Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1914-06-05
II WAS GREAT JOKE
Engaged to Daughter, Fortune
Seeker Changes Mind and
Marries Girls Mother.
BY B. J. KRONER.

absorption and worry, all the great
AFFAIRS OF life which had occupied his
time during the strenuous years fob
lowing his graduation from college,,
had not erased from his mind and
hsart the memory Of dainty care-free
Laura Tolman. his old sweetheart OF
the college days
He had suspected this before he TO
turned to the old scenes; now that
he was here ths conviction came to
him with crushing force Every
shaded walk. every lsafy retreat
every part Of the old college build
ings and the campus seemed to be
alive with her presence AS ne
walked the old familiar paths he
seemed 10 hear the music Of her girl
ish voice and TO catch the very aroma
Of her sweet presence
With a groan he admitted it-he
had failed utterly In the task he had
set himself out to perform He had
gone away that day when her en-
gagement to Bentiy was announced
determined to forget her. The strug-
gle that afternoon had been hard
one, snd many times he had thought
Of the river as the most peaceful
haven he could find Finally his
pride had triumphed, and, setting his
teeth with that peculiar gritty motion
the fellows on the gridiron knew so
well, he had said to himself:
Claude BeIknap. brace up Where
II the spirit OF your forebears? Are
you to let chit of a girl ruin your
life especially girl who throws you
over for . fellow who Is only after
her money!
And % he had gone braveiy away
with a song ON his lips, but with
gloom In his heart He had worked
hard. and not without success The
very xhole-heartefness with which he
threw himself into his work and
which was born OF his desire to 80
occupy himself that he would forget
the hughing face and saucy eyes OF
his college sweetheart, drove him ON
30 success- He had taken up siren
uouz profession, and II had carried
him to many Chimes and into much
danger
In the stress and heat Of the bat
tie with fortune be had battered him
self that the old wound had healed.
and finding himself IN the near victn-
fty OF the college town, he had rash
" decided to revisit the old scenes.
Then Ike the rush OF the tide came
the realization that he ever would love
the sweetheart Of his youth, wherever
she was and whatever her condition
or relationship The realization
frightened him when the thought
flashed across his mind that she was
the wife OF another.
Heartsfck with his own reflections.
he sought TO escape them by calling
oa Mizs Carrie Sample. who stfll lived
n the town, and who had been a
great chum In the old days He was
given so warm q welcome as to make
him forget for the moment the bf1fer
pain IN his heart The conversation
naturally reverted to the old college
days and the old boys and girls. Bel
knzp had been abroad 90 long and so
occupied with business that he had
lost track OF them to q considerable
extent. but Miss Sample, having lived
m ne PEARS under the very caves OF
the old coxzega. and being gossfpy
lady. knew where nearly al the old
classmates were, who they married.
how they were prospecting and all the
other details which 50 delight the
feminine heart
The conversation was animated and
extended. and Beiknap for the time
being forgot his heartache under the
magic of this clever and friendly lit
de woman
1t was when she dragged forth from
. sacred drawer bundle Of old class
photographs that he was most pain
fully recalled to his great sorrow
On. bat do you remember this pic
mic vs had she exclaimed. showing
. photograph In front of his very
nose
Did he remember, The blood
rushed back into his heart at the
memory until he thought he would
faint II was snapshot OF group
nj a picnic. the girls adorned with
the borg hats, and the boys wearing
the feminine millinery. 1t was Jus;
outside an apple orchard surrounded
by high stone fence, over which bat
at periious height hung bough OF
luscious fruit In the very center OF
the picture was Belknap, and perched
audaciousiy upon his shoulder was
Laura Toiman. supported by his strong
and steady arm, picking the apples and
throwing them down TO the laughing
comrades below. Did he remember
that picnicy 1t was the day when.
maddened by the contact with her
dainty self. he had poured forth his
love and then, frightened at his own
andacity. had stammered and failed
20 ask the vital question.
The photograph brought back all
the memories OF the afternoon, and
aroused an hts latent passion. As he