The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-08-16
! TEST OF LOVE ];
By John N. Dawson.

arthur turner was tall, blond.
handsome. and twenty-eight. He was
also the possessor OF a long head in
herited from the maternal side OF the
house. He was likewis a dutlful
son.
There was that dear little Miss
Dixon. whom he had met at the sea-
side. 1t had been a glorious evening
that last. They were sitting on
the VeFaada where they might see
and yet be unseen.
Il beg your pardon but will you
please excuse Arthur few moments?
broke In the maternal Turner. There
are those miserable business af-
fairs that must be attended to IN time
for the late mail"
And thus was he saved proyi-
dentially. for Elsie had not a cent.
and neither had heat least, not
many OF them. There were several
other occasions when his own long
head. or his mammals. had helped
him out. for Arthur was somewhat
susceptible. But it Is not OF these |
have to tell.
His time had come. The in-every
way desirable young person had pre-
scented herself. True. she was no,
so young as she had been; but, then,
that was mere trifie. She was Just
his own age. Of as good a family as
his own.
And thus 1t came to pass that this
Winter found him engaged to Miss
Mildred Field. much to the satisfac-
ton OF his mother. who was visiting
In Scotland. and to whom he, like
the dutiful son he was, sent the graf
flying news at once.
1t was In this frame Of mind that
one evening in February he ran light
ly up the steps Of the Fields house.
9e halted irresolutely. Papa Field
was speaking
'Of course. my dear, you are your
own mistress. and l can only advise
you. 1t seems to me. however, that
you have done u very foolish thing
to engage yourself to this young Tur-
ner. True. he seems an exemplary
young fellow. and he comes Of an ex-
cellent family; but 1t Is wei! known
that he has only u small allowance
from the estate In addition to beg
carly five hundred pounds salary.
"N-no. am sure you misjudged
him. or course. understand how
he Is situated financially. and-and
all that. But | am sure that he Is
honest and honorable. and that he
he cares for me very much. There
are a thousand ways by which can
learn much that you cannot, mld-"
"Yes, yes; understand. But sup
pose you should put him to the test.
Do you think he would come through
-ah-er unscathed, as 1t were?
Suppose you tell him that ! had lost
all your money and mine in unfortu-
nate speculation-that We were beg
CARS and had not penny We could
call our own? Are you afraid to try
htm?"
There was brief silence. Then:
Il don't like to tell falsehood,
papa; but It would be only white
lie.' and perhaps for the best. Yes,
III try him tomorrow night"
The next evening, with his usual
light heart and good spirits, he rang
the door-bell of No. Bellevue
Square. the residence of the Fields.
Presently she entered-slowly.
heavily. Her head bent low and her
breath came short and fast. Turner
went forward to meet her, his arms
outstretched.
Mildred, darling. What Is the
trouble with my little girl? Can
other good stroke. Miss Field liked
to be called "little.D
"Oh, Arthur. Arthur. don't
know how to tell you. Itri 8 too
dreadful. Papa
What! Has your father BEEN
"Oh. no, not that, but worse. Ar
thur. We are-beggars!"
He was very sorry as she must
know. But It was nothing. Her
father would recoup himself-he,had
many Influential friends. As for her,
had she not him-her Arthur? He
would not. he once Interrupted her
to say. permit her, through sense
OF false pride. to cast him off now,
when she most needed him. No,
never.
He had six hundred a year. 1t
wasn't much. he knew; but they
For Mildred had leaped to her feet
and was laughing heartily.
"Why ynn fnplISh how I u,a, o,1r