The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-04-23
THE TWO
FATHERS
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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. Eth
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 sort of intimacy sprung up be-
tween the widow and her neighbors.
Little reciprocal services passed be-
tween them. They sometimes made
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 meT
"Why should L? 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 If
she were my own"
"Forsooth! You will 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 a feverish night and
was not able to rise in the morning.
She begged her neighbors to go for a
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:
eff 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
the other and called them Uncle John
and Uncle James.
When she grew little older they put
her to schooI-to young ladies' school
be it misunderstanding 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 a little more than formerly.
These supplementary hours were de-
voted to the pleasure and toilet of ma
demoiselle.
When she was Is 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 oldl Is it posi-
ble?"
But, yes. it was possible. And James
and John thought so much about 1t
that it made them anxious and I'M
happy.
Ii was the younger who said one
evening to the other:
"Do you know that Lille is getting
more beautiful every day."
"Eh Yes, l know it well. And 9TH
ers know it too There must be a
good many admirers prowling around
here after her."
"And it is certain one of them will
take her away from us before very
long"
Poor little thing!
eyes, if she were to get a bad hus-
bandr'
ooh, l should kill any man who
would treat her badly"
'sThere is only one way of escaping
that"
"Ahw said the elder brother, with
out making any addition to the ex-
clamation.
Sand then" continued the other,
think how sad it would be for us to
part from Lille : never again to see
her trotting about the house, never to
hear her merry voice singing after we
return from work of an evening"
II have been thinking Of all that for
q long time, my dear john"
at must be put an end to-
"And your plan?"
at is very simple If 1t pleases you.
shall marry her before she gets fond
of any one else"
'sZoundsw
The elder brother stood up, almost
threatening.
81 also have thought of that PLAN
was often going to speak about it, but
always held back"
"WhyT
because I wanted to marry Lille
myself"
The two brothers looked at one an
other far from amiably. Then the
younger said:
'This is the same as with the mother