The pioneer-review. [volume] (Philip, Haakon County, S.D.) 1920-current, 1920-08-12
LOVE MIRACLE
BY AUGUSTUS c. sHERWIN


five and looked ten years younger When
she appeared at tile 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 III
girlhood
'You certainly must have discovered
the fountain of youth. Laurette, ~fa-.
miliarly observed Mrs. Ewing. -Four
years widow, and many girl of eight
cen would envy your dazzling beauty.
What is the secret Of your growing
eharm?'
"Love." softly and with certain
degree of shyness whispered Laurette
Winthrop. She bIushed. but soon re-
gained the poise that ever distinguish
ci her as woman not afraid OF tell,
ing the truth and entirely devoid OF
ary silly affeetatiop. "And why not
my deari Ii was quite homemade
ms .ch--my marriage with poor dear
Algin--one of convenience brought
about by cur respective families. He
| was an honest, good natured, kindly
| fellow, who INDUCED all my whims and
whom / thought enough of TO respect
( and never quarrel with. We got alogg
( nicely, without any gush or pretense,
/ and when he died | missed h.m more
than | can tell. But that is all
past now. There have been four lone
/ ly years. Two years ago | met man
1 shall never forget, nor he me, truly
! believe. There came illness for him
and he became changed man. We
/ drifted apart because he became a per-
! feet hypochondriae In his ailment-
| lost all interest in life, sank into
/ hermitlike mood and sent me word
| that as a broken man he could have
no hopes that our pleasant friendship
could continue"
"And you still love him?"
/ Il can help hinl-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, LauretteT
."His name Ia irwin Throop."
'Nh-i 1t cannot be he who list
week took the Morton place near the
lake?"
THE same" replied Laurette. And
! therefore | have come to you, who are
a reyiyifying force wherever you ex-
ert your influence. You rule unques-
/ toned In Exmoor here. What you
pronvilgate 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 MIR.
Throop was coddled. sympathized with
4 and made to believe that he was in
| dying condition. The doctor insist
/ ed that he must get change. 1t took
him no further than locating here. If
1.-THE same system of tactics Is kept up,
1t will do him no good. Through your
wise womanly ways he should be
ready subject. This is what j 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. Il can hardly stay here to
have his relatives say that l am chas-
ing him down"
"But l can invite you here, after
awhile"
.Yes, when yoa have rescued the
/ invalid from his gloom aud melan-
choly.'
And he views you with the old time
bright eyes?" smiled Mrs. Ewing. Il
think time will work the charm. dear
'.In your skilled hands surely = re-
piled Laurette with confidence.
They had humored the whiins of
the notionai patient at Paxton and
/ the doiorous atmosphere surrounding
him had made of Irving Throop con-
firmed misanthrope. A case of nerves
i had grown into bugaboo of sfancy
ana Qreau.
Mrs. Ewing had summoned and
posted her eGaissaries. 1t was some
thing of novelty and stimulant to
irwin Throop to have people meet him
and treat him as IL he was normal
| fellow creature instead of q con-
firmed invalid, physical wreck. No
one condoled 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
4 ing.
The fair plotter, Mrs. Ewing, fairly
/ led, dragged and held him In new
social bondage that began to interest
him. She coaxed him into tennis. He
was an excellent player and believed
1 the compliments he received as to his
expertness In the sport.
In fact. within month Irwin
Throop was new being. There was
no time for moping among the jolly
u -