The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1920-06-03
A Joyous
Helper
00
BY GENEV1EvE ULMAR
tcopyr,eht. 1919. western Newspaper Union,


Copyright. 1919. Western Newspaper Union)
When Laurence Colby's spinster
aunt announced to him that she had
made up her mind to apportion to him
the part of her estate she had intend
ef to leave him by will, he whistled
volubly in his natural impetuous style.
"lou have shown yourself to be a
sincere and contented young man, and
| shan't keep you waiting for dead
mans Shoes she observed definitely.
II certainly never made any calcu-
lations on yours" declared Laurence.
"What's more, I'm perfectly satisfied
ana happy with my present lot. I'm
earning living, everybody seems to
like me, like everybody"
well, my lawyer will tell you what
I have done for you, and I am glad
have done it,
The first thing Laurence thought of
after he found himself independent
and rich was to take a vacation. The
first person he planned on visiting was
Dudley Vernon.
1--WE pretty warm spot in my heart
for dear old Dud." he told himself. HE
helped me to get through college; he
saved my life once"
SO Laurence went down to Westport
and became guest at the house of
Dudley's widowed sister, with whom
Dudley lived.
A few days after he had arrived at
Westport, Laurence got Mrs Aston
alone and sat down for confidential
chat
Il am worried nearly to death about
Dudley" he said, che is so changed.
Won't you relieve my mind and put me
In the way Of helping him?'
Dudley has been that way since he
returned from months stay at
Adrian" said Mrs. Aston. II will tell
you all know. 1t doesn't come from
him, but from an accidental discovery
made. Dudley seems to have fallen
in love with a young lady during his
vacation. I do not know her name,
only that she lives at Adrian. In his
waste basket a few days since ! found
photograph torn in two. Here are
the fragments"
II say" CALCULATED Laurence, scan.
ming the joined pieces of cardboard,
IF I had a picture like that I'd wear
it over my hearth"
II also found parts of letter ar-
parently from the father of the young
lady. It informed Dudley that he
could not look upon their engagement
with favor, as he had learned conf.
dentially that Dudley's business was
at the point of failure"
"1s that true?" inquired Laurence.
Il fear that it Is. His lawyer, Mr..
Ames, tells me 500
Laurence visited the lawyer to find
That ten thousand dollars would place
his friend beyond the power Of bust,
ness disappointment. He went to
Adrian seeking for young lady whose
name even he did not know. Her love
~ face however, was wildly impressed
upon his mind.
I Fortune favored Laurence's plans.
We was traversing residence street
of Adrian when he came upon a large
wallet lying on the pavement Lau-
yence picked it up to find it filled with
papers and money. Turning corner
he nearly collided with a hurrying fig
ure, flushed, excited girl.
Found at last" he breathed with
intense satisfaction as he recognized
her, and then observing that she was
scanning walk and street with eager
eyes he spoke aloud: Excuse me,
miss, but have you lost something's"
"Yes, oh! yes-a wallet containing
some very valuable papers I was TAX
ing to my fathers office from the
house,"
Els that it," questioned Laurence
and Miss Amalie Dutton took the wal
let rendered with a joyous cry.
The incident led to their becoming
acquainted more fully, and within a
week Laurence was an accepted Wis
itor at the Dutton home Through
wary investigation he learned that
Amalie knew Dudley Vernon, but she
did not seem to be intensely interested
when he was mentioned. Persistently,
however, Laurence brought up the
name of his friend on every possible
occasion, particularly before the par
ents of Amalie. He lauded Dudley, he
told of recent business troubles now
all adjusted, and Dudley on the way
to become a millionaire. Then enc
day there came vast surprise when
Amalie propounded the query:
"Mr. Colby, why is it that you are
always speaking Of Mr.. Vernon? I told
my friend. Virginia Bland, about It,
and she cannot understand your deep
interest in her fiance.''
In her what!'' cried Laurence,
amazement, hope, mystery, delight
struggling for mastery in his heart.
Her iance. They were to marry,
but her parents have objected and Vir.
ginia is verY unhappy
Notvery long, however for, quickly
discerning the blunder he had made,
Laurence set about righting the stu
alton. He learned that the photograph