Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1912-04-10
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

+ Serious Complication +
F By F. A. Mitchell +
+ Copyright by American Fress Assoc +
citation, 1911. +
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
In colonial days in Virginia there
was society that was unique.
A number OF planters with their fam
lilies were assembled at winter fes-
tivai in the manor house of lie Roy
Chalmers. There were driving. horse
back riding. shooting and other sea-
sonable sports. affording a merry time
to all. Beatrice Chalmers was the
acknowledged belle of the party. not
only on account of her comeliness. but
q certain dash there was about her.
an impulsiveness which was constantly
bursting through conventional re-
straint. The young people Of the party
had done more or less pairing of, but
Miss Chalmers, being a hostess, had re-
Trained from accepting more attention
from any one Of the men guests than
another.
Nevertheless there were two who, it
was generally conceded. were nearer
to her than the others-the one, Ed
mond Dargan. creole from Louisiana;
the other. Louis Fitz Maurice. a young
Virginia attorney. Dargan had re-
Gently come to Virginia, had made the
acquaintance of Colonel Chalmers. who
with the hospitality of the times and
the locality had invited him to his
house. Fitz Maurice had known Bea-
trice Chalmers from childhood and was
in love with her: but. being only an
attorney. which was then considered
greatly inferior to being a planter.
and since he had no fortune. he had
kept his passion to himself. At any
rate. he had not spoken it.
One day when the party were re-
turning from a hunt Miss Chalmers
missed her riding whip. In the han
die was a valuable diamond. Her ex-'
pressive face at once showed how
keenly she felt the loss. They had
been riding through thickly wooded
country. and it was quite possible that
the whip might not be found
what will you give the finder?"
asked one Of the young men.
At that moment Dargan, who had
fallen behind the others. rode up and.
having heard the question and know
ing the impulsive nature of the girl.
said:
"Yourself?"
Eyes. myself" said Beatrice. "and
all l possess"
Every young man of the party turn,
ed his horses head to the direction
from which they had come and spur
red away to look for the lost whip. A
short distance from the manor house
they met Fftz Maurice and Carey EN-.
mons. who were just. coming in. Fftz
Maurice succeeded in stopping one of
the riders long enough. to discover
what they were returning for. but in
stead of joining them rode on to the
house with Miss Emmons Then he
saw the ladies of the party standing on
the porch. At seeing him Miss Chal-
mers cried out:
Aren't you going to look for my rid
ing whipy
you would not have me be so dis
courteous as to leave Miss Emmons?"
certainly not But, now that Miss
Emmons is here. see nothing to pre-
vent your returning to search with the
rest.''
Nothing but that the whip has
doubtless been already found"
A look something akin to reproach
flashed in Beatrice's eyes at what she
considered this ungallant treatment.
Half an hour later the men were
seen riding back headed by Dargan.
who held aloft the recovered whip
Miss Chalmers. who saw it all through
a window. knit her brow and cast
deprecating glance at Fitz Maurice.
who was standing near. In few mo
ments the hunters threw themselves
from their horses, which were taken
away by negro slaves, and all followed
Dargan into the house. Advancing to-
ward Miss Chalmers. he dropped on
one knee and handed her the whip.
You have found my whip" she said
1T remains with you to say If you
wish the offered reward"
Il certainly do wish it and claim it
as my right
Every one present except the man
addressed. who was on his knees with
head bowed. saw by the expression on
the lady's face that she certainly did
not wish 1t. and every one saw a half
reproachful. half appealing glance she
threw at Fitz Maurice before replying:
mo Chalmers has ever gone back
on his or her word. My friends. l
have to announce my engagement to
Mr.. Dargan."
There was clapping of hands from
some who considered the matter to be
mere banter and frowns from others
who believed the girl would be foolish
enough to sacrifice herself to a false
sense Of honor. Dargan took her
hand. kissed it, rose. and the party dis
persed.
The same evening Fitz Maurice. find
ing Darpan WALKING aIOno undor sorno