The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1928-10-12
SHE WAS
UNCLE EDS
WIDOW
e-O-e-C@s~O-s-O<>'ss<>O~s'Ctss'C
((0 by d. j. Walsh.l

ALLY had inherited her from
" her mother, who had first pos
i i sessed Aunt Lulu. Poor, fret
ted little Mrs. Marsh had loved
to talk about her Uncle Eds widow,
was that part at least Of those riches
would come to Hally ultimately.
Uncle Ed had made his money In
some sort of a mine-silver or copper !;
Mrs. Marsh had never been sure
which. She strove to keep up friend
ly relations with Uncle Eds widow,
writing her and sending her little
gifts. Once a year or so, Aunt Lulu
wrote the briefest letter. Otherwise
she remained impenetrable.
When her mother died, Hally took
up the correspondence with Aunt
Lulu. 1t was likely to prove a bur
den, for Hally was beset with anx-
iety. Her mothers prolonged sickness
had taken the last of their money be-
sides leaving a few debts which Hally
must pay. The girl was obliged to
leave school and take a position in a
store, giving up her dreams of success
for hard reality. She did not ask
Aunt Lulu for help; she told her moth.
ing save that her mother had died. 1t
was four months before Aunt Lulu
answered and then her letter was lit
tie more than note OF correspond
ence.
BY that time Dick had appeared In
Hallys life. Dick worked in the same
store and studied evenings. He was
bound to be a craftsman and when
Hally looked into his clear gray eyes
she knew that he had will enough
and courage enough and brains enough
to attain his goal. 1t seemed impos-
sible that anybody so fine as Dick
could come to Ler. But he did And
she adored him. Why, the first mo-
ment she saw him she knew that
great window had opened to her VI
sion which was never to close. Dicks
personality produced just that effect
of emerging vista, freedom and gen.
erous light in her gray existence.
One summer afternoon she and
Dick walked out to the lakes edge
and sat on a bench gazing upon that
misty blue The breeze stirred her
uncovered fair hair and whipped the
color into her cheeks She was too
happy, just sitting there beside Dick.
A moment later this happiness blew
away as before a mighty wind upon
which, as upon wings, rushed a new
JOY so marvellous that she wept lest
it find her unworthy. Dick had asked
her TO be his wife.
IT was not until some three months
later that Hally remembered Aunt
Lulu. She and Dick were married
living in a tiny apartment Evenings
he worked at his lessons while she sat
embroidering beside him. They were
so happy In their love and compan-
ionship that Hally came near forget
ting all else When at last she thought
of Aunt Lulu compunction stabbed
her. Straightway she wrote the incest
letter of which she was capable, send
Ing snapshots of "the family" as she
called herself and Dick.
A few weeks following Hally re-
ceived a special delivery letter from
Aunt Lulu She was coming East.
coming to visit her young folks. COM
Ing at once.
A cloud passed over the sun for
Hally. She did not know anything
about Aunt Lulu save what her moth
er had been able to gather from those
brief infrequent letters; she had a
vague idea without knowing how she
had come by it, that Aunt Lulu was
big and coarse. Where would she put
a big woman In an apartment which
was barely large enough for the two
of them as 1t was?
Dick laughed when Hally told him
what they must expect
"Well," he said, "we'll just have to
make the best of 1t, dear Give her
our ROOM Make her comfortable"
81 will, but, Dick isn't it odd, her
coming to US? She never saw me, she
never saw mother even. In way she
hasn't the slightest claim on u.s. Uncle
Ed was dads uncle you know, not his
brother"
'I see Yes, 1t is odd. but old peo-
pie do queer things sometimes. There
was my grandfather He had money
and my brother was named after him
We used to think Joey pretty lucky.
but poor Joe never saw penny of
grandfathers money" He chuckled.
"Grandfather got married again when
he was past eighty and willed every
thing to his bride of fifty-one."
Hally drew deep breath.
do you know what / think, Dick i?
| think Aunt Lulu hasn't any money
at all. think she's poor and-and
wants somebody TO look after her In
her old age"
"That's what I think" Dick nc
knowledged. "Well-let's forget her
until she actually arrives. Time 70
worry then"
Hally made all the preparations
possible for the approaching guest.
At least 1t was cold weather and one
could bear bit of crowding better
now than when 1t was torrid. The only
trouble was Aunt Lulu did not an
nounce the time of her arrival.
One afternoon the doorbell rang.
and when Hally opened the door she
found herself looking into the fresh,
round face of a plump little woman
styllshly clad from top TO toe In dusky
brown.
You are Hally, | suppose?" the
woman said. Her pretty eyes laughed
How do you do? | am your Aunt
Lulu"