The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1915-08-19
The Cruel. LOVE TEST
BY MIRIAM LEE sANBoRN.

II don't like your suggestion one
bit" said Winnie obviously, but Myr-
tie was persistent in her plan. 1T
might be the making of Elwyn to try
him out" and then circumstances aid.
ed the precious project. the needless
Myrtle not reckoning the manner in
which it might affect the emotion of a
really worthy young man.
For such Elwyn Moss was, in man.
ner and thought. Winnie had awak.
ened a new soul in the reckless young
fellow. who had checked the Sowing
of wild oats" under the influence Of
her helpful, sympathizing gentleness.
Twice during the next few days Ell,
wyn sought and found an opportunity
to get Winnie alone, ready to tell her
his love. On both occasions, however,
she managed to fit away before the
avowal materialized. This discour,
aged him. He felt repealed and hurt,
In the meantime, Ned Parsons was a
good deal in Winnie's company. Myr.
tie, harmless but scheming, managed
1t SO that when Elwyn left the village
1t was with the conviction that Winnie
Thomas had taken up seriously with
Ned, and that she regarded himself
only as a friend.
More than this. an old chum In
formed Elwyn that he had it on pretty
good authority that Winnie and Ned
had become engaged.
A few days after Elwyn went back
to- work In the city he wrote in his
diary: ANY true man who has been
under the sweet influence Of the con,
partnership of such a girl as Winnie.
has an ideal to cherish. a guardian
angel, the memory of whom will never
leave him. ''Tis better to have loved
and lost than never to have loved at
all"
If he suffered disappointment, heart.
break. he kept 1t to himself, He felt
strong in his ability to fight loneliness
and keep to the right course. Then a
new element entered his life. Ned.
too, came to work In the city.
Elwyn recalled the evident evasion
OF Winnie to give him all opportunity
to tell her Of his love. Their parting
had been simply that Of friends. She
had given him no encouragement. Now
in his daily tasks and evening leisure
fate seemed to throw him in the way
Of Ned.
The latter was enjoying life to the
full" as he termed it. Little did his
friends at home imagine the drift his
tollies were leading him into. Elwyu
saw and deplored.
For the sake OF the one he might
wed, Elwyn felt he must do all he
could to win this reckless young mar
from the path Of waywardness. Hs
became his constant adviser. He was
In fact, his guardian.
Once at a great sacrifice Of time
and money he got Ned out OF a serious
gambling scrape, exposure OF which
would have lost him his position.
At another time he took blame upon
his own shoulders in behalf of Ned
1t led to his losing a months salary
and an advance in business promo
tion. Day after day, however, ElwyI
watched, encouraged, reformed the Oh
ject of his solicitude.
Reward came. 1t was with a thrill
of gladness that Elwyn realized tina
he had not labored in vain. when Net
said to him II day, grasping his hant
ferVently, tears in her eyes:
you have saved me, old boy. 1t al
. came over me what a true, self-sacri
ticing friend you have been. | felt i
my duty to straighten out with til,
house here their misconception re
garding mistakes | made and not you
| have written the folks home. ! AZ
through with all the old folly and
" 1t all to you. Then there Is til,
dear little girl even the folks don
know about-tlora Day. She'll ble.,
you for your good work, and you'll
have to be the best man"
Flora Day" repeated Elwyn in be
wilderment.
why. yes. we have been secret,
engaged tor SIX months"
Glad! He was suddenly reused {,
emotions that swayed his soul In III
1ndet1nable whirl. Ned read some hic
den mystery under his strange man
!, ner. He got the truth out Of him.
Thought | was favored by VIII
nieT' he laughed. Why, man, I'm
hopeless s~capegrace In her estimation
| see 1t all-oh. you noble. noble re,
low! For Winnte's sake you tried t.
make a better man Of me. so I woul
be worthy Of her!"
Winnie cried like a child wheI
Myrtle read to her a letter written b
her brother. She reproached hersel.