Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1915-11-26
By DWIGHT NORWOOD

wall instead of over it.
My uncle's proposition (which ignor-
ed my aunt-placed me in the position
Of taking what belonged rightfully to
her. In making my decision I was In
f1uenced. far more by what was my
duty to her than to carry out my IN
cle's intentions.
I accepted the condition, and my IN
Gle made his will, leaving his property
In trust to me, 1 to have so much of
the income as chose to appropriate to
myself. but in consideration Of this I
gave my word to him that L 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. On
der this condition it would be practi-
ca1ly impossible for me to marry, one
Of the reasons being that ! would be
obliged to drop from afauenee to pow
erty,- very unpleasant fall.
Before accedi4g 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 &C.
cepting the proposition 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. l expected that this would al.
ter his determine ton. but was surprised
that It had no effect whatever to deter
him from his purpose. Indeed, It seemed
to confirm him in it.
did not promise not to turn over
a part Of the income from his e.
tate to his wife. My: privilege to do:so
would have satisfied me with the posi-
| ton I assumed had it not been that
! was pledged to celibacy. Moreover.
there was woman whom wished to
marry. When the papers had: been
signed Informed my uncle Of this fact,
though did not tell him who that :wo-
man was. He merely said, you should
thank me, my boy: for saving you from
life Of misery"
Upon the completion of the agree
ment my uncle gave me the position Of
his right hand man that /; might be
prepared to manage his estate after
his death. He was certainly a very
/ queer man, and no one could. ten what
he would do. Two years after our
compact he was taken suddenly III.
He called for me and said:
Il have been told by my doctor that
have but a few days at most to live.
The approach Of death has made a
change in my feelings. It Is a part Of
new plan have made that you
should marry" -
l looked. at him in astonishment.
When had recovered from my sur
prise said to him:
If I marry there is but one woman
in the world will make my wis.,"
''You will marry the woman in
tend you shall marry or l will make a
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 I shall:
marry?" asked.
The woman whose life have made
miserable"
Ny heart came up into my throat,
but I controlled any expression OF my
emotion. ."..~ -.
"Have you obtained her consent1'
Yes" -
VERY well. I viii not stand a the
way Of your doing this lift ~ 81
Justice" ,,.. !.
I have. always been balanced b.
tween two opinions as to the prime
motive Of. my uncle's act. Either be
was 30 perverse that he wished to
marry me to woman I did not low, =
thus separating me from. one I :did
love. or he had observed the love. that
had sprung up between me and tie
woman he had put away. Rut 10; d
him justice believe he was rspantaaE
toward her. ,:.