Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-03-12


an invalid and required my constant
attention. Besides, my aunt had not
for many years had anything to do
with social affairs, and | was not
thrown into the Swim" had step
ped into what from distance l had
considered an enviable position, but
was not satisfied. | had become
nurse, my pay to consist OF living
and u fortune after my patients death,
or, rather, after the death of two per
sons, either one or both of whom might
Outlive me.
And now that l had experience In
this condition which had led me to re-
greet my marriage turned longingly to
what would have been my lot IL my
husband had lived. pictured little
house that l would have made cozy
and an interest In husband and chill
dren-an interest which is paramount
to all other interests. 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. | had all the comforts wealth
could bring. but there was no soul in
them. l lived In a splendid house, but
there was no home I'm 1t for me.
l did not meet my husbands sister,
who inherited what little property he
left. She wrote me offering. inasmuch
as 1t was mine by right, to give it up
to me, but declined to accept 1t. She
was very sympathetic, and somehow
through her letters conceived decid-
ed liking for her. | would have liked
to see her, but she lived ut distance,
| and neither could well go to the other.
| She and ! became regular correspond
ents, and | contided In her my dissatis-
faction at the life led and my regrets
that | could not have had n home OF
my own, "be 1t ever so humble"
To this she replied that the day
would come when would be wealthy,
and l 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, 1t
did not seem 80 much of a blessing as
those who saw It from n distance sup.
posed.
had lived with my aunt three years
when she died. Then my troubles be-
gan In earnest, for had the whole re-
sponsibillty OF bolstering up my uncle
In his old age. A woman left desolnte
con accommodate herself to the new
situation better than man. My uncle
could not accommodate himself to get
on without his life partner. endured
his misery with him for the greater
part of year, when 1 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 failure. knew well
enough that this new wife would Sc
riously object even to sharing her hus-
bands inheritance witlNne, and did
not believe that, under the circum
stances, we two women could get on
together under the same roof. This
turned out as ! expected. The lady
soon made it plain to me that | was
not desirable and set my uncle against
me. What should do? had no place
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. knew nothing about
his destroying the will made in my ia
yor, but If his wife permitted It to re
main she was not the woman | sup
posed she was.
In my distress | wrote TO my sister
in-law, pouring my troubles out to her.
She wrote me n sympathetic letter, re
minding mo that | 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 received another letter from
her inviting me TO mike her visit
| We could then talk over what II was
best for me TO do and would doubtless
hit upon some plan for my comfort.
determined to accept the invitation
| found Miss Sayles living In modest
comfort and took her into my heart on
sight as | had through her letters. She
made me feel at home from the mo
ment entered the house She was
older than my husband had been and
seemed to hive looked upon him more
as n son than n brother.
IL have u surprise for you" she said,
''Of such Importance that fear to give
1t 70 you without preparing you for 1t.
You remember that you wrote Win
throp while coming from England OF
the proposition Of your aunt and uncle
10 live with them and inherit your I'M
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 dor gasped.
A door opened, and my husband en-
tered.
IL was some time before | could for
give him for having through friend
sent word TO me that he was dead. He
had often regretted having done 80 and
had as often thought Of reappearing to
me I'm the flesh. but my uncle's for
tune stood between us.
was still young enough to build I'D
a home with my beloved husband, and
II Is and has been more enjoyable,
more sacred for my experience in wait
ing for dead mems shoes.
AnTrcIAN wrlI nnuIIno,