The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-21
The Founding,

"Auntie," said pretty Elsie haywood,
Arthur has something to ask you, and
I hope You will be pleased"
Every Wen, darling" said her aunt, "go
| and tell him will be there in few min
utes. But you will not be offended, dear
II I ask you something first. Elsie, do
you love hin?"
"Of course I love him, auntie. Do you
| think I would marry him If 1 did not?"
| Then, if you are still OF the same mind
after you have heard what I have 10 tell
you, shall give my consent" She then
entered the parlor.
Arthur Glidden, the young man who
was waiting there. was the son Of the
| richest man in the place. His face, though
not handsome, had a look which made
| one trust him. He had succeeded in win
| ming the love of Elsie, and now he had
| come to ask Miss haywood TO give her
! consent to their marriage. He was no.
| bic young fellow and stated his case most
! eloquently. Indeed, ii would have taken
a harder-hearted person than Miss May
wood to have refused him. When he had
! finished she said:
| If you are still of the same mind after
| hearing what 1 have 10 say tonight, I
| VIII give my consent gladly" Going TO
| the door, she called Elsie, who had been
! vaguely wondering what her aunts words
meant.
'Auntie can't be feeling WELL" she was
| saying 10 herself, ''or she would never
| talk So"
| Just then she heard her aunt call her,
| so she entered the parlor.
| Elsie, sit here by me, dear" said Ar
thur.
Yes. do. Elsie" said her aunt. "for I
have a long story TO tell you, and you
| would get tired standing" So Elsie sat
down beside Arthur on the sofa, and Miss
| haywood commenced. In the first place
| children she said, '1et me tell you that
Elsie is not my niece at all, but
Elsie jumped from the sofa, "Auntie!"
she exclaimed
II know. dear" said Miss haywood.
mo doubt you think me crazy, but I
assure you I am perfectly sane"
Elsie sank back on the sofa, and Miss
haywood continued: 1T was a dark,
stormy night, just eighteen years ago; I
was sitting before the fire thinking. My
thoughts were not pleasant ones, for just
three years ago that night was to have
been my wedding night. But again the
same old story; we quarreled over a
trife and parted for life. The wind SEEM
ed to sympathize with me, for it howled
and moaned in such dismal manner that
I could not help feeling thankful that I
had roof over my head this dreary
night, and hoped there was no one out
in the storm. AS if in answer to my
thoughts the door bell rang and as Jane
was in bed I answered ii myself. On
opening the door saw before me a man
with a large basket on his arm. He sat
the basket down inside the door and said:
The letter will explain everything.
ma'a am. He then turned quickly. ran
down the steps and was lost to sight in
the darkness.
It all happened in less time than It takes
to tell, and l was so surprised I hardly
knew what to do. l picked up the basket
which was rather heavy, carried it into
the dining room and set ii on the table
AS 1 did so there issued from it feeble
wall, like that of an infant. I ran for
Jane to come and open it, for l would not
dare, and my nerves were all unstrung.
She came, and we together opened the
basket. There, nesting cozily was the
sweetest little baby of perhaps months.
She opened her big blue eyes and smiled
up at me. From that moment I loved
the child and decided TO keep her. In the
bottom Of the basket we found a scrap Of
paper with the words: You will not be
expected to keep the child for nothing,
for a remittance will be sent you every
month"; We searched the basket for the
letter that the man had spoken about,
but we could not find it. and concluded
he must have meant the note, though
that did not explain much, to be sure.
That child was you. Elsie. and my only
regret is that 1 do not know who your
parents were. I know your name was
Elsie, because it was worked in all your
clothes and
''Have you changed your mind, Ar
thur?" 1t was Elsie who had spoken.
All during the time her aunt was talking
now she turned to Arthur with a sar-
castle look on her fine face.
Changed my mind?" he echoed. 'No;
thousand times no. If anything, Elsie,
I love you more
Thank Cod" she murmured, as he
clasped her in his arms.
One day, about a year after Arthur and
Elsie We're married, Elsie, who was ex-
pIoring the attic, came across an old mar
ket basket. Thinking 1t was worthless,
she started to tear out the lining, but in
doing so a scrap of paper tucked up under
the rim caught her eye. She pulled it out
and glanced over the contents.
1t was the other half of the note that
had been found in the basket the night it
was brought. The note was from Miss
Maywood's former lover, saying that the
child was his and asking her TO care for
it for the old loves sake, as he was dy-
ing and had no relatives to send 1t TO.
So the mystery was solved, and you
will not find a happier couple than Mr..
and Mrs. Arthur Glidden.-Boston Post.