The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-08-02
A Double
Test
BY DONALD CHAMBER IN

/ up In his only son, Ben, who was just
twenty-one, an age when mating is
usual, and the father was very anxious
lest his son should make a mesalliance.
Mr.. Mathews Seniors idea of a mes
alliance was not solely marriage be-
tween persons Of different stations, diff
ferent degrees Of refinement and all
that; 1t included the matter of income,
or, rather, the want of income on which !,
to support a family. He had made
snug fortune by hard knocks and hoped
that 1t might be added to when his son
came into it by another fortune in the
possession Of his sons wife.
Its just as easy, Ben" he said to his
son, ito marry girl with means as
without. Young persons haven't any
sense about marriage, and girls are
caught by trifles Till they are older |
they don't usually realize the differ |
ence between what they call 'lOve in |
cottage and love in stone front resi- |
dence. The way for you to do is to
refrain from getting mixed up with a
poor girl and to cultivate the rich
ones"
Advice TO young persons is usually
thrown away. When Ben met the girl
he wanted he woOed and won her. Her
father had been well to do and had
educated her, but had lost his property
about the time his daughter was of an
age to make her debut in society. Miss
Arietta Borand was fine character,
.e,., ,t,,xAI n tNI
would be abundantly able to make her
living Ben in announcing his engage
ment to his father told him that though
his tiancee had no fortune she was n
fortune in herself.
Ben's description OF Arietta had
about as much effect on his father as
his fathers advice upon matrimony
had upon Ben. Mr.. Mathews saw only
the fact that his son was about to
marry girl who had been brought up
In affluence and had been reduced to
poverty. He told Ben that he was
making fool of himself and that he
must either break his engagement or
lose his inheritance. Ben replied that
a good wife was better than q fortune
for any young man who was interested
in making himself Independent, and he
declined to give up Arietta.
VERY WELL" said the father, ''since
you have chosen your course for the
future. we shall from this time live
separate lives. intend to take pre-
cautions against loneliness. l shall
: look about me for wife"
). When Ben told Arietta Of this she
looked grave. She said she would
think the matter over. She doubted If
she would do right to separate her
lover from his father and deprive him
| Of fortune. If Mr.. Mathews married
and had son there would be faint
i hope Of Ben's ever being recOnciled to
: his father, and he would surely lose his
!. fortune, or at least part Of 1t. She
must have time for reflection as to her
duty in the matter.
The next day she told Ben to ask his
father for means to 60 on trip, to be
f absent some months. II at the end of
+: that time Ben found it would not trou-
= BILE him to part with his fiancee he
would give her up; II he still preferred
her to his Inheritance he would give up
u the latter.
G Ben told Arietta that absence would
h make no difference in his choice, but
! she declined to marry him without the
!. test. and he was obliged to yield. Mr.
Mathews was delighted with the boys
decision, remarking that he had nc
idea he had so much horse sense" He
at once provided his son with the
e means for trip around the world
y trusting that he would be cured Of his
"infatuation" on his return. Ben left
. Arietta lugubriously, she having ex
n acted promise that he would remain
o away until he received word from hel
TO return
That word reached Ben four months
after his departure. He hurried home
to claim Arietta and relinquish hi
fortune. On his way he received let
ter from his father stating that he had
met woman with an extraordinar!
amount OF practical good sense. He
had also been converted to the princi
pie that a first rate wife was fortune
In itself. He had engaged himself t.
marry this prodigy Of practicability
Ben was welcome to marry his fiancee
] and his father would settle on him ;
third Of the estate at the time OF hi
marriage.
Ben was delighted at the prospect o
getting portion Of his inheritance ant
Arietta instead of having to give up al
the former.
Ben arrived at home at 10 o'clock II
the morning and found note from hi
father asking him to come to his office
Ben preferred to visit Arietta first, blu
decided to do as his father desired
On reaching the Office there sat Mr.
Mathews debating to stenographer
The stenographer was Arietta.
Mr.. Mathews extended his hand t
his son, chen, turning to Arietta, said:
=! This is the lady of whom ! wrot
you"
Ben stood like a statue, his eye
III fixed ON the stenographer. Could 1t b