The Era-leader. [volume] (Franklinton, La.) 1910-current, 1916-08-31
NOT A LuNATIC
BY /. M. WESTON.

town talk, ana you are Nely looli"h no'
70 break off your engagement immedl-
nteIy with a man who sleeps on a
hoard. eats nothing but bread and milk
and health foods and retireS every night
before twelve. What kind of life
can YOU expect with such husband"
:" don't know as those are habits !,
likely to harm wife," returned Edna
bravely, although her blue eyes nlled
with tears; "but as you say, they are
rather queer for stalwart young man
to adopt"
"Oueer," shifted Mrs. Burnett dis
painfully. II should say queer was
very mild word"
She rose as she spoke and flounced
out of the room, leaving her daughter
plunged in painful reflections.
A moment later the portieres at the
other end of the room were softly with
drawn and fne-looking young man
appeared.
Edna looked up with startled DIR.
30" she gasped, show long have you
been behind those curtains?
Long enough to hear myself called
n lunatic," he replied, his dark eyes
sparkling with merriment. Your re-
spected mother rubbed it in, didn't she!
But I hope you won't take her advice
and give me my walking ticket"
As he spoke, he bent over the girl
and pressed feryent kiss on her lips,
which was shyly, yet Enthusiastically, re-
turned.
81 can't give you up Jo," she MUIR
i INJURED affectionately, but l do wish
YOU would tell me why-Why you DO
queer things"
"And you can't wait any longer" ne
oueried. Patience has ceased to be
virtue and you are about ready to
break our engagement
She looked up in his face, and the
love and tenderness that shone In his
eyes conquered her. She shook her
head, saying: mo, 10, l love you with
all my heart and have absolute faith
in you, only-only ! want you to know
how hard it is, so you won't make me
wait any longer than is absolutely nee.
essary.'
A triumphant smile lighted his face.
, He took her in his arms and, kissing
! her rapturously, said fondly: my dar'
ling girl you are not going to wait an
other hour. l came around today to
tell you, but couldn't resist the temp
y tation to find out if you could or would
trust me longer. Now for the mystery
; A few months ago Harold Flint was
spending the evening with my father.
q You know the two are old friends, and
Mr.. Flint is my godfather. Well, my
!. brother and sister and I were in an
other room and we began to discuss
. the old gentleman, and said that
wished | had half his money. My sis
. ter said she didn't, if she would have
g to be old like him, and not able to sleeI
d or eat well, or have any real goot
O times. I differed with her and safe
e that I should be willing to sleep ever!
, night on hard board, eat nothing bu
bread and milk and health foods, aban
don evening entertainments and go K
= bed early for half of Mr.. Flint's In
come.
~ "Well, to 60 on with my story, thu
, next day the old man sent for me t
meet him at his office, told me he hat
it overheard our conversation the nigh
before and was going to Gull my bluff
so to speak. He said that he wa
afraid that valued money too highly
that it was nothing compared witt
youth and health, and offered to Civ
I me half of his income, fifty thousan'
- dollars, if I would live the life of al
aged dyspeptic for six months. He toll
me, though, that as millionaires wer
: always maligned l was to keep Oh
~ contract secret, because the comment
~ on my mode of life would be as disa
,e greeabe to bear as any other part o
~ the test. I wanted to make an excep
ID ton in your favor, dear, but he sal
that rich men were always uncertain
as to whether the women they love-
RI were sincere or not, consequently h
n thought I had better test your love an
8, faith at the same time. I demurreG
J. and we finally compromised--I agree
not to explain the situation to you 70
= three months. Now, dear, what shal
l. I do? Personally, I quite agree wit
the old man now-that youth an
It health are far better than wealth.
still fifty thousand dollars would Civ
us such splendid start"
II should say so," assented Edna
with a subdued chuckle that finally dc
veloped into hearty laugh.
n At first 10 looked affronted, then hi
| frown gave place to a smile as he re
| peated: "Well, dear, what shall l do
Am silly or sane? Shall / 60 on O
, throw over the job?"
Never" cried Edna, still laughins
cts novel but honest way of carr
, Ing money and-three months vii
soon pass"
I'm not so sure of that" he grum
1 htad Huhop oDo 1, +h, ,,,,l.,. -. =