The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1895-08-22
STOOD THE ORDEAL.

II really must be In bad dream, = ~
Mr. Delmaine, staring at bis pretty daugh.
ter Leslie az II abe were some startling
freak Of the chronological kingdom.
Base child, do I understand you Alright!
Have you actually promised to wed this
penniless artist-you, tho sole heiress Of
half . millionp'' S .5.@
II actually have, " confessed Leslie, with
eyes a-droop. E&a N
"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
ohoicei What is 1t to you that have an
organic affection which renders excite.
ment fatal-that may
"Oh, papa!" cried Leslie, making q
rush In his direction.
But loftily he waved her back. 5G
''Departl" he resumed. ''Abide by
your choice. You are no longer child of
mine. Away with the centless one who
has won you from my armsl Do not speak
to me! Do not address mel Leave me to
perish alone with this fatal organize
Earl Palmer, the "centless one" referred
to, seized Leslie's hand at this junoture and
drew her toward the door. &#
"Oh, hasten! Oh, let us not linger!
oh, fy-let US fly-for we mustP' he
quoted in seeming terror. 1~s$
Before the old gentleman could finish
his interrupted sentence they were both
outside, and Leslie was olinging to her
lovers arm, half In tears, half in laugh
ing. s4sS@
Come, darling, he has given his con
sent, and we may as we'll be married at
once" said Earl. His eccentricities will
strike In and kill him some day instead
of that organic affection on which he
harps Was he ever illf"-
Never" answered Leslie solemnly.
His health Is perfect I hoped he would
re,eive 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
a notion to elore with you since he has
ordered me to depart-just to teach him
lesson" '%
Needless to say the plan met with Eer1's
unqualified approval, and in less than an
hours time the elopement was an accom-
plished fact. 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 a wee oozy cot
tage in the suburbs of Omaha far from
the madding crowd.
Earl had 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-
istenc&
One evening", month after their mar
rage, Earl came home to find his little
wife in state # high excitement. 'Oh,
Earl" she said eagerly, "such a queer old
organ grinder stopped in front Of the house
today and played that little Italian air
you always liked ~ we'll. threw him
quarter, and what do you Think He let it
lie in the road and asked me in the queer
est choked voice for glass of water. I
went to the kitchen. 10 get It, and when I
came back he was standing In the parlor
looking at papa's picture over there, /
tell you was frightened. -
"What did you dol'' asked her husband,
looking startled.
II told him to 60 ut once, and he step;
ped outside and pl,yed Byron's Fare
we'll, then waved his dirty hand and went
away. Why, Earl, what Is it," she broke
off as the young map picked up scrap OF
green paper from we floor and eyed II
"a $50 BILL" he gasped, holding it up
to view. Your org,sn grinder is ras-
oally counterfeiter, LsHlie, dear, and Is try
ing to get US into tfouble. I'll give this
to an expert tomorrow. =
He did so, and TO his astonishment
found the note genus7e. On his return
that night Leslie n.et him with an ac-
count of second visit from the organ
grinder and showed ilm second note she
had found on the doorstep, held in place
by small stone II was for 500 this,
time, and Earl nearly tainted with sur
prise. &#
IAN old italian throwing money round
after that fashion!'' ae calculated, sink
ing into chair and drawing Leslie down
on his knee. He must be a prince in
disguise. See how true goodness is re-
warded, darling We obeyed the dictates
of our hearts and got married, and now
that our father has xorsaken us, 10, an or
gan grinder takes W up. But organ grind.-
ers who 60 round dropping 500 notes
are dangerous customers. shall stay at
home with you tomorrow and interview
the mysterious old fellow If he comes
again." IA
He was as good az his word, but the day
wore on without sign of the musical tim
Grant. They had gwen him up 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
grinder, who had, unrerceived, entered the
open door of the parlor and stood grinning
at them. $
"Out with you'll" was oil Earl could say
in a voice Of fierce Indignation. s
The venerable offender answered by
dropping his organ, setting the astonished
Leslie in his arms and kissing her in .
most insane manner. '4ts
For an instant Earl stood as in horri-
BILE nightmare. Then h9 made wild rush
at the Italian, erasping him by the collar,
and dragged him toward the door. He
grasped at his Intel, and resisting the
young mans strength threw his arms