Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-09-06
The
Experiment
By AGNES BROGAN

bled aunt, gaZed into each others
faces.
"Cicely grows more difficult each
day." the aunt complained.
stubborn is the word 1 should
use," the guardian corrected. Her
escapades through the schooling pc
Rod were reckless enough, but to take
up now with a young nobody from no
where, a man visibly in search of a
fortune, Is worse than reckless, it's
ldiotic."
Mrs. Blake told me-" the aunt con-
6ded, "that this Douglas Main was
paying attention to a bankers daugh-
ter in her town, and when the bank
failed, he quietly disappeared"
The guardian nodded. "a fortune
hunter, Of course" he repeated.
"It Is really to be lamented." the
aunt said, that Cicely's father be-
uueathed his entire estate to her,
enough to tempt any u%nprincipled man.
This one with his charming manners
will be hard to fight against"
1.-THE lawyer who was her fathers
friend controls the fortune, subject to
Cicely's Wishes" the guardian said.
'My authority there ended with her
coming of age"
The old lady nodded.
"Cicely has every confidence in her
fathers old friend, she still calls him
Daddy Lane" A sudden light shone
in the guardians eyes,. "Why cannot
we try the experiment of suggesting
that which happened to the bankers
daughter mentioned by Mrs. Blake?
"Why cannot you and I, Miss Ferris,
In an effort to save Cicely, circulate
a report Of the loss of her fortuneF
"Why, Cicely would contradict it"
the aunt objected.
The guardian leaned forward. 1T
would be necessary for a time to de-
ceive her Also" he explained.
"But Mr.. Lane" the aunt interposed,
would be sure to set her right"
The guardian reached for his hat.
"I will GO In to town to see Mr.. Lane,
he said. 1--WE will go over this thing
together. If he thinks the expert
ment not justifable, where Cicely's fu-
ture happiness is at stake, we Will
abandon it. If, on the other hand, he
realizes the value of having her eyes
opened to this suitor's real charac-
ter, for of course with the disappear
ance of her money, the man will also
disappear, why then we can plan to-
gether some story about a failure OF
her company's oil wells"
Miss Ferris did not look relieved.
at all sounds dramatic and queer"
she said, and she fingered upon the
veranda, looking perplexedly after her
niece's guardian, as he strobe away.
From the interior came a low muir
INJURED voice. Cicely was talking at
the phone. She appeared presently
lightly poised in the doorway, a white
clad figure, and smiling.
Toward them down the garden path
came a tall young man.
exit the dragon" said Cicely, "and
enter the prince" Twilight gave place
to darkness, sounds and house lights
died away, the man and girl fingered,
talking in low murmurs, while near
by in silent persistence the aunt rock
ed to and fro.
"Robert was right" she concluded,
"this man would soon lure Cicely's
fortune away, with Cicely." Then
briskly from the darkness came the
guardian. He spoke shortly, bitterly.
81 have just returned from seeing
your lawyer, Cicely," he said, "ahd
have learned of your most unwise
speculations. Why, you should have
insisted upon this step against his adj
vice, and without consulting your
friends, 1 cannot imagine. But you
have made yourself literally a pau
per-"
The old lady pulled at the guard
fans sleeve.
II don't understand this innovation,
Robert" she whispered. you say
Cicely herself made i~nvestmentsP
"There was no need for deception"
he answered roughly, "the thing is too
true. Lane told me. Cicely has pau
perized herself"
The girl came and stood In the moon
light.
SWELL" she said, had I not a right
to dispose of my own money? Espe-
cially if I found it was standing be-
tween me and love? There are those,
noble enough to silence their, own
hearts before the presence Of gold, and
there are those" she paused smil-
ing.
Robert" she added, "last week you
oSkad mo tO marry VOu."
The guardian moved uncomfortably.
1--WE will not discuss that here" he
said.
"very WE'LL" Cicely agreed. Doug
las" she spoke into the shadows. Last
week you confessed that you would
never ask me to marry you, because
you could not accept my wealth. Now
that I stand before you with empty