The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-18
How to Win a Wife.


feel angry, Herman"
Herman Clayton, himself the picture of
sorrowfui amazement, loked at his uncle
in silence as the old man spoke with an
CRY yehemence
He was a tall, stalwart young man Of
"A, with a fresh, handsome face, now
deeply clouded. His uncle was not over
so. but an appearance of Ill health made
him seem much older. His usual pallor
crept once more over his flushed, excited
face before he spoke again TO Herman.
and his angry voice was gentle as he
said:
81 was hasty, Herman, hurt and sur
prised. Tell me, now, how did it hap
pen?''
II scarcely know how to tell you, sir"
replied Herman respectfully
Where did you meet this girl?'
Miss Gordon" said Herman, was very
intimate with Mr.. Delvine's' dam-L5ters.
I met her there. Mr.. Delvine babe me
welcome in his house as soon as l be-
came his clerk"
You met her at Delvine's? Well"
81 loved her-that is ALL"
"All? Enough 1 should think. And
she loves you, / suppose, or I should not
have heard all this?''
she loves me-" said the young man
with pardonable pride.
"Oh, Herman! Why couldn't you have
fallen in love with one of the Delvine
girls? Nice, domestic, home-like girls,
that would have made a home for you.
I know this is an idle, stuck-up girl"
81 think you misjudge her, uncle"
She is John Gordon's daughter. 1 can
never welcome her here-never."
Il hope you will not hold to that reso-
luton, Uncle Noel.'
Il suppose you were influenced some
by the 10000 her mother left her"
81 didn't know that she had cent"
Her mother kept that safely enough
and left it to the daughter. I knew that
at the time she died. Oh. my lad, think
better Of it! Money is not everything"
II never heard Of her money until this
minute, uncle. I do so wish you would
see her.
II see heri Never! If you marry John
Gordon's daughter you may take leave
of me and the farm"
''Will you tell me why one of Mr.. Del
vines daughters would have suited you
any better?'
There was dead silence in the room for
some minutes. After this Uncle Ned
spoke at last in low tones, as if he was
reading instead of conversing.
when 1 was q young man, Herman,
not older than you, / was working on
this farm for old Squire Haywood, who
was very fond of me. l was only a
farm hand, yet the old squire always
chose me to drive him out or to do any
business that required a trusty person.
He had no family, so it made quite a
stir when his sister died in New York
and his daughter came to live on the
farm. She was the handsomest woman
ever saw in my life-only II. but with
he nf of
So I was, as 1 said, often about her
uncle, and met Alicia frequently. She
was so kind to me, had so many win
ming ways, that she had my heart in her
grasp in less than a week. Yet how
was 1, a poor country boy, to know it
was skillful coquetry, the sport Of a
firt?
Then John Gordon, the city lawyer
came, and he, too loved her. l proposed
to Alicia and was rejected. Gordon pro-
posed and was accepted. I have out
grown that Authorization, my lad, yet at
what cost. Herman, do not ask me
to welcome the child of John and Alicia
here. 1 cannot do it,
Her parents are dead replied Her
man. She lives with her fathers sis
ter
II know John died insolvent and Alicia
only lived a few years after her hus-
band"
Uncle Noel, cannot give Gladys up,
but 1 promise never to bring her home
as my wife until you consent to our mar
riage VIII you see her?'
mo, no. Wait till 1 die, Herman. DIR.
Dodge says l won't live long. I have
never been confined to my room, still 1
grow weaker. l wish 1 had a good SER
want. Eliza is wasteful, impudent and in
cHned to be dishonest
Il will drive over to Tourney tomorrow
and secure a good servant, uncle" He
did so and escorted his companion to his
uncle's home with manly pride, and in
troduced her as Gladys Grey. she has
been highly recommended and l am posi-
tive will suit u.s.
In about a week Mr.. Clayton, Sr.. be-
gan to wonder how he had ever existed
with out his new housekeeper. Gladys
was untiring in her efforts TO please and
amuse Uncle Noel, and in his most pain
full moments of distress no hand was as
soothing as was Gladys.
The old man sat musing a long time.
A vague mistrust Of Gladys had crossed
his mind. a wonder why a woman so
gentle and refined, so evidently a lady
was serving in a mental capacity.
When Herman came in at tea time he
found his uncle flushed ard excited. In
a few words the cause &c the agitation
was communicated to the young man.
You think Gladys is not what she
seems. uncle?"
You are right. She is under false pre-
lenses, Herman"
but, putting that aside. what fault
have you to fnd?"
Fault? 1 could not find a fault If I
tried She is the most lovabie capable,
domestic girl 1 ever saw, as well as a
lady in every word and action
Then you would like her 10 stay here
if prove to you she is worthy of your
and Affection
Gladly"
GLADYS Grey Gordon, VIII you for
give me the deception Uncle Noel?"
will you forgive me for my wilful
blindness. Hermann"
No wonder you love her,! Bring her
here and let me ask her If she will stay
10 cheer the short time 1 may yet live
TO see your happiness"
The wedding was not long delayed.
Care ard love are rejuvenating Uncle
Noel. who threatens TO prove Dr.. Dodge
a false prophet yet, and who dearly loves
TO tease Gladys Grey about the way Her
man won his wife.