South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-03-25
THE ENGAGEMENT OF \
FRIEND OF HELEN BRINGS
OUT AN OLD SCANDAL.
BY MABEL HERBERT URNER.

few times Helen had met him she real
lied that. She had never quite liked
him. He aroused in her a feeling OF
distrust
She remembered one evening she
and Warren had sat in the row be
hind him at the theater, and she had
been struck by his face in repose.
He had curiously hard, almost cruel,
profile.
The play had been a delightful COM
edy, with many situations OF real hu-
NOR and Helen had noticed that not
once did he smile. He sat with folded
arms with his sombre. unsmiling
eyes fixed steadily on the stage. There
seemed a curious brooding grimness
about him. One could hardly imagine
that there had been some great
tragedy in his life, which he was never
quite able TO forget.
And now Louise-Louise, with her
light, joyous, fun-lOving creature-was
to marry this man. Helen had never
seen her with him, and only once had
she heard her speak of him, and that
had been over a year ago.
"Oh. he's so cynical. had been her
comment. I'm almost afraid OF his
cynicism-it's so brilliant and SO mer-
CHESS"
Helen wondered if love had now
softened that cynicism, and if it had
taken any of the hard grimness from
his face.
When Warren came home that
evening he threw in her lap an evening
paper.
The Scandal Again.
Thought the papers would rehash
that old story. They've got whole
column tonight"
About l. ouise's engagement? ?"
| breathlessly.
About the German scandal"
ION the second page there" as
Helen turned hurriedly through the
paper. 1t faced her suddenly in bold
glazing type:
BEVERLY ELKINS TO WED.
Well known Clubman Who Figured
Prominently in the German Scan
dal Several Years Ago TO
Marry Miss Louise Mason
Announcement has been made of
| the engagement of Beverly Elkins 70
I Miss Louise Mason. daughter of Mr..
and Mrs. w. l.. Mason, Of -- +. 64th
| st. MIR. Elkins will be remembered as
/ one OF the principals in the German
| case. which caused so much comment
/ at the time.
| on Sept. 6, 1909, he was found UNI
| conscious in his dressing room with a
/ 4
! terward discovered that Mrs. John h.
/ German had been in his apartment
/ that evening. He had sent away his
I valet early in the afternoon, and II
| was not until after ne returned late
| that night that the shooting was dis
! covered.
: When Mr.. EIkins recovered con-
| sciousness in the hosp tai ne refused
/ TO make any statereLt beyond that
| he had no knowledge OF how or by
| whom ne had been shot. He elaine ed
he was standing by the table in his
! dressing room when he heard steps be-
/ hind him. and as he turned a shot
was fired. but that he had not seen
/ his assailant
lieved II was evident that he was
} trying 10 shield Mrs. German. He
| denied that Mrs. German had been in
his apartments that evening. or at any
| other time. but the police found a
| package OF her letters among his eff
fects which belied this statement. Il
1 was thought at first that the wound
was a mortal one, but after tedious
| illness. Elkins recovered.
Shortly afterward German sued for
a divorce. But as Elkins was in
/ Europe, ne could not be made TO APP
pear. The trial was a long and SEN
sational one.
| "Oh. dear. that's DREADFUL" AID
| Helen let the paper fall on the floor.
| That viii almost kill Louisei Do you
| suppose they viii let her see II 20
4 Cruel Story.
Don't see how they can help H.
| Pretty hard 20 keep papers away from
| anyone nowadays.
But what cruel thing TO write up
| Just nOw-and she's so sensitive 10
/ public Opinioni'
Then she oughtn't TO marry a man
| like Beverly Elkins."
but, dear. II she loves him
4 Then II she loves him enough n
| shouldn't make any difference. Don'i
| suppose Elkins is much worse than a
' lot OF other men. Only his escapade
happened 20 get out" and with an air
" dismissing the subIeet he took up