The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1919-08-21
aatesful
Ordeal
By Odllia Fsaness Pfsides
ue,y.isat. lols. By Westes. xswsD.D,e ussss.l

II feel that l shall never come back.
Wade, and It's the thought Of the lit
tie one that worries me-"
throw the fret and anxiety COM
pletely of your mind. Darlow. You
are going to get well and strong up in
the mountains"
But If l should mott"
Faithfully l shall carry out your
plans concerning little Juanita.
Thus had Paul Darlow bound the
man he regarded as his dearest friend
to 4 secret compact and never Wa
weak, though well-meaning Morton
Wade more loyalty resolved.
1t was in a city down the Chilean
coast that Darlow, broken down In
spirits and health, was about to start
for an upland district where his ply
sician said there was a chance OF re-
building his shattered system. As
the disheartened man looked back
over five years and its fateful awards
the future looked indeed bleak and IN
promising.
His story was q romance, Its pres
ent semblance fairly tragical. He had
left his aged mother in quiet little
Michigan town to try his fortune In
South America. He was all but
pledged, when he returned. to wed his
boyhood sweetheart Clarissa Burn.
ham. A year. after his departure Clar-
issa wrote him that his mother was
dead. Clarissa had nursed her pa
tiently, lovingly through two months
illness. Darlow sent pathetic reply
full Of grateful expressions, but not
q word of love for the famished, long
ing soul 20 true to him.
He had not forgotten her, but he had
become dazzled BY q new flame. 4
bright. flashing beauty Of his new en-
vironment, Inez Agnilar. had cap
tivated his senses and he had mar
ried her. When the intensity of the
beguilement had worn away and he
found himself bound to fretful, ca
PRECIOUS invalid. he wrote to Clarissa
the truth, although his sense Of treach-
cry shamed him. 1nez faded away.
leaving their little child, Juanita, to
his care. His own health broke down
and now he had placed over $1,000 In
the hands Of Morton Wade. who. in
case barlow died, was to send It and
little Juanita to Clarissa Burnham.
Within month there came word to
Wade that Darlow had persisted In
crossing dangerous rapids in the in
terror. The news stunned Wade. He
had been disloyal to his trust. BE
had employed the $4,000 in a specula-
ton. feeling certain Of large profit.
Wade lost his investment, and when
the call came to send Juanita to
Clarissa Burnham, he managed to
raise barely suhicient to take her, to
her new guardian. He wrote Miss
Burnham the truthful, penitent story
of his delinquency; conscience-stricken.
reverted to strong drink to drown his
remorse, and one night was killed ii
a gambling den.
False as Paul Darlow had been to
her, she cherished the letter he had
written to her Immediately after the
death Of his wife. In that missive he
declared that all along he had loved
Clarissa only.
When the little child arrived, pa
tiently, lovingly Clarissa took upon
herself a new burden. The radiant
dreams of her youth had been blighted.
but hers was one of those natures In
capable of forgetfulness of frst.love
ideal.
Clarissa was dependent upon her
own efforts for her livelihood, and the
added care and expense Of little juan
tia strained her earning capacity to
the limit. She finally lost position
she had held for several years. on &C.
count of removal. Then she noticed
an advertisement from widower,
Hector Blake, who offerd to pay lib
orally for the care of his two mother
less children.
Clarissa now devoted all her time to
care for the three children. Mr.. Blake.
who was an invalid, called once
week and the solicitude Of Clarissa for
the welfare of his children won his
gratitude. With the coming of win
ter he was preparing to remove South
and try to regain his broken health.
One day he came to Clarissa. ser-
Gus faced and earnest. Plainly he
told her that he was anxious to make
her his wife. He pleaded with her
to become q mother to his little ones.
they would 60 South. he would make
over to her their home. and she could
take Juanita with them. For the sake
Of the child Clarissa consented.
One hour after she had accepted
Hector Blake there was summons at
the door. and there in flesh and blood
stood Paul Darlow. He had survived
extraordinary hardships and had
reached his native land a rich man.
He poured out bis soul to the agi'
tated woman, who had been so true
to him. Then Clarissa told him Of
her promise to Blake. Both were in
tears, she stricken over the fact that
she could not break that pledge. There
was an interruption as a new parting