Gloucester County Democrat., 1901-04-25
THE TWO
FATHERS
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The mother was widow, an indus
early in order to support her child, a
little girl between and 5 years old,
pretty as a fairy. full of fun, affection
ate and coaxing as any happy child
could be-
On the opposite side of the landing
of the fifth floor on which Nine. Ell
enne and her daughter Lille lived was
the door of the apartments inhabited
by two brothers. cabinet makers by
trade and bachelors either by choice
or by chance, no one knew.
One of those days when the intense
heat necessitates the door being left
open in order to get current Of air,
the prettiness of Lille attracted the
attention Of the two brothers, who
were already past their first youth
and adored children In their quality of
approaching old bachelorhood. From
that a sort of intimacy sprung up be-
tween the widow and her neighbors.
Little reciprocal services passed be-
tween them. They sometimes made a
party of pleasure on the Sunday. So
well did they get on indeed that one
day the eldest of the two brothers said
to the other:
"That child would want father
badly"
''That is my opinion also"
"Would you have any, objection to
my asking the mother to marry me?"
"Why should 1? In fact. was think
ing of doing the same myself. But
since you have spoken first follow the
notion up. but on the condition that you
will let me see Lille as often as |
like. love that child as much as IL
she were my own"
l@Forsoothi You viii live with u.s.
The question agreed upon. the two.
brothers, dressed in their best, went
to call on Nine. Etienne. whom. how
ever, they found confined to bed The
evening before she had run in order
to take some work back to the shop
in time; on returning she had caught
a chill, passed q feverish night and
was not able to rise in the morning.
She begged her neighbors to go for
doctor. 1t was no time to speak of
marriage.
Inflammation of the lungs carried
away the poor woman in ten days.
Thanks to the two brothers, she had
not to go to the hospital, and until the
last she was able to see her little Lii
lie, whom she earnestly recommended
to them. They swore never to abandon
the child.
The funeral over they took charge
of the little one, kissing her. They
said to one another at the same time:
"If you wish, we will never get mar
ried now."
They went to live at Vincennes SO
that Lille might have plenty of good
air and take walks in the wood. They
were very proud of their adopted
daughter. When people stopped to look
at them and asked In a casual way
which was her father, they replied,
Both of u.s.
Lille seemed to like one as well as
and Uncle James.
When she grew little older they put
her to school-to young ladies' school
be it upderstood-taking her there
every morning and calling for her in
the evening. So Lille grew up be-
tween these two affections without
ever feeling the want of father or
mother
She cost the brothers a great deal
of money. did the little one, but bah,
they went no longer to the cafe and
worked little more than formerly.
These supplementary hours were de-
voted to the pleasure and toilet of ma
demoiselle.
When she was 10 years of age. she
was the first to suggest that she should
stay at home for the future. at which,
of course, the brothers were enchant-
ed. What a charming little house
keeper they had then and with what
joyful tenderness she greeted their re-
turn every evening! To say the spoil
ed child never abused their goodness
would be saying too much. but at least
she seized every available opportunity
of pleasing them.
Two years passed over SO quickly for
all of them that on the day the two
men brought cake and bouquet to
celebrate Lilies birthday they ex-
claimed:
Seventeen years old! Is it possi-
ble?"
But, yes. 1t was possible. And James
and John thought so much about it
that It made them anxious and un-
happy.
1t was the younger who said one
evening to the other: