The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1913-02-06
.AManhater
Bitter Experience Made
Her One
By MARTHA A. HARDING


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
lawyer by profession, was OF the
watch for any technicality that would
enable him to get any OF 1t. 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 a deed conveying 1t
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 bus
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
view to depriying me Of my inherit
ance.
Her fears did not end here. Sup
pose should have the i'll luck she had
experienced in making marriage.
The idea was horrible to her. Scarcely
day passed that she did not remind
me Of the dangers incurred in taking a
husband and always ended by advising
me to lead life Of spinsterhood.
These constant admonitions 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 1.-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" ! not
only wished to marry because my aunt
warned me not to do 50, but l was
ready to enter upon love affair with
out her knowing it.
was but seventeen when l met
Charlie Edison, and he showed predis-
position in my favor He was half
dozen years older than | and was con-
sidered fine young man by all who
knew him.
Nevertheless | question II our init
macy would have ripened into love had
l not told him that my aunt was OPP
posed to my marrying any one. and
expected to be an old maid. My aunt's
that it had on me. He began to make
love to me at once, and | experienced
the delightful sensation Of eating stolen
fruit.
This was enjoyable only for a short
time. Love leads to matrlmony. and
the first thing l knew my delight was
turned to worry. Ny lover, who was
more farsighted than l, inferred that
If l took a step toward marriage with
out my aunt's consent she might cut
me off from my expected Inheritance.
/ did not think she would do that. but
the possibility of her doing it troubled
me. Charlie was clerk with salary
of $40 a month. and he at least had
sense enough II know that marriage
between us on such an income meant
hard times ahead
But when two persons are violently
in love with each other prudence hides
her face. After much tribulation we
did what many youngsters have done
before us to their cost. We went to a
parson and got married. he alone know
ing of the marriage. Then | went home
and Charlie went home, and where
there was worry before there was now
misery.
1t happened soon after this that my
nunt's divorced husband attempted by
certain piece Of property she owned by
means Of q paper he had induced her to
sign when they were living together;
or, rather, the attempt was to levy
bacAmail. since he offered to with
draw the suit if she would pay him a
stipulated sum. This act so Infatuated
her, so filed her with horror at what
she called the iron chains OF matrimony
that she sent for her attorney and made
new will. which prevented my get
ting possession Of her estate after her
death in case was then married. Her
object was to save me from the Iron
chains. and this was the only way she
could effect that object.
No sooner had she made this new
Will than she Informed me OF the fact.
Imagine my establishment and my cha
grin. My first impulse was to throw
myself into her arms and confess, but
remembered that had husband
with whom to consult. so | only said
"WeIl, aunty. suppose that makes
me IN old maid"
Rather say It insures you from the
persecution Of some demon of man"
When | told Charlie Of what had
happened he was sick Mt heart. blam-
Ing himself for having deprived me OF
fortune. But we were both young
and full of vigor. and before the end
OF our interview we agreed that we
would rather have each other than the
fortune, and since we couldn't have
both we were satisfied. Our financial
outlook was not pleasing. but there Is
more 2est IN having world to con-
quer than having a conquered world.
Our chief concern was what TO DO
In the immediate future. II con-
fessed to my aunt what / had done
she might tell me to go to my husband
and suffer the consequences OF my de-
ception, We are all prone to put on
an evil day. and Charlie and l con-
cluded to keep our secret and live the
lives we were living apart till such