Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1920-06-05
LOVE MIRACLE
BY AUGUSTUS c. sHERwIN


Copyright. 1920. Western Newspaper Unton)
She was a blooming widow Of thirty
i've and looked ten years younger. When
she appeared at the home Of her clos
est friend, Mrs. Ross Ewing, at EX-
moor, the latter truthfully told her
that she seemed as far from wrinkles
as when she had first known her in
girlhood.
''YOu certainly must have discovered
the fountain Of youth, Laurette," ia
military observed Mrs. Ewing. -Four
years widow, and many girl of eight
cen would envy your dazzling beauty.
What is the secret OF your growing
charm?"
Love-" softly and with certain
degree Of shyness whispered Laurette
Winthrop. She blushed, but sooR re
gained the poise that ever distinguish
ed her as a woman not afraid of tell
ing the truth and entirely devoid Of
any silly affectatiOn. "And why not
my dear2 It was quite a homemade
match-my marriage with poor dear
Alvin-one Of convenience brought
about by our respective families. He
was an honest, good natured, kindly
fellow, who INDUCED all my whims and
whom 1 thought enough of to respect
and never quarrel with. We got along
nicely, without any gush or pretense,
and when he died missed him more
than 1 can tell. But that is all
past now. There have been four lone
ly years. Two years ago met a man
shall never forget, nor he me, truly
believe There came Illness for him
and he became a changed man. We
drifted apart because he became per-
feet hypochondriac in his ailment-
lost all interest in life, sank into
hermitlike mood and sent me word
that as broken man he could have
no hopes that our pleasant friendship
could continue"
"And you still love him?" ~
II can help him-that is why come
to you. His physician says he needs
someone to rouse him from his lethar-
gy. While he has grown thin and
pale and ambitionless, his doctor says
half OF his indispOsition is imagination,
pure and simple"
"Who is he, LauretteY
"His name is Irwin Throop."
"Whyl It cannot be he who last
week took the Morton place near the
Alake?"
'aThe same" replied Laurette. "And
therefore 1 have come to you, who are
a revivifying force wherever you ex-
ert your influence. You rule unQues-
toned in ExmOor here. What you
,promulgate is law. with ready aids at
command to carry out what you de
sign. You can bring Irwin ThroOp
out of his dark mood, you can help me
lead him back to the love for me
which has changed to his morbid fear
for himself"
Mrs. Ewing looked startled, puzzled
and essentially inquisitive. "You see"
continued Laurette, "at Paxton Mr..
ThroOp was coddled, sympathized with
and made to believe that he was in
a dying condition. The doctor insist
ed that he must get a change 1t took
him no further than locating here. If
the same. system of tactics is kept up,
1t will do him no good. Through your
wise wOmanly ways he should be q
ready subject. This is what have
thought out" and Laurette confidential
ly impaired to her closest friend just
what she had thought out.
II am going back to Paxton" said
Laurette. 81 can hardly stay here to
have his relatives say that am chas-
ing him down"
"But can invite you here. after
awhile"
eyes, when you have rescued the
invalid from his gloom and melan-
choly."
"And he views you with the old time
bright eyesY smiled Mrs. Ewing. II
think time will work the charm, dear"
"In your skilled hands, surely" re-
piled Laurette with confidence.
They had humored the whims Of
the notional patient at Paxton and
the dOlorous atmosphere surrounding
him had made of Irving ThroOp con-
firmed misanthrope. A case of nerves
had grown into a bugabOO Of fancy
and dread.
Mrs. Ewing had summoned and
posted her emissaries. 1t was some
thing of a novelty and stimulant to
Irwin ThroOp to have people meet him
and treat him as if he was. a normal
fellow creature instead Of a con-
firmed invalid, physical wreck. No
one eondOled with him, no one told
him he looked pale and weak. Every
body hailed him with CHEEKY, friendly
greeting. He was ashamed to mention
his ailments to people who apparently
observed no trace Of them in his bear
ing.
The fair plotter, Mrs. Ewing, fairly
led, dragged and held him In a new |