The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1913-02-06

up over II 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
felt it my duty as well as 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. 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 it. So
| anxious was l to save her this disap-
pointment that l 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.
l 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
time forward judged that she was
chiefly concerned for herself, for she
was failing every day, and the affairs
of this world seemed to be receding
further and further from her. For a
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 it is dark"
l protested that was perfectly able
to bear the strain and did not need an
outing, but she insisted on it, and since
she was IN no condition to be opposed
assented | was not sorry to be sent
out and went at once to telephone,
where | called up Charlie, and we
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 was shocked. especially
that | was away when il occurred.
was doubly panied 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 it over to
me soon after being stricken by her
last illness-and In company with my
husband went to her attorney to turn
It over to him and confess that | was
married woman and could not in
hert under its 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 a drawer.
and, taking out document. brought 1t
to us.
81 have a later will here" he said.
IA later willr' | 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. was tele-
phoned for and went to her immedi-
ately This is 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. | read it and
handed it 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 died?"
I asked the lawyer presently.
"This will you have brought here"
he replied. 'disinherited you in case
you were married Your aunt wished
me to draw a new will compelling you
to marry in order to inherit under 1t.
I suggested that It might complicate
matters for you and result in turning
her estate over to her husband. l
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
you would find good husband"
81 have already found one" | re-
piled, and my assertion turned out to
be true. My aunt's husband endeav-
ored to break the will on the ground
that the testator was not of sound
mind when the will was made and l
had Influenced her to leave all to me.
It was fortunate that | had hus-
band to look out for my interests.
or am sure my property would have
gone either to the man nv aunt most
wished should not have 1t or to the
lawyers and the chancery courts Char
lie made an admirable MANAGER for the
business. very sensibly COMPROMISING
with the husband for a small sum in
cash.
The moral Of my story Is ''do not
decide from single experience" and
the moral Of my experience Is do not
act clandestinely In case Of especial
moment, |! ut ALL"
Fair Sample.
Mr.. Follett and little Edward were
Bitting meekly in the corner where
they had been placed by Mrs. Follett.