The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1916-11-03
A BROKEN
PROMISE
BY WILLARD BLAkEMAN
Walter. you are falling into a pit"
SIIouy COZ"

How so?'
ence. If you were not my chum
would not expose myself to such a
thankless job. AS it is. am going to
incur your enmity in the hope Of saw.
ing you"
Were you not my friend. instead Of
asking you to proceed I would send
you sprawling for an imputation
against a lovely woman
Every we'll: since | must enter into
particulars. refer to Miss Wallace"
"Do you mean to accuse her Of any.
thing evil?'
mot as you mean it,
'"Then wherein is she at fault? Per-
haps you consider her an adventur-
ess?"
''Not that, either"
"Then what do you mean? Speak
before r.
He raised his clinched fist
II make no imputation against Miss
Wallace except that she has a mania
for bringing men to her feet and
throwing them over her shoulder"
"And you consider that is what she
is trying to do with mef"
IL believe she is. though my belief
is based on her record, and the evi
dence is circumstantial."
Explain
First, l know Of several cases where
she has infatuated men and turned
them down: second. she has no fortune.
and her life would be failure without
one. You are unable to take care Of
her only In the most inexpensive way"
A lover Is always doubter, and Wal.
ter Crane was no exception to the rule.
II will not trouble you for evidence"
he said. II will put the case plainly
to her all learn the truth. Should any
one malign me to her that is the way
should expect her to meet the
charge"
His friend smiled incredulously.
"Shake that sardonic look and speak
what you feel like a man."
SHOULD any one malign you to her
she would not take sufficient interest
In the matter to investigate"
"Very well. prove the charge you
make against her"
what charger"
"That she is intending to throw me
over her shoulder
"To prove that would be impossible"
"Then prove that she has treated
others as you claim she will treat me-"
THAT can be done, but it would not
suffice. She would make you believe
that you are the only one of the lot
to whom she has given her heart"
Stanley, who was trying to save his
friend, thought fora few moS5*tR
then said: ~ +
II am in a position to give you the
best Of proof in one case. will bring
you a letter from the sister Of one OF
the victims Of this woman you love.
a victim whom she drove to put a
bullet In his brain. The letter will
state what l assert. Then I will take
you to the grave Of that victim, and
there you shall renounce this siren.
promising me that you will never see
her again"
There was long silence. which was
broken by Crane. who seized his
friends hand and pressed it fervently.
He was under too great a strain to
speak.
"You agree?" asked Stanley.
Crane nodded affirmatively.
Within couple of days the prom
ised statement was produced. It read
simply:
Isabel Wallace infatuated my broth
er, and when he proposed to her she
laughed at him. A month later he
committed suicide. We gave out that
be had accidentally shot himself while
preparing for hunting trip"
Walton Cra fnrpad no 10 ho roo1
the statement. Handing 1t back to
Stanley. he said. 81 am ready to per-
form my part Of the agreement"
Stanley had come in an auto. and the
two went out. and. entering it. the
chauffeur was told to drive to the
Meadowland cemetery. At the gate
they inquired for the location Of the
grave Of Arthur Stanton. drove to 1t.
alighted and entered the lot There.
standing beside the grave, Crane
promised his friend that he would new
er see the siren again.
One week from that day Crane went
to Stanley and. after confessing that
he had broken his promise. said that
Miss Wallace had explained the mat
ter of the suicide to his entire salts
faction. She had nothing whatever to
do with II.
Stanley looked at his friend in
amazement. but made no reply.
'You think I'm weak" said Crane.
"As for you. | know that you're the
best friend ever had: that you have
tried to save me from what you con-
slider a misfortune. There's a story
within story about this suicide busi-
ness. II could tell it to you you'd
see how unjust is the statement, of
this lady who wrote the letter-indeed.