Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1913-04-11
HIS FRIENDS
FIANCEE
A Man Was Saved From
a Woman'S Tolls and a
Friendship Broken
By EDWARD COMPTON

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What can 1 do for you, Mr.. Dill,
lon?"
The question was asked by a young
man of an old one who had called
upon him at his bachelor rooms. The
two seated themselves, and Mr.. Dillon
explained his visit
you are my sons most intimate
friend, John, and have more influence
over him than any other man. Jim
has come to a crisis In his life and is
likely to be wrecked. / wish you to
try to save him"
You mean his infatuaton for Clara
MarklandE'
Il do. | am convinced that she
wishes to marry him for what he will
inherit from me; that she cares moth
ing for him; that as his wife she will
be constantly encouraging the atten-
tons OF other men, and In the end
there will be a divorce, he being oblig-
ed to pay her very large alimony."
why do you not make 1t known TO
the lady that you will disinherit him
If he marries herr
Such a course would make a breach
between him and me- He is my only
child, and we have always been friends
as well as father and son. In any
thing else than an infatuadon for a
woman he would do as / might ask.
The only way to handle this case is
to convince him beyond a doubt that
the woman is fooling him, and l ap-
peal to you to accomplish that If pos
sible."
John Turner sat in deep thought for
awhile, then said:
you are asking me to make a
breach between Jim and me, but since
1t is far better that 1t should occur be-
tween him and me than between his
father and himself will do what i
can in the matter, but my experience
Is that one who interferes between a
man and the woman he loves or a girl
and the man she loves gets himself
disliked without securing the desired
end. / will, however, try to form a
plan by which / may show Jim the
woman's character without his being
aware that l know she is the woman
he loves. He has asked me to go with
him to call upon her, but have al
ways put him of with some excuse.
She has never seen me, which will
give me an advantage This is all
can say to you at present. II l save
Jim from an unfortunate marriage,
even at the expense of our friendship,
shall rejoice, Besides. would glad
ly serve his father"
Mr.. Dillon rose, pressed Turner's
hand and left him with thanks for the
spirit In which he had received his re-
quest. Dillon, whose inventive facul-
ties seemed to need the stimulant of
tobacco, lighted pipe and sat down
to think upon what he considered a
problem, the solution of which was al
most hopeless.
One afternoon not long after the in.
terview between Mr.. Dillon and John
Turner the latter telephoned his
friend jim to meet him at their club
for dinner. He hoped Jim would moi
fail him, slnce he had a communication
to make of a confidential nature Dill
Ion, who had no engagement with hi:
fancee for that evening, promised t.
be present, and at the appointed honI
the two met In the club lounglng room
What is 1t, old mani" asked Dillon
I'm In love-" replied Turner.
Good; there's an additional bond O.
union between US. You now know how
l feel, and We can sympathlze witt
each other. Who is sheF'
'The loveliest woman on the face o
the earth"
There must differ with you" smil
ed Jim. 81 happen to be engaged T.
the loveliest woman on earth myself"
when you see the one I refer to yol
will acknowledge yourself mistaken"
We'll, well; we won't quarrel abou
that. Tell me of her."
she is con6ding and gentle, bu
wtthal strong In honesty"
"She must be Clara Markland's twil
sister"
"She Is no woman's twin sister
There may be double stars in the fir
mament Of the heavens, but the woman
who has honored me with her regar,
is central SUM-"
You're enthusiastic, John. What
change from the man who received tn
announcement Of my engagement s.
coldlyl You've caught the fever your
self, my boy, and know now what
fiery disease 1t is. But you haven't tol,
me the lady's name"
"Nor can / at present"
'Why?"
Because We are not engaged"
But you will be. Besides, there
no harm In telling a chum that yol
love certain woman. On the con
trary, you are paying her a compl
ment."
There is harm In telling any frien
that a certain woman is considerln
whether or no she will accept an offe
Of marriage from me-"
"You should certainly marry an hor
orable woman. Your own sense O
honor is too keen to be practical"
ut is that high sense Of honor ir
born in the woman love which make
me honorable. II is understood be
tween us that neither shall say any
thing to involve the other till hav
her final answer. II ! supposed II pos
sible for you to discover whom | refe