The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-05-05
SOME ODD STORIES.
Love, Friendship and Rivalry In tho Quaker
City-she Was Trueto the One She Loved
Best, Even Though He Declared Himself
Unworthy.

City-She Was True to the One She Loved
Best, Even Though He Declared Himself
Unworthy.
copyright. 1898, by American Press Associa-
toni
Eight years ago Walter Granton and
Cyril Bradthurst were friends and rivals
for the smiles and favors Of Iva Lawton, the
beautiful and accomplished daughter of
old Major Stephen Lawton, PHILADELPHIA
real estate dealer of considerable wealth.
Both young men were well connected and
moved in the best society, and 1t seemed
uncertain who would be successful in cap-
turing the fair prize each coveted.
Grantop was fair haired, with brown
eyes, and his manners were unaffected as
well as polished. Hradthurst had coal
black hair and eyes, and it was sometimes
limited he was rather sporty for respect
able young man of the sedate Quaker City,
His manners were dashing and he had al
ways been f1atteringiy successful in attract
ing the attention and admiration of the fair
sex.
Although the two young men understood
their position in regard to Miss Lawton,
neither seemed inclined to discuss the stu
Rtion with the other, and their friendly re-
lations continued while both were striving
10 win the affection of the girl they loved
and hoped to marry.
A rivalry Of this sort usually makes the
best OF friends enemies, but this case seemed
an exceptional one It was thought that
whoever proved the lucky man would re-
ceive the congratulations and best wishes
Of the other
AT length Granton began to fancy him
self the favored one, and within his heart
Bradthurst thought SO too. AS result the
young man with the coal black eyes began
to drink more than was good for him, and
one night, meeting Granton, he made
strange proposal.
We are both in love with Miss Lawton,"
said Bradthurst Neither of us knows
which one she cares for the most think
we had better settle the question this day."
"HowP' questioned the other, half sus-
pecting forthcoming challenge to a duel
BY going to her and telling her the
truth-that is, that we love her. Then we
will ask her to choose between us. The
one who is rejected shall be best man for
the other and hold no hard feelings. What
do you say?"
This seemed fair and manly enough, but
Granton could not help suspecting an un-
DERIVING purpose, SO he demurred. This
appeared to arouse the anger of Bradthurst,
and fixing his piercing eyes on the others
he cried:
~ neasen, you sn'aii w ~ "ne'nei you
SIpe ~ al wy snouon ,1ranron nade No ,nr.
ther objection. and thew proceeded to call
IN Miss Iavvton She barnaned 70 bo o.
home and WILLING tn receive them altbongb
surprised bv their unexnected visit
Then a STRANGE thing hannened Granton
did not wait for his comrade 10 sneak Init
immediately said:
ssMiss Lawton. T have come here tn toll
Won something Won donot, ansnect and that
is that am NOT, worthy 81 the friendshin
and esteem you have given me. / fancy I
have prevented Won and Cyril from becom-
ing better friends than84vol1 now are h,7t
hereafter viii trouble YOU no more. NV
past record will not bear investigation. and
SO I bid you eoodby foreyer.u
This was said in a strangely mechanical
manner. and Granton immediately depart-
ed, although Bradthurst. apnarentiv NAMED
and filed with Consideration. tried to nra-
vent by gentle means. The emotions of the
young lady can better be imagined than de-
scribed. Bradthurst explained the real oh
iect of their call. protesting utter amaze.
ment at the strange words Of his comrade,
From that time Walter Granton acted in
the most Singular and cratic manner. and
his peculiar behavior soon attracted uni
yersal attention. He grew worse and worse
and in less than three weeks he was exam.
ined by medical experts. pronounced in
sane and incarcerated in an asylum for the
deranged
With clear field. it seemed that il would
be an easy matter for Cvril Bradthnrst to
win Iva Iayyton. but it did not nrove TINS
The girl retired from society gave mn ali
her former pleasures and lived q life If 60
clusion. Ali efforts 70 cheer her ard hr;no
her back to her old WAYS were fruitless
She seemed TO entertain q nositive dread of
Cyril Bradthurst. and he soon fonnd if i'm
possible to obtain word with her
Bradthurst regularly visited his former
friend in the ASYLUM. and II was soon noted
Granton was slightly worse after these vis-
it's. He would Sometimes recover and seem
natural and sane for day or two. but with
the appearance of Bradthurst he had a re-
lapse
For a long time Rra1thurst continued To