Catoctin clarion., 1921-09-29
Elsie Wins a
Grandpa
BY HUBERT R. PLAIN
%. 1874. western Newspaper Union }

ufen OF tWelNc, anu thouShS AOA
deeply and more to a purpose than
some people Of twenty.
Under her arm she carried small
cardboard box, neatly done up III
wrapping paper and carefully tied. TO
her way Of thinking 1t was very I'M
portant belonging. When she came
to the neat little cottage known as
the Hyde home, she found its spinster
occupant, Miss Susan, resting ON
rustic bench after her exertions In
trimming the rose bushes.
Miss Hyde liked the Danvers people
greatly, and little Elsie particularly
well.
Miss Hyde received her little visitor
with a welcome smile. She at once
noticed the serious face, usually so
sunny. She made room for Elsie on
the garden seat.
Miss Hyde" spoke Elsie at once,
II heard some people telling about
the parcels post"
"Have you something you wish to
send, Elsie? asked Miss Hyde.
"Yes, ma'am, have" said Elsie In
a prompt, business-like way. II heard
mamma crying the other day while
she was telling the minister's wire
about my grandfather. ! never knew
l had one before. He hasn't been
very good to mamma, but maybe ne
doesn't know how she loves him, anu
how she puts some flowers ON his
picture whenever his birthday comes
around. On my birthday two friends
gave me the same present-thOse III
tie speaking dolls, you know. Well,
I'm sending one Of them as present
TO grandpa in this box, and I've writ
ten him little note in it telling him
about poor papa and all of us. and l
want you to direct five got his
name and everything: Mr.. John
Marsh, Rushville'-and send 1t for me
through the parcels post
IL will do just as you say, dear,
she said, land nobody shall know
about it except you and l."
Elsie parted with her precious pack
age with supreme confidence In her
good friend. Miss Hyde took 1t down
to the postotfice and mailed 1t. She
did some thinking on the way. She
had heard of stern, hard-hearted old
John Marsh. Mrs. Nellie Danvers, the
orphan child of brother, had been
adopted by the old man. Later he
also took charge of Eunice Ross,
distant relative Mr.. Marsh did not
seem to disapprove Of his wards mar
riage to Albert Danvers. Yet, while
they were off on their honeymoon Ire
had written to them, fOrbidding them
to ever approach him again In any
way.
Nellie had written, pleading for an
explanation. 1t was coldly refused.
The next thing she heard was that
her uncle was arranging to will his
fortune to Eunice. Then she was
shocked to hear of the death of the
latter. Since then old John Marsh
had shut himself in to a miserly, cheer
less existence.
John Marsh, Rushville," received
the parcels post package two days
later. He carried 1t into the house.
opened it, and read the tiny childish
note 1t contained. His eyes glared.
He gritted his teeth as he gave the
suueaky doll a fling through door
way, into the room Eunice had once
occupied.
All the same, he did not sleep very
well that night.
A squeak, clear and distinct, sound
ed through the house. Noiselessly the
old man arose from his bed and
reached the sitting room. In the one
beyond, where he had flung the doll,
was light. He seized gun he Kept
always loaded, crept to the open door
way, and made out two masked men
ransacking a desk that had not been
opened since Eunice died.
Bang John Marsh fred and the
burglars disappeared.
The old man found bag left be-
hind by the burglars filled with money
and papers secured from his own
wardrobe. Then, as he began to pick
up the papers strewn about from the
desk Eunice had owned, he made q
startling discovery.
What had estranged him from Mel
lie was a letter apparently In her
handwriting shown him by the plot
ting Eunice. Addressed to her lover,
1t referred to her uncle In sneering
terms, telling how she cared only for
the fortune he might leave her. Now,
among the scattered papers, John
Marsh found evidences Of Eunice hav-
ing laboriously practiced to counter
felt Nellie's handwriting.
Towards the end of the week, as
Elsie was sitting in the garden an old
man opened the gate. Carefully re-
packed, he carried the parcels post
package.
"Why," shouted the little miss, all
smiles and dimples-"I know who you
re-grandpa-'cause that's the box
sent, and-Oh, l must tell mamma !"
1t was fearful, yet happy inter-
view, that which followed between
uncle and niece. All was explained,
and when Mr. Danvers came home
that evening, he learned that all the
family were to return to Rushville,
where he was to have free, glad
some life caring for the old mans
property.
"Dear little child" said John Marsh,
fondly stroking the golden-haired
fairy who had brought all this about
"my fortune saved, my sOld-time hap
piness back to me, all through you
and that blessed parcels post" A