer,
and. taxing out document, brought II
to us.
II have q later will here" be said.
"A later will!' exclaimed. Surely
that can't be. My aunt gave me this
one when she was taken III and cannot
have made another"
Nevertheless she did. and that ON
the afternoon she died. l was tele-
phoned for and went to her immedi-
ately. This is the result"
He handed me a bit Of paper. on
which was scarcely hundred words,
leaving to me my aunt's estate without
any condition whatever. read It and
handed It to Charlie. Then we both
looked at each other-I through wet
eyes-and Charlie took me in bis arms
what do you suppose my aunt
wished to say to me before she died"
! asked the lawyer presently.
This will you have brought here"
he replied. ''disinherited you In case
you were married. Your aunt wished
ne to draw a new will compelling you
to marry in order to Inherit under It
suggested that It might complicate
matters for you and result IN turning
her estate over to her husband.
therefore suggested the simpler form.
think that what she wished to say to
you was that she dreaded leaving you
unprotected: recalled what she had
said to you about marriage. and hoped
A. Ar,~hA-Ao