El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-03
!: His Promised Wife.

GLOW DroyokinpI"

How provokingI'
Bell Brown looked out from behind ii,
handsome lace curtains at stylish
phaeton drawn by pair of beautiful
ponies just passing and then turned i'm
patiently toward n group of girls ut tbs
opposite window.
"If any one else but DIR. Lester had pur
chased such an elegant new phaeton, we
might have been excused for entertain
ing hopes of enjoying an airing in it: hut
that confirmed old bachelor would rather
take his grandmother out any day than
one of US And 1 have just made up my
mind to have the first ride in that phar
tom
Easier said than done." observed
saucy Linda Gray. You know you arc
speaking of an impossibility now. w,
will make you a present of your wedding
dress if you succeed"
"And if 1 fail 1 will give you each a
pair of white kids to wear to my we'd
ding" Bell answered gayly, and Law
yer Browns parlOrs were soon vacated
by the merry party that had been spend
ing the afternoon with his only daughter.
How could l have been SO foolish
thought impulsive Bell as she stood in
the door looking down the quiet street.
HE cares nothing for me now and will
think me more childish than ever when
he hears of this
But she thought how he had passed
that afternoon without even glancing up
at the window where she had stood, hop
ing at least to receive a bow And then
he raised his hat a moment afterward to
old Mrs. Lee.
She was quite angry now as she
thought of his Indifference, and as the
new phaeton came slowly down tho
street again she went quickly down the
T nSfn no
more earnestly than he knew at the dark
blue dress and brown curls f1uttering in
the wind, drew up before the door.
Doctor she said, looking up in the
grave, handsome face. ARE you going
over the river tonight?'
The gentleman bowed and looked calm
~ down on the sweet face that flushed so
brightly as she proffered her request.
There is a lady at Uncle Wills that
want to come over tonight. Will you
stop and bring her with your
Certainly! Is your cold any better:
You must keep out of the night air. or !
will not answer for the consequences"
Bell tried to look Indifferent, but the
brown eyes filled with tears and her
cheeks burned hotly she thought that
he would have asked the same question
of all the old women in the town. She
closed the door with a little more force
than was necessary, and, donninG her
cloak and a large hood, was soon, walk
ing briskly in the direction of the uncle's
where she had requested DR.. Lester to
call for her friend.
1t was quite dark when the doctor ar
rived and gave the bell an impatient
pull, and after what seemed an age a
middle aged lady answered it.
SIS Miss Browns friend hereT he
asked. taking the hand that was quickly
extended.
The lady's face flushed. but she an
swered quietly in the affirmative.
A slight figure soon appeared muffied
in cloak and hood, and in a hoarse voice
babe the gentleman good evening.
Horace bowed in return and looked
curiously down at the little figure.
care you Miss Browns friend?'' he
asked, not knowing what else to say.
Eyes, the best friend she ever had"
came hoarsely from under the hood.
you seem to have a cold" said
Horace, still standing in the door play
ing with his whip, while his eyes rested
on a long brown curl that had escaped
from beneath the hideous hood Il
would advise you to be careful and keep
out of the night air as much as possible"
Keep out of the night air, indeed
Bells lip curled scornfully as she
ceived the advice given to the stranger
as it had been given to her a few hours
before.
DIR. Lester assisted her down the steps.
and Bell, with a triumphant smile, was
helped into the carriage. But the smile
died away, and she could have cried with
anger and modification as she found
herself in an old buggy that Horace had
used until lately, and his father had used
before him.
As they rode along the doctors
thoughts were wandering from his quiet
companion to the brown haired girl who
had looked up so shyly when she asked
q favor that afternoon.
He had quite forgotten the lady by his
side when a small hand was placed on
his arm and n sweet voice said:
''Dr. Lester, l am SO sorry that have
deceived you
He only looked down on the bright,
young face and soft brown eyes, but did
not answer.
Wont you forgive me?" she said
1.-The girls thought / would
not get ride in the phaeton we admired
so much, and l was silly and promised
them white kids if 1 did not succeed"
Tears were filling the soft eyes, and
DIR. Lester took the trembling hand in a
firm clasp and said earnestly:
BELL, if l call for you tomorrow after
noon, will you ride with me in the new
phaeton as the owners promised wife?''
The answer must have been satisfac-
tory, for the next day the ponies stood
lady friends are thinking seriously of
preparing the wedding dress she had