The Press., 1915-07-07

ana an interest Tn husband ma chf1 dren-an interest which is paramount to all other interests. l do not except those cases where the husband and wife quarrel or separate. The interest is there, but it has become, so to speak, diseased. I had all the comforts wealth could bring, but there was no soul in them. I lived in a splendid house. but there was no home in it for me.
 I did not meet my husbands sister, who inherited what little property he left. She wrote me offering, inasmuch as it was mine by right. to give it up to me, but declined to accept it. She was very sympathetic, and somehow through her letters l conceived decid- ed liking for her. l would have liked to see her, but she lived at q distance, and neither could well go to the other She and 1 became regular correspond ents, and confided in her my dissatis- faction at the life led and my regrets that l could not have had home of my own, "be it ever so humble"
 To this she replied that the day would come when 1 would be wealthy, and I would then be satisfied that fate had kept me from marriage without adequate income and had given instead the power and comfort that money brings. But to this replied that. hay ing become familiar with wealth, it did not seem so much of a blessing as those who saw 1t from a distance SUD- posed.
 had lived with my aunt three years when she died. Then my troubles be- gan in earnest, for had the whole re- sponsibility of bolstering up my uncle in his old age. A woman left desolate can accommodate herself to the new situation better than man. My uncle could not accommodate himself to get on without his life partner. I endured his misery with him for the greater part of a year, when l saw evidence that he was intending to marry again. A woman about half his age had set her cap for him and was not long in securing him.
 My standing in dead mems shoes had been a failure. I knew well enough that this new wife would se- riously object even to sharing her hus- bands inheritance with me, and l did not believe that, under the circum- stances, we two women could get on together under the same roof. This turned out as 1 expected. The lady soon made it plain to me that l was not desirable and set my uncle against ho nln to go, and the means at my command were limited. My uncle was soon got under the thumb of his wife, and she would not even permit him to give me an allowance. 1 knew nothing about his destroying the will made in my ia vor, but if his wife permitted it to re- main she was not the woman 1 sup posed she was.
 In my distress l wrote to my sister in-law, pouring my troubles out to her. She wrote me sympathetic letter, re minding me that 1 was still young-l was twenty-four-and would likely marry. She suggested no plan for me, but said she would write again soon. Later 1 received another letter from her inviting me to make her a visit. We could then talk over what it was best for me to do and would doubtless hit upon some plan for my comfort. 1 determined to accepa the invitation.
 1 found Miss Sayles living in modest comfort and took her into my heart on sight as I had through her letters. She made me feel at home from the mo- ment 1 entered the house. She was older than my husband had been and seemed to have looked upon him more as son than a brother. 2
 "I have surprise for you," she said, "of such importance that fear to give it to you without preparing you for it. You remember that you wrote Win throp while coming from England of the proposition of your aunt and uncle to live with them and inherit your un- cle's wealth. In your letter you show ed regret that you had been married and must consequently decline their proposition. Winthrop-a very sensi. tive man-was much hurt by your let ter and determined that he would not stand between you and the life you preferred. He"-
 "What did he do?" I gasped.
 A door opened. and my husband en- tered.
 It was some time before I could for give him for having through a friend sent word t9 me that he was dead. He had often regretted having done so and had as often thought of reappearing to me in the flesh, but my uncle's for tune stood between us.
 was still young enough to build up 8 home with my beloved husband, and it is and has been more enjoyable, more sacred for my experience in wait ing for dead mems shoes.