Imperial Valley press., 1911-11-20

Nevertheless she was very lonely and
ready to catch at any straw that might
bring her companionship.
On entering the room where the
meeting was held Miss Weathersby re-
ceived shock Men and women
whose hair was either sprinkled with
gray or had turned white were chat
ting together, any one Of whom, she
thought must be older than herself.
She was received by the chairwoman
Of the ladies' reception committee and
made bold to express the opinion that
those she saw present were entirely
too old for marriage To her aston
ishment the lady Informed her that
most of the women present were her
juniors.
A gentleman was presented to Miss
Weathersby, whose name she did not
near, who began to chat with her, nat
urally choosing for a subject the pur-
poses of the exchange. Miss Wealth
ersby declared that she had come sim
ply from curiosity; that she was per-
fectly satisfied with single life and
would not marry on any account.
Perhaps said the gentleman,
years ago you loved some young man
from whom fate separated you"
Rather say his own innate wicked
ness"
And you were obliged to send him
away?''
Il certainly was
Sometimes in such matters the wo-
man is partly at fault"
That was not so in my case,"
Il was dismissed by girl l loved.
I was but twenty-five years old, she
nineteen. She considered herself very
badly treated by me- l felt sure that
she was in error. therefore if l yield
ed to her ! would not only make a
mistake in that instance, but be oblig-
ed to continue yielding to her, right or
wrong, throughout our married lives.
Therefore | refused, and she dismissed
| me-
MY case was very different" said
Miss Weathersby. II was entirely
right. and my lover was entirely
wrong. l had a brother who needed
| my care l insisted on his living with
me after my marriage. My lover very
/ selfishly declined the arrangement. l
naturally clung to my brother and let
my lover GO
"Was your brother worthy Of the
sacrifice of the happiness Of two per-
sons"
He was"
"Affectionate. unselfsh. honorable?"
"All these"
"Is he still living with your
mo. He died twenty years ago"
There was pause in the dialogue,
during which the gentleman looked
thoughtfully at his companion and
with tinge of melancholy in his eye
Then he said:
what would you think Of your ac
tion if it could be proved to you that
your brother was unworthy of the sac
rifce you made for him-a sacrifice
that involved your lovers lifelong hap
piness?'
mo such supposition is possible"
He drew forth his pocketbOok and
took out a paper which he handed to
her She read it. and every vestige
of color left her face. 1t was con-
fession written many years before to
her lover by this same brother that
he had stolen money from him, the
confession being made on condition
that the debt was Cancelled and the
theft kept secret. When Miss
Weatherby looked up she gasped:
And you are Tom?'
II am Tom"
why did you not tell me Of this
at the time it occurred?"
81 preferred that you should choose
between me and your brother rather
than between me and a criminal. A
!Over. a husband who is willing to be
second to any one is weakling."
From the time of her entrance into
the world to the present moment Miss
Weathprsby had been one of those
women who are best described by the
words. "She knows it ALL" This trait
was strengthened by strong will.
The paper that trembled in her hand
had produced in her revolution. 1t
came late. but it left in her not one
trace of her former fault. From a
lioness she had become a lamb.
II beg your forgiveness for showing
you that paper" resumed the man.
Il had an object in doing so. For
two decades have lived in foreign
country. Returning, l received an in
vitation to join this exchange and ac-
cidentally learned that you were a
member. l came here with one OBJ
ject, to meet you. and that we should
meet understandingly I preferred to
explain the past"
At the next regular meeting Of the
exchange the president announced
that the first match had been made.
Mr.. Thomas Harrington and Miss Ma.