Middletown transcript., 1920-06-19
A LIES
ROMANCE
By WALTER ]. DELANEY

{COpyr1ght. 1SZV. western newspaper Onlonl
1t was no joyous elopement OF
ardent love adventure. Very ration
ally Arnold Brant and Eugene Vaile
had met fifty miles from her home
had gone to an obscure clergyman
and been united in marriage. The
new husband had just time to catch
a train across the continent within
the hour, and those two, SO hurriedly
bound in wedlock. as hurriedly parted
"In two years, DEAR" he said, as
he kissed her good,by.
"You wouldn't wait. You would
have it so." she sighed. II hope it is
for the BEST"
"The knowledge that you are mine,
all mine," returned Arnold Brant,
twill inspire me to make a business
success"
The train flashed away. the bride
waved an adieu through a mist OF
tears. Before noon she was back at
home. passing into the house of haf
brother Hartley, with whom she lived
and no one was the wiser.
Hers had been a strange expert
ence. Almost from her baby days she
had been dominated by her brothers
will. He had one thought in life
to make money. A cold, unsympa-
thetic being, he chilled all the sweet
ness out of the life Of Eugene, and
when she was seventeen forced her
into marrying Peter Wynne.
The latter was a man with pros
poets, which Hartley magnified. The
cheerless honeymoon lasted less than
a month and then Wynne went to the
far North to develop some mining
property. II turned out complete
fiasco, and a year later word was re-
ceived that Wynne was dead. Before
that event Eugene pined in solitude
until, at neighbonu home, she met
Arnold Brant. There was no impulse
Of disloyalty to Wynne, but deep.
unspoken love existed between those
two.
When the news came of the death
of Wynne, both Brant and herself
knew that the self-seeking Hartley
Vaile would never sanction their
union. Brant had the offer Of posi-
tion in Australia. He induced Eugene
to consent to the secret marriage.
And when they parted at the steps Of
the altar and possible years Of part
ing faced them, Eugene waseupreme-
~ happy, for she had found love at
last.
Only one letter Eugenie. received
from Brant, telling that he was about
to start into the most remote part of
the country and that, if his purpose
succeeded. he would return with suffi-
cient means to win him the approba-
ton and recognition Of her mercenary
brother.
Then to Eugene came an appalling
discovery. The full details Of the ILL.,
ness and death of Wynne arrived. The
first news had been premature. He
was mortally Ill, but survived for sew
eral months. Acting upon the initial
. intelligence. Eugene had welded
Brant fifteen days before the demise
Of her first husband.
The later ceremony was illegal.
and she was simply widow and the
man she cherished as her 1ife's mate
was no more than an utter stranger.
She at once wrote to Brant, trusting
to the letter finally reaching him
however remote he might be from
civilization.
year went by and there was no
indication that Brant had received
the letter.
There was an old man named Mark
Denvir who had been q power in the
business world, but now a helpless
invalid. Hartley had cultivated him
in the hopes of utilizing his past
prestige for his own benefit. One
day he came to Eugene astounding
her with an offer Of marriage from
Denvir.
1T means independence for you,"
represented the subtle schemer, "for
he will not live long,"
Eugene shrank from the proposal,
but the artful and persistent Hartley
finally overcame her opposition. A
seeming plaything Of destiny, forgot
ten, at least neglected by the only
man she had ever loved, Eugenie
consented to the sacrifice for her
brothers sake.
Denvir died within a month. Hart
ley made fortune, died before a
year was over, and Eugene was at
last truly independent, but she con-
sidered her wealth as mere dross, for
it failed to bring her happiness.
Another year passed by. Amid her
self-enforced solitude Eugene found
no surcease to the vague longing for
the peace of mind and contentment
fate had so cruelty denied her. A
stray item in a newspaper, citing the
discovery of a man named Arnold
Brant in another city, detailed his be-
ing removed to a hospital from a
wretched tenement room where he
had lain down to die amid poverty, !
illness and despair.
It was Eugene who had hastened to !,
the side of the fever-stricken man, |
who. after days Of weary watching,
met the first intelligent words of the
convalescent. She was the confidante
Of his terrible struggles in an un-
friendly wilderness. eliminating in
the utter failure of all his plans. It
was Eugene who Joined in his tears,
whilst sobbing out the pathetic story
of her own unhappy life. And then
Not at the altar this time, but be-
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