Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1914-04-17
WHEN CRASH CANE
Then His Sweetheart Stood by
Hin Through Twenty Years
Hard Struggle.
by DUDLEY JAMES.

women. lie looked into ueIo Win Inc
expression of the hunted stag
There was that In his face, however.
which relieved IL from the. suggestion
of fear and painted into his personal
ity the mark OF the hero.
She saw II and understood
stood not at all what his trouble and
his fear was. but understood that II
was the desperation OF brave man;
and her heart OF hearts yearned to
help him and comfort him.
She was no longer girl, yet re-
tanned the ineffable charm OF sweet
sixteen Her attitude toward the man
was unmlsfakable She was his sweet
heart. hia very own patient. passion
ate. loving and self-abnegating.
He was a handsome fellow--or
would have been had It not been for
the lines of care and suffering In hts
frail face. There were great lines In
the face and the head was marvellous
In it's shape and proportions. and the
wide. straight mouth and the steady
eyes told OF indomitable purpose to
conquer physical weakness.
They had been lovers for SO long
that they had forgotten the measure
of the years. Since early childhood
they had been playmates and chums.
but since one memorable day--ahl the
woman remembered the very day and
date. after aii-they had been ac-
.cepted lovers the one to the other. II
was very. very long ago. is. IS. IT.
perhaps A. much as 20 years back In
the past.
II waa all so full OF promise and
happiness then. He was young. bril-
liant, rich, when he asked her for her
promise. obtained IL. and went brave
~ away 20 college 10 ~ himself for q
great career And In all the land
lived no such happy girl. She had
found her own true knight and he had
broken his lance At her very feet. All
she had 70 do was TO wait and dream
What more could fair maid desire7
And 50. meath sunny skies. with no
cloud on the horizon. the two fond
hearts waited the fruition OF their
hopes. impatient only AT the length OF
the daya and nights which interviewed
between them and bliss.
Then came the crash. and In single
moment Clarence learned he was the
orphan OF bankrupt and Suicide
and hts loved and respected father
would have been convict had be not
forestaiied II all by taking his own lifs
II was terrible blow. but Clarence
never wasercd- He left college within
the hour. never to return. and brnvely
took up the burden left BY his father
II was an awful task for an inexperi.
euced youth. without business train.
Ing. who had always been taught that.
como what might. the fortune OF the
family was safe and that his ambi,
tIona we're to find an outlet In other
ways than money-getting. Besides.
.he Ioathed business with the true.ab-
fhorrenca OF the born arlstocrat
\ But be never fllnched. He mastered
THE situation and started In 70 work
out the problem After tho remnants
Of bis fathers fortune had been gath
cred together and paid 10 his credi.
tors. despite the protests OF his moth
tr and sistess. Clarence obtained cm-
pioymcnt with a business concern and
pushed along doing work at which his
very soul abhorred He supported hls
mother and the far1lly. educated his
younger brother AID. above and be-
yond II aIl. paid in year BIZ year what
he could save Ia reduce his fathers
debts.
But the years were long and dreary
and the great cloud OF the debts hid
the sunlight beyond. Only one ray OF
light did he have-excepting Alice. OF
course-and that was that certain ar
'tlcles be wrote were accepted from
time 10 time BY magazines OF the bet
ter class Upon these articles and
their acceptance Clarence and Alice
built their fondest hopes. For Alice
never wavered IN her love and accept
ed the year OF waiting as her very
heritage.
The strain on the man was fearful,
and he felt things giving way within
him. One day he consulted a physi-
clan and emerged from his ONCE with
al g ~ tHHtVA va IA" Aa&d WHICH L0ifl~
bined resolution with fear. After this
be ever looked haunted. but always
resolute.
The debts had been paid. the boy
educated, the girls married and the
mother was dead Then came an Of
fer from great magazine TO take up
a series of Investigations along tho
lines Of his writings on the basis OF a
very liberal salary. A representative
of the magazine had come to see him
and close with him. The interview
was over and he had come straight to
Alice.
So they stood. she looking into his
eyes with selfefracing devotion. and
he looking into hers with the expires.
sion Of hunted stag.
How did II come out. dear7" she
asked. eagerly.
Il have signed with them he said.
gravely.
"Oh, Clarence she said, ciasping
her hands. ~and were they nice about