The Meeker herald., 1913-06-07


an evil day. and Charlie and I con
cluded to keep our secret and live the
lives we were living apart till such
time as we could see our way to sci
up housekeeping In its simplest form.
1t was long while before my aunt
recovered from the effects of her bus
bands attempt sufficiently to cease
talking about 1t. inveighing against
matrimony and an occasional remark
to me:
"If ever catch you listening to the
poisoned words of any young rascal
I'll turn you out Of the house." But
after awhile she ceased to get wrought
up over 1t and in time not to speak OF
It at all.
Then the old lady was taken with IN
illness from which she was not des'
tined to recover. She had been very
good to me and loved me very dearly,
l felt 1t my duty rs well as my choice
to devote myself to her comfort. While
doing this it was impossible for me to
meet my husband except at long inter
walls and then for brief interviews. My
aunt was very exacting and kept me
with her nearly all the while. More
over, l 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 1t. So
anxious was to save her this disap-
pointment that pretended to agree
with the repugnance to marriage she
had expressed and declared that
would never marry. In this falsehood
my conscience was soothed by a men
tai reservation. What ! meant was
that would not marry second time.
Isupposed 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
time forward l Judged that she was
chiefly concerned for herself, for she
was failing every day. and the affairs
of this world seemed to be receding
week before her death she knew that
her end was approaching and for the
first 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.
wish you to go out this afternoon and
not return till 1t is dark
protested that was perfectly able
to bear the strain and did not need an
outing, but she insisted OH 1t, and since
she was In no condition to be opposed
assented. was not sorry to be sent
out and went at once to a telephone.
where l called up Charlie, and we
spent the afternoon together. 1 did
not get back to the sick chamber till
an hour after dark.
was met In the hall by the trained
nurse. who told me that my aunt was
dead.
Notwithstanding that the event was
expected l was shocked. especially
that | was away when It occurred.
was doubly PINNED when the nurse told
me that my aunt had called for me and
seemed much disturbed that had not
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 confide to any
one else.
The day after the funeral took my
aunt's will-she had turned 1t over to
me soon after being stricken by her
last lllness-nnd in company with my
husband went to her attorney to turn
1t over to him and confess that was
a married woman and could not in
herit under Its provisions. He looked
at 1t. noticing Its date. signature and
other points with that method com.
mon to those OF his profession. then.
going to his safe. opened a drawer.
and. taking out document, brought 1t
to us.
II have later will here" he said.
"A later will" I exclaimed. Surely
that can't be. My aunt give me this
one when she was taken III and cannot
have made another"
Nevertheless she did. and that on
the afternoon she died. was tele-
phoned for and went to her immedi-
ately. This Ia the result"
He handed me bit Of paper. on
which was scarcely hundred words.
leaving TO me my aunt's estate without
any condition whatever. I read 1t and
handed 1t to Charlie. Then we both
looked at each other-I through wet
eyes-and Charlie took me In his arms
what do you suppose my aunt
wished to say to me before she dled?"
I asked the lawyer presently.
This will you have brought here"
be replied. ''dislnherited you in case
you were married. Your aunt wished
me to draw a new will compelling you
to marry in order to inherit under It.
I suggested that 1t might complicate
matters for You and result in turning
her estate over to her husband.
therefore suggested the simpler form.
I 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