Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-09-07
HE COULDN'TWINH HER

tyrll BradthurSt were friends and rivals
for the smiles and favors of Iva Lawton
the beautiful and accomplished daughter
of old Major Stephen Lawton, Philadel-
phia real estate dealer of considerable
wealth.
Both young men were well connected
and moved in the best society," and it
seemed uncertain who would be successful
in capturing the fair prize each coveted
Granton was fair haired, with brown
eyes, and his manners were unaffected as
well as polished.
Bradthurst had coal black hair and eyes,
and it was sometimes limited he was
rather ''sporty" for respectable young
man of the sedate Quaker City. His man
ners were dashing, and he had always
been fiatteringly successful in attracting
the attention and admiration of the fair
sex.
Although the two young men under
stood their position in regard to Miss Law
ton, neither seemed inclined to discuss the
situation with the other, and their friend.
ly relations continued while both were
striving to 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. 1t was thought
that whoever proved the lucky man would
receive 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 a strange proposal.
ave are both in love with Miss Law
ton," said Bradthurst. Neither of us
knows which one she cares for the most.
I think we had better settle the question
this day"
How" questioned the other, half sus-
pecting forthcoming challenge to duel.
by going to her and telling her the
truth-that is, that we love her. Then wo
shall 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 I'M
DERIVING purpose, so he demurred. This
appeared to arouse the anger of Brad
thurst, and fixing his piercing eyes OH the
others he cried:
by heaven, you shall do it whether you
want to or not'
Granton made no further objection and
they proceeded to call on Miss Lawton.
She happened to be at home and willing
to receive them, although surprised by
their unexpected visit.
Then a strange thing happened Gran
ton did not wait for his comrade to speak,
but Immediately said;
Miss Lawton, l have come hero to tell
you something you do not suspect, and
that is that am not worthy of the friend
ship and esteem you have given me. l
fancy have prevented you and Cyril from
becoming better friends than you arc
now, but hereafter will trouble you no
more. My past record will not bear inves-
tigation, and SO bid you goodby forever"
This was said in q strangely mechanical
manner and Granton Immediately depart
ed although Bradthurst, apparently pain
ed and filled with CONSERVATION, tried to
prevent him by gentle means.
The emotions of the young lady can
better be imagined than described. Brad
thurst explained the real object Of their
call, protesting utter amazement 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
universal attention. He grew worse and
worse, and in less than three weeks he was
o1 nv r,,oItoo1
insane and incarcerated in an asylum for
the deranged
With clear field, it seemed that IL
would be an easy matter for Cyril Brad
thurst to win Iva Lawton, but it did not
prove So The girl retired from society,
gave up all her former pleasures and lived
life of seclusion. All efforts to cheer her
and bring her back to her old ways were
fruitless.
She seemed to entertain a positive dread
of Cyril Bradthurst, and he soon found it
impossible to obtain word with her.
Bradthurst regularly visited his former
friend in the asylum, and it was soon not
ed Granton was slightly worse after these
visits. He would sometimes recover and
seem natural and sane for day or two,
but with the appearance Of Bradthurst he
had a relapse.
For long time Bradthurst continued
to hope he would finally succeed In win
ming Iva Lawton, but at length, driven to
desperate measures by his inability to see
her face to face, he proposed by letter.
Her reply utterly crushed his hopes, and
he took to drinking again.
Within week terrible accident shock
ed Bradthurst's friends. While on his way
to New York the young man fell in some
mysterious manner from the express train
and was fatally injured. Ere he died he
made a remarkable and astonishing con-
fession.
In this confession he declared Walter
Granton was not insane at all, but was in
a mesmeric trance. Bradthurst possessed
tho power of mesmerism, of which he had
not been conscious until the day he de-
manded that Granton should accompany
him to call on the girl they both loved
Then he found he could control his
friend fully by looking deep into his eyes
and suggesting words and actions. A sort
of mysterious telegraphy was established
between them, and Granton acted and
spoke as Bradthurst desired.
BY causing Granton to do strange and
unnatural things Bradthurst had succeed
ed in having him removed to an asylum
as one deranged.
The story was generally discredited by
the public, but it was noted that from the
hour Bradthurst drew his last breath
Granton appeared once more sane man.
In short time he was released from the
asylum as cured, :" and today he is pros
porous business man in San Francisco.
His wife ia the true hearted one who
loved him even though she had heard him
declare himself unworthy of her.-Buffalo
News.
Bert: don't sse any use in this geo.