El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-08-11
THE FOUNDING.

~Auntie'' said pretty Elsie May
wood, Arthur has something to as
you, and I hope you will be pleased.
Every we'll, darling" said her aunt
ego and tell him 1 will be there in
few minutes. But you will not be
offended, dear, if 1 ask you something
first. Elsie, do you love him?"
"Of course 1 love him, auntie. Dc
you think 1 would marry him if I did
not?"
Then, if you are still of the same
mind after you have heard what I have
to tell you, 1 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, hau look which
made one trust him. He had sue
ceeded in winning the love OF Elsie,
and now he had come to ask Miss
haywood to give her consent to their
marriage. He was a noble young fell
low and stated his case most eloquent
ly. Indeed, it would have taken
harder-hearted person than Miss May
wood to refuse him. When he had
finished she said:
eff you are still of the same mind
after hearing what I have to say to-
night, 1 will give my consent gladly"
Going to the door, she called Elsie,
who had been vaguely wondering what
her aunt's words meant.
'Auntie can't be feeling WE'LL she
was saying to herself, cor 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
Arthur.
Eyes, do, Elsie" said her aunt, "for
1 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:
I'm the first place, children" she said,
''let me tell you that Elsie is not my
niece at all, but -"
Elsie jumped from the sofa. "Aun-
tie!" she exclaimed.
81 know, dear" said Miss haywood.
mo doubt you think me crazy, but I
assure you 1 am perfectly sane"
Elsie sank back on her sofa, and
Miss haywood continued: cit 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 we'd
ding night. But again the same old
story; we quarreled over a trif1e and
parted for life. The wind seemed to
sympathize with me, for it howled and
moaned in such a dismal manner that
/ 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 it myself.
On opening the door I saw before me
man with a large basket on his arm.
He sat the basket down inside the door
and said: The letter will explain ev-
erything, ma'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 1 was 50 surprised I
hardly knew what to do. I picked up
the basket, which was rather heavy,
carried it into the dining room and
set it on the table. AS 1 did so there
issued from it a feeble wall, like that
of an infant. 1 ran for Jane to come,
and open it, for 1 would not dare as
my nerves were all unstrung. She
came, and together we opened the bas-
ket. There, nesting cozily, was the
sweetest little baby of perhaps six
smk