Norwich bulletin., 1915-02-13

Fred, what do you think?" asked Thomas Brown.
 What's the matter: You don't look well.'' responded Fred Brown, his brother.
 Aunt Jane has faiied!''
 What! Tom, did you tell me that to startle rne?''
 its too true. The sheriff is to sell her out a week from today. saw the notices posted up. l thought Aunt Jane had been very reticent about her speculations. I see 1t all now. They have ruined her.
 And will she have nothing lett?" asked Fred, turning pale.
 Not 8 cent! All her property, l have learned, will not half cover her liabilities. An, those stock specula- tions! It was her cousin, Jim Haven port of New York that coaxed her into it; and he has done all her bus mess, you know. I have repeatedly told her she had better let him and those city brokers alone. feared they would prove too sharp for her ' Its too bad!" exclaimed Fred Brown angrily "Why did she hazard her away all this handsome property-the old homestead and all-Which would | have been ours some day The old iurbecile.''
 IL Ialrly makes me nate IeE. eeilu 1 Tom Brown
 They were the nephews of Miss Jane davenport, a rich old lady who lived near the Connecticut river a | few miles from Hartford. They had l been left orphans at an early age and were tenderly cared for by their Aunt Jane. She heaped many favors upon Fred and Thomas, both of whom were now married and they were already Well-to-do in the world, with expecta- ttons of quite a competence at their aunt's death.
 Now these expectations were sud denly dashed down and they railed al l the old lady's imprudence for hours l Notwithstanding her former kindness ! to them, they had not word of pity 1 for her now. or thought of how she was to be provided for. The day came and all the property Of Jane davenport was sold to satisfy a judgment in favor of T. White & 1 Co. of Boston. She must soon leave her old home, yet neither Fred nol Tom came to offer her a shelter, SC | she must go to them. Thomas" she said, T must SCOT vacate the old place, as you know. | have a cousin in Boston who would 1 give me a home, but I do not like tC l go there as Q mere dependent. | lyou would be kind enough" l "Ahemi We'll. 1.-the fact Is"
 
 | for you" pleaded the old lady. e | will try not to be burden to you" Well, Aunt Jane," said Thomas, "a. ! far as I am concerned, l would no object; but then my house is small and there are the children. You would not be comfortable"
 T would be willing to bear witt many inconvenierc ces."
 True, I am willing; but the fac | is, my wife,
 "Oh very we'll" and Aunt Jane lef | the house.
 She next visited Fred Well" said he, in a tone of re 1 proach, you see what you have dom meddIing with those sharps, agains the advice of Tom and myself. Wha will you do uow?'
 She replied by asking for shelter, a. ! she had asked Thomas
 'Td like to, Aunt Jane, I'm sure he responded. I'd like to have yol here; but my house is small, and
 The old lady raised her hand
 Say no more.' she said. 'I vii 1 find shelter somewhere" And she lief
 But for her folly.' muttered Ere, l Brown, she need not be seeking shel ter'
 Jane davenport reached home in l very gloomy state of mind, and fount a visitor awaited her.
 The fact is. I should have state' before, but I deemed it scarcely neces sary. Fred and Thomas Brown Wer 1 not the only children that Miss Jan l had taken to her heart and home. The,
 had sister younger than themselves named Alice.
 When Alice was in her 18th year she eloped with her aunt's hired hand | a handsome young fellow of 25, ant she had thereby incurred her aunt displeasure. without hope of forgive l ness; and the young couple had beer assured, once and for all, that the, need expect no share in the old lady estate,
 Miss Jane might have forgiven then but for the fact that Fred and Ton lost no opportunity to prejudice tn old lady against her niece. They had now been married tel years, were in comfortable circum stances and had several little children Neither of them had regretted thei runaway marriage.
 What are you doing here?' asle,
 Miss Jane. for she perceived that ne l visitor was no other than Edwarv
 Smith, who had eloped with her niece Alice Brown, ten years before. Had Miss Jane still been prosperou Ed Smith would probably have replie
 with a naughty and independent air
 each new matched unhedged comradt