Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-11

Nv father died when / was six years
old and my mother two years later At
my mothers death / went TO live with
my aunt. She had made an unfortu-
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, AMI her husband. who was a
lawyer by profession, was on the
watch for any techniCaity that would
enable him to- get ANY of it. For in
stance. tie laws of the state in which
she lived required that the husband
should join with the wife in conveying
real estate. My aunt owned the house
IN which she lived, and her husband
would not join in u deed conveying it
unless she would give him half the
amount of the purchase money.
My aunt did not wish to sell her
house, but the matter opened her eyes
to what she had to fear from her hus-
band, especially if he outlived her, l
was to be her heir. and she dreaded
lest he should attempt to break any
will she should make in my favor with
a view to depriving me of my Inherit
ance
Her fears did not end here Sup
pose 1 should have the i'll luck she had
experienced in making a marriage.
The idea was horrible to her. Scarcely
n day passed that she did not remind
me of the dangers incurred in taking a
husband and always ended by advising
me TO lead Il life of spinsterhOod.
These constant admopitions served to
defeat the purpose for which they were
intended. The quickest way to get a
young person to do anything is to warn
him or her against it Youngsters wish
to see the folly of it, as well as their
seniors. There is another adage that
works in connection with this one.
"Stolen fruit is the sweetest" l not
only wished to marry because my aunt
warned me not to do so, but | was
ready to enter upon love affair with
out her knowing it.
Charlie Edison. and he showed a predis-
position in my favor. He was half a
dozen years older than l and was con-
sidered a fine young man by all vino
knew him.
Nevertheless / question If our init
macy would have ripened into love had
l not told him that my aunt was Op-
+ 10 nd
expected to be an old maid. My aunt's
action had the same effect on Charlie
that it had on me. He began to make
! love TO lne at once, and l experienced
/ the delightful sensation Of eating stoler
fruit.
This was enjoyable only for a short
time. Love leads to matrimony, anC
the first thing | knew my delight was
turned TO worry. My lover, who wa:
I more farsighted than |, inferred thai
. if | took step toward marriage with
, out my aunt's consent she might Gu
me off from my expected inheritance
l did not think she would do that, bu
the possibility of her doing it troubled
me. Charlie was clerk with n salar,
. Vi CIV d iliOilAu. anu llc at lCiHl ltt'
sense enough to know that marriag
between us on such an income mean
hard times ahead.
/. But when two persons are violentl,
in love with each other prudence hide
her face After much tribulatiOn W
did what many youngsters have don
before rs to their cost. We went to
h1 oil
ing OF the marriage. Then i went HON
and Charlie went home, and wher
there was worry before there was nov
misery.
1t happened soon after this that p
aunts divorced husband attempted b
process of law to get possession Of
certain piece OF property she owned b
means of paper he had induced her I
sign when they were living together
or. rather. the attempt was to lev
blaclimaii. since he offered to will
draw the suit if she would pay him
stipulated sum. This act so infuriate
her, so filed her with horror at whs
she called the iron chains of matrimon
that she sent fOg her attorney and mad
a new Will, which prevented my &c
ting possession of her estate after he
death in case | was then married. He
object was to save me from the iro
chains. and this was the only way sh
could effect that object
No sooner had she made this ne'
will than she informed me of the fac
Imagine my astonishment and my CHI
grin. My first impulse was to thTo'
myself into her arms and confess, b.
l remembered that had a husbsn
with whom to consult. so only said:
We'll, aunty. l suppose that make
me an old maid"
Rather say it insures you from tn
persecution of some demon of a man
When | told Charlie of what ba
happened he was sick at heart. blan
Ding himself for having deprived me
q fortune. But we were both your
, and full of yigor and before the en-
of our interview we agreed that W
would rather have each other than Il
fortune. and since we couldn't hay
both we Were satisfied Our financI
outlook was not pleasing. hut there
I more zest in having world TO col
, quer than having n conquered world.