Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1914-05-27

|
voted and open in his preference that
the matrimonial schemers were one
and all discouraged.
But with all his wealth and superior
position, the course of true love did
not run smooth for Temple Bonner
The facts would make a plot for a
novel. There was yet another young
man among those who came accounting
at the old brownstone mansion. but
one vastly different in many respects
from Bonner This mans name was
Willard-Max willard"
I've heard the name" muttered Van
Vechten.
1T was an irony OF Fate" pursued
Mr.. Flint, that Bonner and Willard
should not only be friends. but the
closest sort of intimacy existed be-
tween them, genuine Damon and
Pythias attachment.
Willard lacked about every ad-
vantage possessed by his rival; he
was poor unattractive IN appearance,
and had many peculiar traits which
made enemies where Templer Bonner
won friends. He was regarded as a
visionary, a crank, man who would
never make his mark. However, he
must have possessed some unusual
quality. because Temple Bonner had
implicit faith in him--believed that he
was a genius OF some sort; but 1t was
characteristic of Willard that he would
accept no assistance from his more
| fortunate rival.
Bonner, 1t would seem, felt his own
position keenly. He realized that his
| friend was almost overwhelmingly
handicapped, and as well as can piece
out from what actually happened, he
withdrew temporarily from the field
and gave Max Willard every oppor-
tunity to advance his suit. / suppose
the idea was, that II Willard was sue
cessful, Bonner would abide by the
consequences; II not, then Willard
was to stand aside and give Bonner
his chance. Much Of this is guess
work; 1t is hard to arrive at the truth
at this late day; but certain circum-
stances exist which indicate that what
] am telling you is what actually hap
pened.
1T would appear from the sequel
that Max Willard had been the favored
one all along. Temple Bonner went
abroad; within two months Willard
and Miss Henrietta had eloped and
were married; within ten minutes aft
err he received news OF the runaway
wedding Compton Schuyler had blown
out his brains.
There are the naked facts
Temple Bonner never returned to
America, and Max Willard, instead OF
justifying his friends confidence in
his whatever their bent might
have been-had dropped entirely from
sight His wife, you tell me, has been
dead long time; but were there no
children? Is Max Willard still alive.
where is he, has he any family. what
is his occupation? Those are the
things / want you to find out. / fancy
the runaway match, with all its at
tendant circumstances, created some
thing Of a stir at the time; some of
your older friends should be able and
willing to supply you with the facts"
"Oh, I have no doubt that / can
learn all you want to know" agreed
Van Vechten. Most OF what you have
just told me is not exactly news. but
] had forgotten tit all happened he
fore my time, you know. Josephine
IL generally regarded by her friends as
Q woman who has suffered much. one
| deserving pity and sympathy; but
| heavens and earth--she is no MARTYR
TO tribulation; she's the jolIiest sort
| imaginable But how will this
help you to solve your murder prob
lem, or what more nearly concerns
me find some trace OF my cousin?"
For some moments Mr.. Flint sat
silent. gazing meditatiyely through the
window. Number 1875 dingy front
/ loomed dingier than ever i'm the late
afternoon sunshine, but Mr.. Flint had
no eyes for the old house just az pres
emit After Bit he turned to Van
| Vechten
Before answering your question.
Mr.. Van Vechten. ! am going To- lay
another matter before you" said he
/ gravcly 'it may seem impertiucntIy
personal, but there are occasions when
/ Che ordinary civilities and amenities
/ must Doc laid aside and cisregardcd j
/ know that YOU and Miss [,arew are en-
/ gagged 90 Boz married. 10 not mention
/ the sentiment that usually accompa.
mics such q couveutiouality. for per
I haps 7 shall pain YOU: but isn't there a
+ possibility that she has become in.
l terested in another more recent love
ahair2"
Flint was the prompt response.
you are not trespassing upon nay feel
/ ings in The least, and am going 10 be
/ frank with you The engagement you
speak OF has always been more or less
o. q tacit understanding TN our family
! Paige IL only q distant cousin. YOU
know; but VS. are a clannish set we
Van Vechtens, and she and 7 have al.
ways been awfully fond Of each other
But as for love. That's another
matter. In stnctest confidence. FLINT