El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-10-22
ON WO0ING BENT

John Hammersmith OF New York is a
some pledges of affection by his late
spouse. These children are in immediate
charge of his mother. and after returning
from a visit to them he writes a friend
that he must have the children with him
ut all. that housekeeper is not practical
and that he must solve the problem by
taking unto himself another wife.
He wants n good, sensible woman to
take care of the house and train the chill
dren In the way they should go. He has
in mind woman he met in Chicago.
knew an hour or so and remembers chief
ly because he saw her holding a baby as
il she loved it. So confident is he that
this woman will favor his suit that he
warns his friend to prepare to act as best
man. Then he writes the woman as fol-
lows:
Ny Dear Miss Maurice am. as no doubt You
know. widower with two children, a boy and a
girl My wife has been dead two years. and my
children have been with my mother. Ny little
girl misses sadly, | do her, and if you
a home for would show my gratitude by be-
ing good husband as know how. Hoping
you will consider this favorably, ! am, my dear
Miss Maurice, sincerely yours.
JOHN H.NMEEsNrTH
Those who know nothing about love
will not be surprised that Miss Maurice
responded in this wise:
Dear Mr.. Hammersriith--T Thanking YOU very
much Tor the honor you have conferred upon me. /
n's; respectfully decline your proposal. Very
truly yours, MARY MAURICE
That would have settled most men, but
1t only served as spur to John Ham
mersmith.
to drop line" to her chum. Helen
Wells, in which she says things that
could he have read them. would have
made the amorouS Hammersmith fancy
be had stepped Oh a redhot stove lid. She
said she was burning to write him
warm language for
practical bachelor maid-but exercised
almost snpcrhuman control. Still she had
an opinion that IF he reads between the
lines his cyeballs will wither." And yet
this young woman held a baby as though
she loved il -
Well. HammcrsmiIh evidently did read 4
between the lines. hut without the optical
predicted. for he again ad
dressed his nanorata in humility and
with profuSr apology and limited that he
was going on journey In Japan and
would like "a take his children and - wife
along.
Indeed, il aroused all Miss Mauricc's sar-
raSnl-a and being Il Schoolfeacher she had
plenty. She suggested that he was acting
in this matter of selecting. wife with
less ear" than he would in choosing
horse. AMI she said that her present EN-
ploycr. the city gave her Il holiday of
two months each wear which was more
han she could hop" to get from him.
Then John Ilamm"rSmirh wrotc his
friend that h. felt about II foot high aud
had Il strong desire To kill Miss Maurice
But he took another tack instead. wrote
a renewal "f hi pr"p"Sil-and was re-
lucstcd Ia cca>r his cndcavor>. that the
decision not to marry him was final And
Is if in aftcrt bought Miss Maurice told
him she was considering another man"
responded follows:
Nj Dear Mss Mauricr-Thank You for your |
lice. long letter I couldn't quite make out the
asst of 1t. I going to Chicago to kill the 9th
II Detcrrninedy. JOINS HANNERsMITH.
There is pause here in the narrative |
which fancy may FILL
Again Miss Maurice addresses her |
hum. Helen Wells. and her letter is SO |
81 '-eternally feminine" |
hat IL is worth reproducing:
Nv Dear Hclcn-well. l am going To Europe |
urc enough. but not on a cattleboat. I am going |
: Mrs John iIamnicrSmith and | dazed
hat can hardly believe it. Mr.. II. to
ciioot ono CAV LOOKING ui>SlStinglN handsome
Doked tired To death and a fright. We went to
he theater- Nothing was said Came next night.
nj John Bartlett appeared also. We played
ards ! felt amused. Instead Of a spinster of b
told him that ! io-i felt like gay
Dung thing OF IL thcrcaboutS. with my
nitorS- Comparisons odouS but Mr.. IL |
bowed 10 So much better advantage than John.
Tho was plainly Jealous. that that queer organ
allied my heart took a leap in the New York
ians favor. lie came the next evening. and. |
ell, he ~ooed me woman OF amy age likes |
D be wooed
He is willing to live in a fat and let me house |
eep to my heart's content, and l think 1 |
N going tn he quite happy