The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1894-11-16
a LOVE TEST.
The False Heart of Maude Thros-
ford Laid Bare
SYDNEY Bruce Was che First virtlse5
Herbert Field. Too, u Dtiuded.-rhe
PromIslng Drama Resolves NS
Into Pretty Comedy.

CRATE FIRE and a shaded lamp. The
master Of the house, Sydney Bruce,
who leaned back lazily in the arm
chair, was dark and Of uncertain
age. His guest, Herbert Field, was
fair and young.
Both men we're exceedingly hand
some, but sorrow was Stamped on
the face Of Sydney Bruce, and the
direct rays of the lamp under which
he was sitting showed lines Of care
plainly.
''You ask me. my dear Herbert,
why never married? Well. it is
not very long story. Itgoes back
four years. About that time iof
course you don't remember, as you
were in Europe, but il may have
reached you there-the Emery Min
ing company failed, and Ilost all l
say all, because was then engaged
to beautiful girl Of eighteen.
i went to her secure in the love
thought she bore me and told her
my story. | painted my ruin in
darker colors than the real truth,
for / did have little fortune left me
by my mother, which was safe in the
bank. / shall never forgether face
when she said in freezing tone
MIR Bruce, all is over between
ne and catherine I'm her dress dhe
swept from the room"
"She must have been tiend,
said Herbert Field.
ION the contrary, she had an
angels face, fair and good to look
upon. No, Herbert, all women are
but human, even girl OF eighteen.
II do not believe that, Sidney.
Why, ! know if I should go to my be-
trothed and say: My love, i have
lost all, she would cling the closer
to me and love me all the more. =
''Do not try her, Herbert. As j
said before, women are but human.
"Now that you have put the mo-
tion into my head / believe shall
try the scheme Just to show you that
all women are not what you picture
them. ! will go tonight and say:
MY love, my speculations have
proved disastrous, and am ruined
man, and then, my dear boy, / viii
prove to you that have jewel, for
I know that Maude Thretford will
not desert me-"
Sidney Bruce gave a start at the
name, and as if by accident put out
the light. He rose and laid his hand
on his friends shoulder: For Gods
sake, Herbert, don't do this thing.
You don't know
nv, old man, you s,,nsO cpt "a
about bfnething hsrbelt ~
swered, laughinglv
Nothing will change You from
your purpose?p
Nothing, answered Herbert
We'll, then, good-by,a his host
sadly.
"tGood-by, Sidney? You mean
good night
Good night" But Sidney Bruce
chung to his friends hand, and at
length watched him depart with
misgivings. AS soon as hehad gone
Sidney Bruce rang the bell and or
dered his trunk 10 be sent to the
station. 1t was still unpacked, for
he had just arrived that afternoon,
Then he sat down and wrote to his
friend:
"MI DKAR BoY: 1 cannot remain and see
your misery. It is fate. Our lives have been
ruined by one Woman-Maude Threttord RE
member, 1t Is much better to have this blow
come now than-afterward, yet would Give
my hearts blood II this affair had never hap
pened. Good-by. 1 am of to Europe again
SIDNEY BRUoE
When the little clock on the man
tel chimed ten Sidney Bruce was on
his way to the city. Soon after.his
departure into the room, with die.
iected mien and pale face, came its
owner, Herbert Field. He bowed
his head on the table and wept tears
wrung from his heart, III had
proved, as Sidney said, she was i'suf
human" after all. His idol swas
shattered, and life seemed not worth
living. Suddenly he thought of his
friend, and his eyes fell upon the let
ter lying open upon the table. He
read it over and over again. then
threw it into the CRATE. The FIRE
was almost gone, but the letter re-
vived it, and the blaze burst forth.
Herbert Field dashed the tears
from his eyes, and thought: '..Tust
as that letter has revived the hope
less fire, so will I fevive my ruined
life. 1t is only towards act to fy
from sorrow to suicide. will bear
it, | will forget it; and like Sidney,
dear old Sydney, live onr'
The news went like wild6re
through the country. The great
fortune of the Fields had been lost
in wild speculations, and Young
Field had vanished, no one knew
where. People talked about ii for
some time. Then came the start.
ling news that they had been wrong
entirely wrong. The speculations
had proved TO be not only good, but
young Field had added another for