Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1915-08-11
MY ODD
UNCL.E
By DWIGHT NORWOOD


an i'll assorted marriage. In every 9th
er respect he was to be envied or
would have been had it not been for
his marriage. He was prosperous in
business affairs and accumulated
fortune. But no children were born to
him during the brief period Of his mar
rage, and after his separation from
his wife he never entered upon a sec
Ond matrimonial adventure.
[ was his only male relative, and
after heSitating for some time between
leaving his property in trust for
philanthrOpic work and leaving it to
me he finally came to the conclusion to
allow it to accumulate through my life
time, to establish the foundation that
he intended. But this plan was con-
tingent on my agreeing not to marry.
His proposition to me, if accepted,
would give me every comfort and lux
ury so long as lived, but would de-
prive me of wife and children. did
not agree with my uncle on the sub
ject of matrimony because knew that,
though a splendid man, he must be
very hard man to get on with. He
seemed to be fond Of me, and if
wanted anything I had only to ask him
for it. Yet dared not oppose him in
any Of his preJudices. The difference
between me and the wife from whom
he separated was that I understood
him and had the tact to manage him,
while she failed in both these respects.
My aunt was much younger than my
uncle-she was but little my senior
and, being conscious of her inability
to get on with him, came to rely on me
to help her manage him when a dead
lock came between them. I was born
old and never given to acting upon i'm
pulse while she was sensitive and had
no faculty for going around a stone
wall instead of over it.
My uncle's Professionalism ignor-
ed my aunt-placed me in the position
Of taking what belonged rightfully to
her. In making my decision was in
fuenced far more by what was my
duty to her than to carry out my IN
cle's intentions.
l accepted the condition, and my IN
Gle made his will, leaving his property
in trust to me, I to have so much Of
the income as chose to appropriate to
myself, but in consideration of this
gave my word to him that I would
never marry, and the will stipulated
that in case did marry the property
was to pass out Of my hands and the
foundation was to be established. I'm
der this condition it would be practi-
cally impossible for me to marry, one
Of the reasons being that I would be
obliged to drop from aff1uence to pow
erty, a very unpleasant fall.
Before acceding to my uncle's wishes
I asked my aunt if she would disap-
prove Of my doing so, and she told me
that since she could not benefit by her
husbands property$she preferred that
I should do so. However, before ac-
cepting the proposition I made bold to
tell him plainly that his separation
from his wife was principally his own
fault. and that he was doing her a
great injustice to leave her property,
or, rather, its income, to me instead Of
to her. I expected that this would al
ter his determination, but was surprised
that it had no effect whatever to deter
him from his purpose. Indeed it seemed
to confirm him in it.
I did not promise not to turn over
a part Of the income from his eS-
tate to his wife. My privilege to do so
would have satisfied me with the posi-
ton | assumed had it not been that I
was pledged to celibacy. Moreover,
there was a woman whom I wished to
marry. When the papers had been
signed informed my uncle of this fact,
though 1 did not tell him who that wo-
To i
thank me, my boy, for saving you from
a life Of misery"
Upon the completion of the agree
ment my uncle gave me the position of
his right hand man that I might be
prepared to manage his estate after
his death. He was certainly a very
queer man, and no one could tell what
he would do. Two years after our
compact he was taken suddenly ILL.,
He called for me and said:
II have been told by my doctor that
I have but few days at most to live
The approach of death has made q
change in my feelings. 1t is part OF
new plan have made that you
should marry"
I looked at him in establishment
When I had recovered from my sur
prise I said to him:
eff marry there is but one woman
in the world will make my wife"
"You will marry the woman in
tend you shall marry or will make {
new will, leaving you out in the cold.
He was very weak, and I knew there
was no time to waste.
Whom do you require that shall
marry?" I asked.
''The woman whose life have mad,
miserable"
My heart came up into my throat
but I controlled any expression Of M,
emotion.
'Have you obtained her consent"