The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-12-26
THE TWO
FATHERS

W1rly IN OFQer 10 support ueT Chhu,
little girl between a and 5 years old.
pretty as 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 Mime. 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 a current of air.
che 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
chat 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
we'll did they get on Indeed that one
Day the eldest of the two brothers said
10 the other:
.That child would want a father
badly"
''That is my opinion also"
"Would you have any objection to
my asking the mother 30 marry meY'
"Why should |? 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 NE see Lille as often as !
like. love that child as much as II
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
60 take some work back to the shop
20 time; on returning she had caught
o chill, passed feverish night and
was not able to rise in the morning
Che begged her neighbors TO go for q
doctor. 1t was no time to speak of
marriage.
Inflammation of the lungs carried
away the poor woman In ten days.
Thanks TO tine two brothers. she had
not to go to the hospital. and until the
last she was able to see her little Lii
tie. whom she earnestly recommended
20 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 10 a casual way
which was her father. they replied,
"Both of us"
Lille seemed to like one as we'll as
the other and called them Uncle John
and Uncle James
When she grew a little older they put
her TO school-to young ladies' school
be 1t upderstood-tak her there
every morning and calling for her in
the evening. SO Lille grew up he
tween these two affections without
mother.
She cost the brothers 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
demoisele.
When she was II years OF age. she
was the first 10 suggest that she should
stay at home for the future. at which.
of course. the brothers we're enchant-
ed. What 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
abe seized every available opportunity
of pleasing them.
Two years passed over so quickly for
all of them that on the day the two
pAsn brought cake and bouquet to
celebrate Lilies birthday they ex-
claimed:
seventeen years oldI Is 1t posi-
bleY'
But. yes 1t was possible. And James
aud John thought so much about 1t
that IT made them anxious and un-
happy.
1t was the younger who said one
evening to the other:
''Do you know that Lille is getting
more beautiful every dayY
"Eh. Yes, know 1t WELL And 9TH
ers know it too. There must be a
good many admirers prowllng around
here after her"
"And 1t is certain one of them will
take her away from us before very
Dong"
'.Poor little thingF'
Eyes. II she were to get a bad huS-
band!"
"Oh, / should kill any man who
would treat her badlyg'
'There N only one way of escaping
that"
.Ahg' said the elder brother. with