Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-03-14
The Wrong
Extreme

By MARY JORDAN GARTH


"Yes, Allen" replied bluff, hearty
and handsome Marvin Farr, young
| enough to be in love with life and all
its concomitants, and old enough to
be engaged to Mrs. Eunice Brayton, u
widow of twentyeigt, pretty us a
picture and hoving like himself a
comfortable amount of means.
Il suppose your property there
needs looking after occasionally"
submitted Fairs friend.
"Yes, that, and, contidentially-rm
to look for Il wedding ring"
You don't mean it!" exclaimed Al
len. with genuine pleasure in his face.
yes. I've been engaged to Mrs.
| BraytOn since the first of the year,
and we're to be married next month"
You deserve congratulations, old
| fellow!" declared Allen warmly. "She
is charming lady and you should be
very happy"
When he first reached Columbus,
Farr had gone to the office of life
| insurance company. Next day Mt his
hotel he received letter from the ex-
amining physician Of that concern. AS
| he glanced it over he fuirly collapsed.
He thrust it into his pocket and sat
| staring ut vacancy in lost way.
He did not sleep that night. He
went about like u man haunted with
! fearSome dread. He Quickened his
pace whenever he passed Il jewelry
store, he had no heart in business, and
put in time wandering idly about
Ono DIV cnrOino M nf hr.>
ker'S office where he had sat casual
ly viewing blackboard and crowd, he
came plump up against Arnold Day.
the brother of his fiancee.
"Why, Farr! exclaimed Day.
whats the matter? You look ILL.,"
"Oh, just touch Of indigestion"
evaded Fnrr and Day went on his
way, puzzled and wondering.
At the end Of a week Farr returned
to his home town. He called upon
Eunicc. She could not help but no
tice the change In him. He was pre-
occupied, had lost weight and amazed
her at his second call by saying:
"Eunice, Pm going to ask you to
postpone the wedding. Something
came up in the city that requires my
! attention for some time to Gomez
Marvin, dear, If 1t is your business.
or the lack of money" began the loyal
Eunice, you know what l have is
yours"
"Oh. dear! No! Nothing Of that
kind" asserted Farr stanchly.
Don't ask me to go into details. Ii
you wouldn't mind, let us put, off the
! wedding for time"
Most surely. Marvin, provided you
let me know your special worry when
1t gets too hard for you to bear alone"
So affairs drifted on as they had
done, only that Eunice began to fret
over the great change IN her promised
husband. One day she told her broth
er all her vague fears.
"Why, / think can figure it out"
said the latter. II remember now that
/ met Farr in the city coming out of
one of those speculation joints where
men lose thousands in an hour. I'll
wager Farr has been foolish enough
to invest in some wildcat stock and
has lost his money"
Forthwith Eunice approached Farr
with a memoranda of her means. ITS
all yours, Marvin" she said generous
ly. Come, use 1t to help you out of
your difficulties and become the Smil-
ing cOntcnted man you were"
Farr was touched deeply. Here was
| a proof Of the earnest love of his con-
fding fiancee that was simply irresist-
ible. His eyes grew humid, his voice
trembled with emotion as he said,
"Eunice, I am going to tell you all
about 1t. ] have postponed the wed.
ding because I may not live long"
Marvin! how ridiculous |" imme-
diately cried out Eunice. "Oh, dear!
What has ever put that nonsensical
rubbish In your head?"
"The best authority in the world"
declared Farr gravely. 1T is heart
rending to think that the future bears
no hope for me, because you can never
become my wife. 1 may not live a
year"
IF 1t were only month, dear, all
the more should / wish to be your
| nurse, your wife,
"You see," confessed Farr reluctant
| ~, Eat Columbus I was examined for
life insurance to be made out In your
favor. / received the report on my
application next day-declinedl I
think / have the report here. haven't
had the nerve to look ut 1t since / ro-
ceived It," and Farr CROPPED In his
pocket and brought to light the docu-
meDt in question.
Eunlce grew pale rs she read 1t. Ac-
cording to Its contents Marvin Farr
was afflicted with hereditary ailments
which had already secured n destruc-