El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-05-01
The HeTald's Daily
ShortStsry
A PrOvidentiaI Aunt

II he hau ever seen a prettier face, and
concluding that he had not.
Test IS real mean to most people"
she explained I call him Test because
anyone he makes friends with is sure
10 be the right sort"
1t must be nice to possess a dog
who Is such an unfailing Judge of char
acter, said George. rejecting even as
ne spoke He hoped she would give
MN an excuse to prolOng the interview
ana experienced a most unreasonable
delight when he found that she was
not ayerse to conversation
mat Is So she answered i find
Dim real useful l have him out here
With me today on purpose, because am
expecting a visit from a big school
boy, and 1 presume Test will tell me
what to think of him faster than I can
find out for myself"
4 suppose you wouldn't lend him to
ne said George, with the smile for
winch ne was justly celebrated. I too,
am just going TO meet some one for
the first time. and I should like TO ap-
Ply the Test. Perhaps you know the
woman 1 am in search of as you are
staying here. and she is one of your
country women
May I ask what country you reckon
I belong top
The finest in the world said
George, promptly atOning for his in
discretion. America"
Who is the woman you are looking
lorE' she asked with polite indiffer-
My aunt. Mrs. Jabez Shorter An
elderly woman, L believe. Do you know
hero
Why, yes. certainly But she's not
expecting you. is she2"
- believe she is. At least, she in
Elted me 10 visit her Ny name is
George Lascelles. She has not, per
maps, mentioned me to you"
The girls face crimsoned.
Test she said we may as well 90
indoors There's no schOOlbOy coming
today Ar Lasceues, I am the old
woman you have come to see-yOur
aunt, Mrs. Jabez Shorter"
II was George who crimsOned now.
Good heavens" he exclaimed. can
You explain it,"
She cOuld-aBd did in the course Of
the evening
AT IS she had been persuaded into
n.arrylng JabeZ Shorter. and she made
MIN good wife until the day OF their
mutual release He had spoken little
70 her OF his English connections but
she had put two and two together for
lerself, gathering that expectations
Lau been raised and diSa ppOinted. and
she knew that if Jabez had not mar
iled again George LaScelles would have
Geen his heir. Concerning George per
sOnaIly, she had known as little as It
was possible to know. and the only
photograph of him that Jabez had ever
SHOWN uer represented a boy of 10 in
an Eton Jacket During the early days
or her WlOOWhOOd, she became Dos
seSSed by a desire TO offer compensa-
tADAl ~ TINS uuhnOHn English boy. and
finally decided to see for herself
whether he was worth all she thought
OF doing for him. Hence her letter to
Mrs. Lascelles.
George got an extension Of leave.
pleading urgent private business, and
a fortnight later ne was still arguing
with JabeZ ShOrter's widow about the
lmposslbility OF his accepting from her
any Of the compensation" she had in
tended TO bestOw. They were out again
among the ltlacs and syringas.
II Is perfectly absurd saiT the
providential aunt that you should have
any scruples about it, Your career is at
stake"
I know" said George: but there are
some things more important than even
a career. It was impossible the day I
first met YOU II IS 10 times more i'm
possible today"
perfectly.
Because I love you"
That reason isn't good enough II
you loved me you would want to please
me II I loved you
w ell, what would you do2'
would marry yOu-if you asked
And that was how George LascelIes
made the most OF his prospects with
Inc Providential Aunt"