Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1901-05-10
THE TWO
FATHERS


The mother was a widow. an indus.
trious woman. who worked late and
early In order to support her child. a
little girl between 4 and 3 years old,
pretty as n fairy. full Of fun. affection
nte and cOaxlng as any happy child
could be.
On the opposite side OF the landing
OF the ffth door 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 a current Of air,
the prettincss Of Lille attracted the
attention Of the two brothers. who
were already past their 1rst 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
VII nHA tnNN XVI WI AA1ENA AnuA WV
dag the eldest or the two brothers said
10 the other:
THAT child would want a father
badly"
"rhAt Ia my opinion also"
'WOuid you have any objection to
my asking the mother TO marry meT'
"W'hy should ~ In fact, I was think.
Ing Of doing the same myself. But
since you hnve spoken FIRST follow the
notion up. hut on the condition that you
will let mo sce Lille az often as |
like I love that child as much as II
she wern my own"
"FOfROuth, You will live with us"
Tho question agreed upon. the two
brothers. dressed 10 their best, went
to rail on Nine. EtlPnne, whom. how
ever. they found confined TO bed. Tho
evening before she hud run In order
to take some work back to the shop
In time: on returning she had caught
a chill. passed u feverlsh night and
was not able TO rise In the morning.
She begged her %neighbors TO go for q
doctor II was no tiDe TO speak Of
marriage.
AllitNluAAlOu OA NlG AuhkH CatlhG0
away the poor woman In ten days.
Thanks to the W brothers. she had
not TO 60 to the hospital. and until tho
last she was able to see her little LII
lie. whom she earnestly recommended
20 them. They sworn never to abandon
the child.
The funeral over they took charge
Of tho little one, kissing her. They
said to one another at the same time:
"If you wish. We will never get mar
Tied now"
They went to live at vincennes so
that Lille might have plenty Of good
air and fake walks In the wood. They
wore very proud Of their adopted
daughter When people stopped to look
At them and asked In q 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
aud Uncle Jnmes-
When she grew a little older they put
her 10 schoOl-tO a young ladies' school
be II MISUNDERSTANDING her there
every morning and calling for her In
Ant GNEnAHks 81 AatAAAE kANW W w
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 weni no longer 10 the cafe and
worked 8 little more than formerly.
These supplementary hours were de
voted 70 the pleasure and toilet OF ma
demoIselIe.
when she wal Is years OF age. abe
Waa the first 10 Ruggeat that abe should
stay 81 home for the future. at which.
Of course the brothers were enehant-
ed What q charming little house
keeper they had then and with what
joyful tenderness she greeted their Fe
turn every evening! To say the spoil
ed child never abused their goodness
would BE- saying too much. but 81 least
she seized every available opportunity
Of pleasing them.
Two yeara passed over % quickly for
nl % chem that on the day the two
men brought O cake and bouquet 10
celebrate Lill.e's birthday they en-
claimed:
Seventeen years oldi IL n pOssA
blef'
Bnt, yes. Il was possible and james
and John thought 70 mnch about Il
fbai a mads them anxious and I'd
happy.
Il was the younger NO sas0 OnU
evening 20 $40 other: