would often remark: 'Earth has no sadder picture than a
broken idol.' He used to consider Abraham Lincoln the most successful
man that ever lived, for he died before making a mistake, and when he
was strongest in the hearts of the people.

"Your question reminds me," continued Aunt Ella, "of something I had in
mind to say to you at some future day, but I may as well say it now. How
much money have you, Quincy, and what is your income?"

"Father gave me fifty thousand dollars outright when I was twenty-one;
it pays on an average six per cent. Besides this he allows me two
thousand a year for supposed professional services rendered in his law
office."

"That makes five thousand a year," said Aunt Ella quickly. "Well, I'll
allow you five thousand more a year, and the day you are married I'll
give you as much outright as your father did. That's unconditional. Now,
conditionally, if you bring your wife here and live with me you shall
have rooms and board free, and I'll leave you every dollar I possess
when I'm through with it. Don't argue with me now," she continued, as
Quincy essayed to speak. "Think it over, tell her about it. You will do
as you please, of course, but I shall not change my mind on this point."

"Didn't your husband leave any relatives that might turn up and prevent
any such disposition of your property?"

"When we married, Robert said he was alone in the world," replied Aunt
Ella; "he had no sisters, and only one brother, named Charles. Charles
was an artist; he went to Paris to study about thirty-five years ago.
From there he went to London. Some thirty years ago Robert got a letter
from him in which he said he was going to return to America. Robert
waited, but he did not come; then he wrote again to his English address,
but the letter was returned with the words 'Gone to America' endorsed
thereon."

"Was he married?" inquired Quincy.

"Robert never knew," said Aunt Ella, "but he imagined not, as Charlie,
as he called him, never spoke in his letters of being in love, much less
of being married."

Quincy caught the three o'clock train to Eastborough Centre, and Ellis
Smith, another son of 'Bias Smith, who had taken the hotel carriage in
place of his brother Abbott, drove him home.

A few days thereafter invitations to the wedding of Ezekiel Pettengill
and Hulda Ann Mason were sent broadcast through Eastborough Centre, West
Eastborough, Mason's Corner, and Montrose. Then it was decided by the
gos