The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-12-14
A CONUNDRUM
ny LOUIS .. CUMMINGS.


ciation.l
Herbert Glenn aud Laura Gather.
wood were guests AT "A house party ons
evening. At dinner the subject OF con.
versation turned upon how far wo.
man should stand by husband or a
lover who had committed criminal
ofrense. Miss Catherwood declared
that d wife IN sucn an event. II the
crime we're not too nagrant. was IN
duty Bound 10 give ner husband the
benefit, OF her support and encourage
ment. hut nota nance, For herself she
would break an engagement With any
man VINO proved himself unworthy.
Severai OF the guests looked at tiienn
lnquiriugiy Noticing their eances. he
remarked. III the girl ! loved sinned
/ would stand Dy ner not because it
was my duty, but because / loved
her."
spoken like a manH said the host.
-But really The case wonid be re-
versed. A man would stand by wo-
man IN such case through either
duty or pity or both Ibe woman
would stand by the man through
love"
There was soue debate on this prop
isltion. but when me party eft the
table the subject was dropped and for.
gotten
one day week later the host called
his guests inro the drawing room. shut
the doors and saia % them
One ~ us. q lady this morning left
a valuable brooch o. ner dresser when
she came down 10 breakfast. nut
thining ID unwise 20 leave All article
BIT such vaIue 10 exposed. went smnie-
diately back FOR ii she nad not peen
gone from her room I'VE minufes. but
the brooch was gone Investigator
has convinced ne that there was no
one Ia the noase except those ID this
apartment and the servants aud TINT
nome OF the servants was upstairs at
the time one OF us Is thief Ny
only action IN the matter shaH be to
express my regret at the occurrence TO
you al and to reimburse my guest for
her loss
Every one stood mute for a moment.
Then one OF the men said:
Il. for one. cannot rest even az one
Of a number thus suspected | de-
mand that while we are here you have
our rooms searched and then search
every one Of US
Every guest joined In the demand.
but ii was proposed thar the guests be
first searched. since If the brooch were
found Oh any Of them they would the
sooner be relieved from an embar-
RAISING confinement A committee Of
two. man and woman. were deput-
ed 10 make the search.
Laura Catberwood had been exam
ined and was standing apart from the
throng when Herbert Glenn approach
ed her and, giving her an appealing
look. handed her something wrapped
In bit Of paper,
Had the roof dropped upon her she
could not have been more startled or
crushed. Not knowing what 10 do.
she did nothing. She deemed it her
duty 10 denounce her lover, but could
not force her tongue to speak the
words. Glenn was the last man
searched. after which the doors we're
thrown open and the guests scattered
Glenn and Miss Catherwood alone re-
manning In the drawing room.
How could you have done such
thing?' were the first words gasped by
Miss Catherwosd
II wanted II for you. 1t was done
In moment when all realization Of
the enormity OF the offense had de
serted me passed an open door, saw
the brooch ana sudden desire seized
me 70 see II In your possession When
IL was too late saw what | had done.
release you from your engagement
All ask Is your forgiveness
Miss Catherwood without word
left him. For two days he pleaded his
cause with her though be asked only
Tor forgiveness, not q continuance Of
their engagement, On the third day
she forgave him. at the same time
breaking the engagement. and on the
fifth consented TO take him back on
probation.
The evening that Glenn was restor-
ed. while the party were at dinner. q
small gold covered dish was brought
IN and placed on the table before tue
aost.
What's in itT" be asked.
There were plenty OF guesses. but
none correct At last all cried, olive
It up
Perhaps you may remember" said
the host, "a discussion az this table
during which ayerred that a woman
would stand BY man she loved 10
case be prove unworthy and because
she loved him II WAS determined be-
tween Herbert Glenn and myself to
arrange test case. Herbert being de-
sirous to see II his fancee would act