The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1895-09-19
!: STOOD THE. ORDEAL.

half millionp'' t,|g XXI II.
II actually have, " confessed Leslie, with
eyes a-droop. s%. 4 ~ AK sa,2. l.fs5
Then go!'', he said, striking an atti-
tude which would have disgraced Salvini
himself Go, marble hearted and unfeel-
ing daughter-go with the man Of your
choicei What is it to you that have an
organic affection which renders exotic.
ment fatal-that may p n : =
t"Oh, papal'' cried Leslie, making a,
rush in his direction. u g..
,But'loftily he waved her back ~
| ''Departp' he resumed, "Abide by
! your choice You are no longer child OF
mine. Away with the oentless one who
has won you from my armsl Do not speak
to mel Do not address me! Leave me to
| perish alone with this fatal organize
Earl Palmer, the "centless one" referred
to, seized Leslie's hand at this juncture and
drew her toward the door. %,r g.
ooh, hastenl Oh, let us not lingerl
Oh, fly-let us fy-for we must!" he,
quoted in seeming terror. @..-
Before the old gentleman could finish
his interrupted sentence they were both
outside, and Leslie was clinging to her
lovers arm, half in tears, half in laugh
ing - ! ~ ! = -. :.
Come, darling, he. has given his con-
sent, and we may az we'll be married at
once" said Earl. 'His eccentrioities will
strike in and kill him some day instead
of that organic affection on which he
harps. Was he ever ills" F.s
Never" answered Leslie solemnly.
Ellis health Is perfect. hoped he would
receive the news Of our engagement differ
emily, Earl. He likes you, but he likes to
show his authority. He does not dream
I would ever take him at his word. I've
q notion to elope with you since he has
ordered me to depart-just to teach him
lesson" ''... -
Needless to say the plan met with Earl'a
unqualified approval, and in less than an
hours time the elopement was an accom-.
plished faot A brief note to Mr.. Delmaine
apprising him Of the affair was dropped
into a postbox, and then Mr.. and Mrs.
Palmer took possession of wee coy cot
tage in the suburbs of Omaha far from
the madding crowd.
Earl had a studio down town. Though
he had as yet attained no startling degree
of success in his chosen profession, he was
an artist of rare talent and had his pa
irons. 1t was somewhat lonely for Leslie,
left to her own devices all day, but she
busted herself with household affairs and
was very happy. No word came from her
father in his great lonely house up town.
He had apparently forgotten her very ex-
istence
One evening, a month after their mar.
rage, Earl came homo, to find his little
wife in state Il high excitement. "Oh,
Earl" she said Eagerly, "such queer old
organ grinder stopped in front OF the house
today and played that little italian air
:Io1 h a.
quarter, and what do you think? He let it
lie In the road and asked me in the queer
est ohoked voice for glass of water.
went to the kitcher 70 get 1t, and when
came back he was standing in the parlor
looking at papa's picture over there. !
tell you was frightened. = " Fs7s; y
'.What did you do'" asked her husband,
looking startled. >' "a"
II told him to 60 mt once, and he STEP
ped outside and played Byron's Fare
well,' then waved h1s dirty hand and went
away. Why, Earl, what is it?" she broke
off as the young maa picked up scrap OF
green paper from k&e floor and eyed it
incredulously.
"a $50 BILL" he gasped, holding it up
to view. ''Your organ grinder Is a ras-
cally counterfeiter, Larlie, dear, and is try
ing to get us into Trouble. I'll give this
to an expert tomorrow.
4 He did so, and to his establishment
found the note genuine. On his return
that night Leslie Net him with an ao-
count of a second visit from the organ
grinder and showed hIm a second note she
had found on the doorstep, held In place
by a small stone. II was for 500 this
time, and Earl nearly tainted with sur
prise IT, T. H..
IAN old italian throwing money round
after that fashion!' Ae calculated, sink
ing into chair and drawing Leslie down
on his knee. ''He naust be prince in
disguise. See how true goodness Is re-
warded, darling. We obeyed the dictates
Of our hearts and got married, and now
tAnt our father has xorsaken us, 10, an Or
gan Grinder takes 10 up. But organ grind,
ers who go round dropping 500 notes
are dangerous customers. shall stay at
home with you tomorrow and interview
the mysterious old fellow If he comes
again." <t.@s,
He was as good as his word, but the day
wore on without sign Of the musical itin-
GRANT. They hail given him up at last
and stood together at the parlor window
watching the fires c. sunset In the west.
An odd, choked cough startled them, and
UUuu ,GuI0Su w 0uA V.'o VAC0A oASoA
grinder, who had, unrercoived, entered the
open door of the parlor and stood grinning
at them. 'a t. 81
"Out with your was all Earl could say
in a voice of fierce Indignation.
The venerable offender answered by
dropping his organ, se!zing the astonished
Leslie in his arms and kissing her in q
most insane manner. - ~
For an instant Earl stood as in a horri-
BILE nightmare. Then h9 made wild rush
at the Italian, erasping him by the collar,
and dragged him toward the door. He
grasped al his Intel, and resisting the
young mans strength threw his arms
around him fran tically, burying5 his pa
triarchal head In his bosom. +.
Fearing contagion, Earl extricated him
self with difficulty, while the seemingly
demented visitor kicked over the organ,
and thrusting his hands into his pockets
Withdrew notes, silver and gold and flung
them on the carpet in wild profusion.
"You moonstruck Vanderbilt Desist
instantly, or must give you In charge, ="
cried Earl In strong excitement. ''How
=