The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-08-05
MY ODD
UNCLE
BY DWIGHT NORWOOD

II 's' 80 a'opAt'a aiiaAiidkt. III tNtl1 Olu
: er respect he was to be envied oil
c would have been had 1t not been for
, his marriage. He was prosperous In
business affairs and accumulated q
fortune. But no children were born 10
him during the brief period of his mar
, riage, 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 a
phllanthroplc work and leaving 1t to
me he finally came to the conclusion to
allow 1t 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, IL accepted,
would give me every comfort and lux
ury so long as lived, but would de-
prive me of wife and children. I did
not agree with my uncle on the sub
ject of matrimony because knew that,
though splendid man, he must be a
very hard man to get on with. He
seemed to be fond of me, and IL /
wanted anything had only to ask him
for 1t. Yet dared not oppose him in
any of his prejudices. The difference
between me and the wife from whom
he separated was that / 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 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 stone
wall instead of over 1t.
My uncle's proposition-which ignor-
ed my aunt--placed me In the position
Of taking what belonged rlghtfully to
her. In making my decision / was in
fluenced far more by what was my
cles intentions.
/ accepted the condition, and my I'M |
Gle made his will, leaving his property |
in trust to me. 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 win stipulated
that in case did marry the property
was to pass out of my hands and the
was to be established. I'm
der this condition 1t would be practi-
,ally impossible for me to marry, one
of the reasons being that / would be
obliged to drop from affiuence to pow
erty, very unpleasant fall.
Before acceding to my uncle's wishes
asked my aunt IL she would disap-
prove of my doing so, and she told me
hat since she could not benefit by her
property she preferred that
should do So However, before ac-
epting the proposition made bold TO
ell him plainly that his separation
rom his wife was principally his own
ault and thai he was doing her a
'reat injustice TO leave her property,
r. rather, its income, TO me instead OF
0 her. / expected that this would al
ar his determination, but was surprised
hat it had no effect whatever to deter
i'm from his purpose. Indeed. it seemed
0 confirm him in il.
/ did not promise not 10 turn over
part of the income from his es-
lte TO his wife. My privilege to do so
'ould have satisfied me with the posi-
on assumed had it not been that
'as pledged TO celibacy. Moreover.
lere was a woman whom / wished to
larry. When the papers had been
gned informed my uncle of this fact,
lough / did not tell him who that wo-
an was. He merely said. you should
lank me. my boz, for saving you from
life of misery"
Upon the completion Of the agree
ent my uncle gave me the position OF
is right hand man that ! might be
repaired TO manage his estate after
S death. He was certainly very
ieer man. and no one could tell what
} would do. Two years after our
impact he was taken suddenly M
c called for me and said:
II have been told by my doctor that
have but a few days az most 10 live.
he approach of death has made
ange in my feelings II is a part OF
new plan have made that you
ould marry"
| looked az him in establishment.
hen had recovered from my sur
Use I said 20 him:
II I marry there IL but one woman
the world win make my wife"
You viii marry the woman | in
IA you shall marry or win make a
W will. leaving you out IN the cold" -
lie was very weak. and ! knew there
is no time to waste.
Whom do you require that I shan
lrryf" ] asked.
The woman whose life have made
SCRABBLE"
~ heart came NJ into my throat.
] controlled any expression q my
'otion.
Have you obtained Der consentT@
Yes
VERY vel. I SIN not stand IN the A
y u your doing this last ct ~ IA
tice~ A
have always been haiHncea 10
zen two oriniaus as ~ the prime
tive ~ my uucis's acL Ether b.
. - perrerse thrt b. WISHED 20
III me - q ponar 7 di1 net 1ors.