The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1906-10-18
for her happiness.

temper on the part OF the latNtls huN
the doctor was firm and nothing was
lone the exception OF the quiet
work the doctor did TO locate the re-
calcitrant lover.
Finally one glorious day the doctor
came home almost bursting with the
important news he had 10 give out
lie summoned Mistress Helen TO his
len with ap air OF mystery which
caused him an accounting with his
Ipouse. who rightly believed she should
20 the first 10 hear the news.
lie told Helen that he had succeeded
locating Bently Chalmers in a
western town where he was working
n an Office like a slave for thousand
lollars n year. Then the doctor and
Mistress Helen got their heads to-
,ether and concocted a great scheme
o bring nv. Runaway TO his mutton.
IS II were.
One day the humdrum life OF Bentl'
,halmers was interrupted by letter
rom an old.time friend In the old town
n the East-one OF the few who has
cen entrusted with his address TIL
liter filed him with a great sorrow
nd then with a great Joy which wipe
Iut the sorrow altogether. II told h,E
hat on account OF the shifting Of III,
values OF securities and a series OF
unfortunate investments OF her prop
erty. the entire fortune left Helen by
her father had been swept from the
boards and that she was practically a
pauper. The letter further said that
her pride was so strong that she re
fused TO remain with the doctor. who
had been all OF a father TO her. but
had determined TO go out as teacher
or governess-and added how sorry all
society was to lose so bright an orna-
ment. His correspondent went on to
comment on the pity of the situation
which sent frail and unequipped cir.
used to all the luxuries- out into
the merciless world TO suffer and
struggle-and perhaps die.
Chalmers finished the letter with a
whoop and two days later was speed
Ing eastward as fact as the limited
would carry him-with a weeks lay.
of to his credit.
Helen was charmingly pleased to
see him but somewhat reserved and
naughty as he attempted to explain his
flight. But he plead his cause with
eloquence and logic-and with passion
aud love and won, of course.
Il ought TO send you about your bus
mess and | am going to- think
and hesitating lost, or won. So she
went away with. her lover into the
little city In the great West, in the
role Of poverty and they started in to
live on a thousand a year. Luckily
he got raise of couple OF hundred
presently and they got on very well
I'm their little vine-clad cottage in the
suburb. But 1t was tight pinching and
they sighed now and then for the thea
ter parties and the automobiles and
the seashore-and the countless diver
sions of the other days. But the sighs
always ended In smiles and laughter
and in renewed assertions that they
would not trade the persent life for
the old one-no, not If all the gold of
Croesus we're to be thrown in.
This sort of thing went on all very
well until the doctor, on a western
trip to inspect some mining stock, be-
thought himself to stop of to see how
his ward was getting on. When he
saw the simple cottage he smiled
asantly-doubtless fad of Helen's.
But when he was ushered into the
plain little sitting room with its cheap
but tasty furniture he gasped, and
when he had sized up the apparel OF
the pair and partaken their plain but
appetizing supper. he began to think
hard.
Presently he got moment alone
with Helen.
what does this all mean?" he ex
claimed. Surely you have not gone
on fooling your husband all these
years?"
Blushingly she nodded her head
many times.
But why?" insisted the doctor.
There is no necessity for it and real
ly it must be hard work-and very
dull for you both"
mo, no, my dearest guardian" re-
piled Helen. I'VE are so very happy
that cannot bring myself to disturb
the dream.
But" exclaimed the doctor, mysti-
fed, what do you do with the checks
I send you every month";
do you want to know?" she re-
piled. Then follow"
In the sewing room she pulled an
little drawer in the sewing |
machine and extracted therefrom a
thread box which she handed to him |
with a blush. He opened it and there,
neatly piled up were all the drafts he |
had sent her since she had left his |
to many thousands |
Of dollars.
"And he still thinks he saved you
from poverty" queried the doctor,
"Yes-and don't you dare to init
mate to the contrary" replied Helen.
Good GIRL" said the doctor, leaning
over and kissing her, but we will
nave to lay up a little scheme for her
% make her money back, because
Chalmers-or any other man--will tire
If this sort Of an unequal some day.