El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-03-07
A CHANGE OF HEART.

son in his charge. This son was Harry
Unkum, youth of great promise and of
glowing anticipations.
The widow was Mrs. Mary Folger. In
the other years she had not only been a
warm personal friend of the Unkums, but
her estate joined the Unkum estate, and
she also owned a large share of the Fol
gerville mills, left her by her husband
while the rest of that valuable property
had descended to Harry.
1t had been the earnest desire of the
Unkum now deceased that his son should
wed with the daughter of his near and
dear friend.
II am satisfied" pursued Mrs. Folger.
that Harry will never marry my child
The very fact that his father and h.ve
had the moose so long prepared for him
inclnes him to avoid it. And yet ! doubt
if he will find a better wife. Lizzie is
good girl"
..She's an angel" cried Uncle Tim
land vastly too good for the graceiess
scamp!'
Il should not care much" said the
widow feeingly, "Only that Lizzie has
regarded Harry as the man who was te
be her husband, and she has learned to
love him."
And" added Uncle Tim emphaticaly,
will not bring himself to acknowledge it.
Mrs. Folger. if you and Lizzie will come
and spend a week at my house, think
can bring Master Harry to his senses"
'.Now. Master Harry" said Uncle Tim
in an abrupt manner. Il want one thing
distinctly understood. Mrs. Folger and
her daughter will arrive this evening, and
l would know if you have any claim upon
Lizzie FoJger's hand or hearth"
NO, sir" answered the nephew.
''That is all. We shall now know how
to receive and entertain our guests"
Toward evening Mrs. Folger and her
daughter arrived.
Harry greeted her as an old playmate.
and after tea he sang with her and talked
of the bygone schooldays. But Lizzie
was not over and above sociable, and when
in the bright moonlight of the August
evening they walked out upon the piazza
she took his uncle's arm instead of his.
and he was forced to offer his arm to the
mother.
On the following day Uncle Tim caused
his span of grays to be hitched to the
light buggy, and as the team appeared al
the door Lizzie came out arrayed for
ride. Uncle Tim calamity handed her to
her seat, and. having placed himself by
her side, he took the reins and drove Off
1t was late in the afternoon when the
grays, upon their return, came prancinE
to the door. Uncle Tim leaped out with
wonderful agility, and, having handed
Lizzie to the piazza. he kissed her upon
her dimpled cheek, exclaiming In . most
exuberant manner as he did so:
"Bless you, my darling! You are an
angel!"
And Lizzie looked up and smiled aud
patted him upon the cheek in return
Harry had been standing upon the pr
azza. and be muttered something very
far from a blessing.
During the forenoon of the third day
Uncle Tim met his nephew in the hall
and called him into the library.
Harry, my boy" he said. with glow
ing face, 81 have deemed it my duty 10
let you know that there is soon to be a
change in our household. l am giAg to
give it mistress"
81 don't understand"
Haven't you got eyes? What dye
suppose l brought Lizzie Folger here
for?"
do you mean that-that you are going
to make her your wife?"
"And what do you find wonderful in
that?"
Eat your age"
''At my agei What dye mean by that
At my age! I am only SIN the prime
of life. / was never younger in health
and vigor. Confound your impudence! a
girl of sense looks for a supporter aad a
protector in a husband"
Harry began to open his eyes to the
true state of his own heart. The thing
which he had regarded as set apart espe-
cially for him aud which he might take
Into possession at any time he had not
been anxious to claim. but now that he
saw the prize in the hands of another he
was startled into new estimate Of the
value of the boon he had sighted.
In the evening Harry followed Lizzie
into the garden He had resolved to do a
desperate thing and was prepared to be
plain and outspoken. He urged her to sit
down. and as he took seat by her side
he found her trembling.
HAS my uncle asked you for your
hand?'
He has"
"And have you given him a favorable
answer?''
"My answer has not been unfavora-
ble.'
"Oh. Lizzie! had not thought this Of
you"
"How? Not thought what?"
''That you could thus slight me-"
"Slight you? / do not understand"
. "Yes-you do understand-no-don't 60
away--tlon't leave me. l have loved you,
Lizzier
"You-vou loved me?''
Eyes. Here on my knees I confess it,
Indeed. Harry. you must not. You
YOU
He was eloquent and imprisoned, so
much that ere long Lizzie's head was pill
lowed upon his bosom and one of her
arms twined about his neck
"And You will not give your hand to
ny uncle?'
He never asked it for himself, Har-
""