Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1915-09-22
THE CRUEL Love. TEST
BY MIRIAM LEE SANBORN.

Bit" said Winnie obviously, but Myr
tie was persistent in her plan. III
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 IL
which it might affect the emotion OF
really wcrthy young man.
For such Elwyn Moss was, in man
ner and thought. Winnie had awak
ened 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 hel
his love. On both occasions, however
she managed to fit away before the
avowal materialized. This discour
aged him. He felt repelled and hurt
In the meantime, Ned Parsons was a
good deal in Winnie's company. Myr
tie, harmless but scheming, managed
it so that when Elwyn left the village
it 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 chupn 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: amy true man who has beer
under the sweet influence of the com
panionship of such a girl as Winnie
has an ideal to cherish, 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 it to himself. He fell
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 an 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
follies were leading him into. Elwyr
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 man
from the path of Uaywardness. He
became his constant adviser. He was
in fact, his guardian.
Once at great sacrifice OF tfIsc
and money he got Ned out Of 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
ton. Day after day, however, Elwyn
watched, encouraged, reformed the o.
ject of his solicitul1e.
Reward came. 1t was with thrill
of gladness that F'lwyn realized that
he had not labored in vain, when Ned
said to him one day, graspins his hand
fervently, tears in her eyes:
"You have saved me, old boy. r ali
came over me what true, self.sacrf'
ficing friend you have been. l felt II
my duty to straighten out with the
house here their misconception re-
garding mistakes I made and not you
I have written the folks home. I am
through with all the old folly and
owe it all to you. Then there Is the
dear little girl even the folks don't
know about-F1ora Day. She'll bless
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 beea secretly
engaged for six months"
Glad! He was suddenly reused to
emotions that swayed his soul in an
indefinable whirl. Ned read some hid
den mystery under his strange man
ner. He got the truth out Of him.
Thought 1 was favored by Win
nie?" he laughed. why, man, Pm a
hopeless scapegrace in her estimation!
1 see it all-oh, you noble, noble fell
low! For Winnie's sake you tried to
make better man of me, SO I would
be worthy of her!"
Winnie cried like a child when
Myrtle read to her letter written by
her brother. She reproached herself,
she declared she was unworthy of the
brave hearted man whom she had put
to a cruel, crucial test.