The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1914-09-25
A Singular
Test
By MARJORIE CLoUGH

apt to think a great deal of love and
marriage.
Miss Wotherspoon had noticed the
increasing number Of divorces with
concern and thought of a divorce in
her W case with horror. Therefore
when she became engaged to George
Chandler she occupied herself thinking
of the probabilities or possibilities of
their separating after marriage till her
mind got into a condition of semimono-
mania. Believing that the chief cause
of divorces is a want of genuine love,
she resolved upon testing both her
lover and herself to discover whether
the bond between them was or was
not true love. Absence she considered
the best test and resolved to live apart
from her fiance for six months.
Chandler was a practical sort of fell
low and was principally concerned in
getting his affairs into shape to be
married. When Miriam told him that
she had resolved on a trip abroad to
be absent a year he was astonished.
When she gave her reasons he endeav-
ored to dissuade her from her plan.
Not succeeding, he finally gave his con-
sent. When he saw her off on the
steamer he said: 81 know a better
test than absence. Perhaps shall
apply it" Miriam begged him to tell
her what it was, but he. knowing that
she would not give owe trying to get
it out of him. refrained from mention
ing 1t till just as the vessel was leav-
ing the dock.
When Miriam had been gone six
months Chandler wrote her that her
absence had made no difference with
his feelings toward her, and if she had
experienced no diminution Of her af-
lection for him she would better re-
turn. She replied that she still felt
the same toward him, but she had re-
solved at the time of her departure
to remain away a year, and she thought
their future happiness might be made
mor certain by her keeping her reso-
luton.
1t was about a month after this that
a young American, Edward Treat,
Joined the party that Miss Wother-
spoon Travelled with. He seemed to
take a desperate fancy to Miriam, and,
since he was a very attractive fellow.
she found his attentions agreeable.
Love springs in the path Of tourists
Of opposite sex like daisies in a clover
field. When there is nothing to divert
the mind of young persons from low
ing they are likely to love. Sightsee-
ing-visiting ruins, works of art. gar
dens that have been cultivated for
centuries-does not divert the mind
from love. On the contrary, it encour-
ages love.
Miriam, though she was somewhat
troubled at u change she experienced
within her. was confirmed in her opin-
ion that she had been wise to apply
her test. She began to doubt If her
love for George Chandler was genu-
inc, and one evening when floating in
the moonlight on the bosom of Lake
Como she was quite certain that it
was not genuine. There are many
degrees in the art of lovemaking. and
Treat was an adept. Besides, any
girl who would fail to be impressed
by the devotion of an attractive man
on a moonlight night on the most
beautiful lake in the world must have
u heart of adamant.
Treat did not get to u proposal.
Miriam warded him off from that.
Though she was convinced that there
was nothing about her love for George
Chandler that might not be broken
through, she was not ready to throw
off the old and take on the new. New
ertheless she wrote her fiance a letter
which indicated that she had not the
faith in the endurance of her love for
him that she had supposed. Within
another week she wrote him asking 1t
il would he convenient for him to
come over.
Chandler sailed for Genoa as soon
as he could make his arrangements to
be absent and joined his tiancee at
Milan. He found her in a very mud
died condition. She had confessed her
engagement with George to Treat.
and the latter had ceased his atten-
lions until she had decided to break
with her fiance. She told Treat that
Chandler was coming over and sug-
gested that he go to Switzerland.
When George Chandler arrived Mir
lam was so glad to see him that new
doubts arose in her bosom. She re-
GREETED that instead of sending for him
she had not gone home to him. New
ertheless she felt that she had not
stood the test, that she had proved her
affection for him was not, true blue.
and she told him the whole story.
Il see nothing for me to do" be said.
but release you from our engage
ment."
"Bqt 1 am not sure that 1 wish to be
released"
Miriam he said, looking with a
kindly expression into her eyes. do
you remember saying that ! had a bet
ter test than yours?"
"Yes: ! do"
"well, 1 have applied it. Ned Treat
is an old friend Of mine. Hearing that
he was coming aboard. l secured his
promise to seek you and try to win
you from me-"
She gave him a look Of astonishment.
rorrooch oo1f abatement. then COLLARS.