Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1895-09-14
STOOD THE ORDEAL.

promised TO wed tn1S Pennies afuSl-
you, the sole heiress of half a million?'
II actually have" confessed Leslie,
with eyes adroop.
Then gor' he said, striking an atti-
tude which would have disgraced Sal
vini himself go. marble hearted and
unfeeling daughter-go with the man
of your choice! What is it TO you that
have an organic affection which rem
ders excitement fatal; that may"
"0h, papaw cried Leslie, making a
rush in that direction.
But loftily he waved her back.
"Departm he resumed. abide by
your choice. You are no longer a child
of mine. Away with the centless one
who has won you from my arms. Do
not speak to me. Do not address me.
Leave me to perish alone with this
fatal organic"
Earl Palmer, the "centless one re-
ferred to, seized Leslie's hand at this
juncture and drew her toward the
door.
"Oh, hasten. oh, let us not linger.
oh, hy-let us fiy-for we must" he
quoted in seeming terror.
Before the old gentleman could fin
ish his interrupted sentence they were
both outside, and Leslie was clinging
to her lovers arms in tears, half in
laughing
Come, darling, he has given his con-
sent, and we may as well be married
at once said Earl. His eccentrici-
ties will strike in and kill him some
day instead of that organic affection
on which he harps. Was he ever iIl?'
Never" answered Leslie solemnly.
His health is perfect. | hoped he
would receive the news of our engage
ment differently, Earl. He likes you,
but he likes to show his authority. He
does not dream / would ever take him
at his word. have a notion to elope
with you since he has ordered me to
depart, just to teach him a lesson"
Needless to say the plan met with
EarPs unqualified approval, and in
less than an hours time the elopement
was an accomplished fact. A brief
note to Mr.. Delmaine, apprising him
of the affair, was dropped into a post
box, and then Mr.. and Mrs. Palmer
took possession of a wee cozy cottage
in the suburbs of Omaha far from the
madding crowd.
Earl had studio down town. AL
though he had as vet attained no
startling degree of success in his cho-
sen profession, he was an artist of
rare talent and had his patrons. 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 existence.
one evening, a month after their mar
riage, Earl came home to find his lit
tie wife in a state of high excitement.
"Oh, Earl" she said eagerly, such a
queer old organ grinder stopped in
front of the house to-day and played
that little Italian air you always liked
so well. l threw him a quarter, and
what do you think? He let it lie in
the road and asked me in the uueerest
choked voice for a glass of water. |
went to the kitchen to get it. and when
l came back he was standing in the
parlor looking at papa's picture over
there. | tell you / was frightened"
What did you doP' asked her hus-
band, looking startled.
Il told him to go at once, and he
stepped outside and played Byron's
Farewell then waved his dirty hand
and went away. Why, Earl, what is
itF' she broke off as the young man
picked up scrap of green paper from
the floor and eyed it incredulousIy.
"A $50 bill" he gasped, holding it
up to view. your organ grinder is a
rascally counterfeiter, Leslie, dear.
and is trying to get us into trouble,
III give this to an expert tomorrow"
He did so, and to his establishment
found the note genuine. On his re-
turn that night Leslie met him with
an account Of second visit from the
organ grinder and showed him a sec
ond note she had found on the door
step, held in place by a small stone.
1t was for 500 this time, and Earl
nearly tainted with surprise.
An old Italian throwing money
round after that fashion, he efacri-
lated, sinking into a chair and draw
ing Leslie down on his knee. "He
must be prince in disguise. See how
true goodness is rewarded, darling.
We obeyed the dictates Of our hearts
and got married, and now that our
rather has forsaken us, 10! an organ
grinder takes us up. But organ grind
ers who go round dropping 500 notes
are dangerous customers / shall stav
at nome with you tomorrow and in
terview the mysterious old fellow IL
he comes again"
lie was as good as his word, but the
day wore on without sign of the
musical ltinerant. They had given up
seeing him at last, and stood together
at the parlor window watching the |
fires Of sunset in the west. An odd
choked cough startled them and both
turned to find the identical organ
who had, unpercelved. en-
tered the open door of the parlor ana /
stood grinning at them
out with your was all that Earl