The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-08-15
NOT A LUNkTIC
IlG
BY L. M. WESTON.

eC'tA tdihs anu you are very ItOGlSll nOI
to break off your engagement immedi-
ately with man who sleeps on a
board, eats nothing but bread and milk
and health foods and retires every night
before twelve. What kind of a life
can you expect with such husband"
Il don't know as those are habits
likely to harm wife," returned Edna
brayely, although her blue eyes filled
with tears; "but as you say, they are
rather queer for stalwart young man
to adopt"
Queer" shifted Mrs. Burnett dis
painfully. II should say queer was a
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 fine-looking young man
appeared.
Edna looked up with a startled air.
80" she gasped, 'how long have you
been behind those curtains?"
Long enough to hear myself called
lunatic," he replied, his dark eyes
sparkling with merrfment. your re-
spected mother rubbed it in, didn't she?
But L hope you won't take her advice
and give me my walking ticket"
AS he spoke, he bent over the girl
and pressed fervent kiss on her lips,
which was shyly, yet Enthusiastically, re-
turned.
Il can't give you up, Jo." she muir
INJURED affectionately, but I do wish
you would tell me why-why you do
queer things"
And you can't wait any longer?" he
| querfed. Patience has ceased to be a
] virtue and you are about ready to
break our engagements"
! She looked up in his face. and the
love and tenderness that shone in his
eyes conquered her. She shook her
head, saying: NO, 10, 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"
| 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. | came around TODAY to
! tell You, but | couldn't resist the temp
| tation to find out if you could or would
| trust me longer. Now for the mystery:
! few months ago Harold Flint was
| spending the evening with my father.
! You know the two are old friends, and
| Mr.. Flint is my godfather. Well my
| brother and sister and / were in an
| other room and we began TO discuss
the old gentleman, and | said that [
wished had half his money. Nv sis
! ter said she didn't, if she would have
to be old like him, and not able to sleep
or eat well, or have any real good
! times. | differed with her and said
that | should be willing to sleep every
night on hard board, eat nothing but
| bread and milk and health foods, aban-
| don evening entertainments and 90 TO
| bed early for half of Mr.. FIint's in
/ come.
/ We'll, to go on with my story. the
| next day the old man sent for me TO
meet him at his office, told me he had
! overheard our conversation the night
| before and was going to call my bluff.
| so to speak. He said that he was
/ afraid that / valued money too highly.
that it was nothing compared with
! youth and health, and offered to give
| me half of his income fifty thousand
| dollars, if | would live the life of an
| aged dyspeptic for six months. He told
| ME, though that as millionaireS were
| always maligned | was to keen our
| contract secret, because the comments
| on my mode of life would be as disa-
| greeable to bear as any other part of
| the test. | wanted to make an excep-
u0n In your favor, dear, but he said
| that rich men were always uncertain
as to whether the women they loved
| We're sincere or not, consequently he
| thought l had better test your love and
| falth at the same time. l demurred
and we finally compromised-I agreed
not to explain the situation to you for
three months. Now, dear what shall
L do? Personally, | quite agree with
the old man now-that youth and
health are far better than wealth.
still fifty thousand dollars would give
US such a splendid start"
i should say So" assented Edna,
with a subdued chuckle that finally de-
| veloped into a hearty laugh.
At first 10 looked affronted, then his
! froWn gave place to a smile as he re-
/ peated: "Well, dear, what shall | do?
| Am | silly or sane? Shall go on or
| throw over the job?"
"Never!' cried Edna, still laughing.
! Its novel but honest way of earn
| ing money and-three months will
| soon pass"
I'm not so sure of that" he grum-
| bled, when one is the laughing stock
| of town; but-but I'll stick it out if
L can be sure of wedding feast at
| the end of that time" he added tenta-
| lively.
| L guess you may be sure of that"
a nod