The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-07-27
The TERRIBLE ORDEAL
BY VICTOR RADCLIFFE.
Copyright. 1915. by W. C. Chapman.)

81 will work till l have a thousand
dollars ahead" Rolfe told Eunice.
Then l will come back and start a
small business with that capital and
we will settle down modestly, but
happily"
Then he had folded her in his fond.
sheltering arms and they had repeat
ed for the thousandth time their mu-
tual VOWS of unalterable fidelity.
And now at the end of years
exile, Rolfe regarded his cherished
savings, every dollar of which had
been wrought out through his fidelity
and devotion to Eunice
One thing troubled him somewhat
About month previous he had re-
ceived a letter from Eunice, which
indicated that events had transpired
at the quiet home village that had
brought a new and animated interest
into her quiet life
She wrote that a former partner of
her father in a northern iron mine
that had turned out a disappointment
had appeared. He had become
wealthy, and this Mr. Grant in the
his old business associate.
Nothing will do, Mr.. Grant in
sists,'' wrote Eunice, but that we
must take a trip with him and enjoy
life outside of the humdrum one we
lead here. He has been very liberal
to father and made him accept two
thousand dollars, which he says is
really due him from the sale of the
old mine. I may be away for month
with father, but / will write you every
| week.
Which Eunice had not done, and
because of this Rolfe felt somewhat
| disappointed and depressed.
I will be glad when this flare is
over" meditated Rolfe. soon Eunice
will be back home. Then for the
quiet, loving letters from the darling
of my heart once morel"
Two evenings later there came a
shock to Rolfe Maitland that rooted
him to the spot where the unexpect-
ed demonstration occurred He had
been viewing the city boulevard
crowds in a casual stroll-the gay
automobile parties, the finely dressed
ladies, the young sparks of society,
out for excitement and enjoyment.
He did not envy them, for to his hon
est heart Eunice aud a little home
filed the cup of happiness.
A splendid machine flashed by. In
its rear seat sat man of perhaps
fifty, but made up to look much
younger. He was faultlessly dressed.
And beside him was
"Eunice."
The word burst unrestrainedly from
the lips of the marveling Rolfe. She
was radiantly attired, she was smil-
ing at her companion in the machine
as though exhilarated with her super
fetal surroundings and in complete
J harmony with the pride and folly of
her new experience.
The next morning, glancing over a
newspaper page, he read with bated
I breath and blanched face the an
J nouncement that Gerald Grant, son
! of the wealthy iron king, Robert
Grant, was to wed Miss Copley
Then it had been brought about
through the influence of this Grant,
Eunice was false, the very earth
seemed to fade away from him. Al
: once Rolfe resigned his position. He
was stricken, crushed. Hope and
: energy died out. He wandered the
; streets aimlessly. He passed three
days as one in dream. Then, wan
L heartbroken, he took the train fol
> Compton.
When he arrived at his native vii
lage he evaded its principal streets
and its inhabitants. By a roundabou
e course he reached the little cemeter,
II where his mother lay. 1t was at he
r grave that he finally knelt. He prayed
> he agoniZed.
In the dim dusk he arose. Tht
! swish of garment across the moonli
l, grass caused him to turn.
"Rolfe, oh, Rolfei" cried long
ing voice, and flying towards him wa
. Eunice, precious EuniceI
The silken gown, the gay gewgaw
of fashion were gone. 1t was Eunic
in her old modest home attire-sim
pie. lovely. and loving and glad.
He was dumbed at the unexpecte,
n rencounter She led him to a grass,
IS mound She piled him with ques
n tons. Why had he never answers
n her letters? And then his heart light
&c ened, for the truth came out at last
l. Yes, she and her father had gon
y with Robert Grant. He had show
Re them great civilities. Then he ha
lie introduced his son. The one aim @
is his life seemed to be to see those tw
e, welded.
"a "And we have learned why" e.
d. planned Eunice now. 1T seems tina
le father is rightfully half owner of a
III his wealth, for it came through a m;
s nipulation of the old mine interest
- We have been home two days an
some lawyers are investigating til
case. AS to Gerald Grant, / saw hi
once; a reckless profiigate. as is h
q father a mercenary schemer. He mn