Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1920-04-01
A L1FEYs
ROMANCE
By WALTER J. DELANEY

tcopyriEht. 1920. western Newspaper UnionS
It was no joyous elopement or
ardent love adventure. Very ration
ally Arnold Bran and Eugene Vale
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
q 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 1t 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 business
success"
The train flashed away, the bride
waved an adieu through mist of
tears. Before noon she was back at
home, passing into the house of hf
brother Hartley, with whom she lived
and no one was the wiser.
Hers had been 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 unsynpa-
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 man with pros
poets, which Hartley magnified. The
cherries honeymoon lasted less than
month and then Wynne went to the
far North to develop some mining
property. II turned out complete
flasco, and a year later word was re-
ceived that Wynne was dead. Before
that event Eugene pined in solitude
until, at neighbours 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
Vale would never sanction their
union. Brant had the offer of posi-
ton 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 was supreme
~ happy, for she had found love at
last.
Only one letter Eugene received
from Rrant, 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-
Client 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 III
ness and death Of Wynne arrived. The
first news had been premature. He
was MORALLY 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 life'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.
A 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 helpless
invalid. Hartley had cultivated him
in the hopes CT utilizing his past
prestige for his own benefit. One
day he came to Eugene astounding
her with an offer of marriage from
Denvir.
ut means independence for yor."
represented the subtle schemer. "fcf
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 tho only
man she had ever loved, Eugene
consented to the sacrifice for her
brothers sake.
Denvir died within month. Hart.
ley made fortune. died before q
year was over, and Eugenie was at
last truly independent, but she con.
sidered her wealth as mere dross, for
1t failed to bring her happiness.
Another year passed by. Amid her
self-enforced solitude Eugene found