Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1916-07-22
NOT A luNATlc
BY L. M. WESTON.

| town talk, ana you are very fOOnSn NOT
to break OF your engagement immedi-
ately with a man who sleeps on a
board. eats nothing but bread and milk
and health foods and retires every night
before twelve. What kind Of life
can you expect with such a husbandr
II don't know as those are habits
likely to harm a Wife" returned Edna
bravely, although her blue eyes filed
with tears; "but as you say. they are
rather queer for a stalwart young man
to adopt"
Queer" shifted Mrs. Burnett dis
dainfuIly.' II should say queer was a
very mild word"
She rose as she spoke and hounced
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 a fine-looking young man
appeared.
Edna looked up with a startled air.
30" she gasped, "hOw long have you
been behind those curtainsr
Long enough to hear myself called
lunatic," he replied, his dark eyes
sparkling with merriment. "Your re-
spected mother rubbed it in, didn't she?
But hope you won't take her advice
and give me my walking ticket"
AS he spoke, he bent over the girl
and pressed a fervent kiss on her lips,
which was shyly, yet Enthusiastically, re-
turned.
II can't give you up. Jo," she muir.
INJURED affectionately, but / do wish
you would tell me why-why you do
queer things"
And you can't wait any longerT he
queried. Patience has ceased 10 be
virtue and you are about ready to
break our engasementT''
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, love you with
all my heart and l have absolute faith
In you, !only-only l want you 10 know
how hard IL is, so you won't make me
walt any longer than Is absolutely nee.
esSdry." "EtT'sS,'sf-----r
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. | came around today to |
tell you, but l 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 l said that |
wished l had half his money My 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 sale !
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 go tc
bed early for half of Mr.. Flint's in. /
come.
well, to go on with my story, the
next day the old man sent for me I,
meet him at his office, told me he hat l
overheard our conversation the nigh
before and was going to call my bluff Il
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 l would live the life of ar
aged dyspeptic for six months. He tolC |
me, though, that as milliOnaires were
always maligned l was to keep om 4
contract secret, because the continents
on my mode of life would be as disa
greeable TO bear as any other part O,
the test. l wanted to make an excep
ton in your favor, dear, but he sale
that rich men were always uncertain \
as to whether the women they LOVED \
were sincere or not, consequently he
thought had better test your love an(
faith at the same time. | demurred n
and we finally comprOmised-I agreed
not TO explain the situation to you fo
three months. Now, dear, what shall
| do? Personally, l quite agree witt
the old man nOw-that youth anC
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 de |
yeloped into a hearty laugh
AT first 10 looked affronted, then hi,
frOwn gave place TO smile as he re \
peated: "Well, dear, what shall l do \
Am silly or sane? Shall l go on o.
throw over the jOJ." III
Never" cried Edna, still laughing III
It's novel bat honest way of earn
ing money and-three months will
soon pass"
I'm not so sure Of that" he grum