The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1921-05-12
A Shattered
Romance
BY WILLIAM FALL


Why the story told by this simple
country rirl in the Pullman brought
tears 20 Miss Agne, Durcs eyes the
latter could not imagine. Il was only
after She knew how deeply she was
moved that sh. discovered the reason.
Il was her p'rlhood story over agaiu.
u was because Miss Dare Is ~ we'll
SHOWN that l have called her by this
nom De- plume. Her married life has
been rr,-eutcd 20 the attention "
scandal lowing readers on the front
pages ~ the most popular journal.
o., once or twice. but az least tea
tmcr.
Just now she was travelling alone
across the continent 90 open Ia Los
Angeles. thankful enough for the brief
respite from popularity which enabled
hci 60 assume her real name. Bu;
Tor ~ She Is stlll Miss Dare.
AMI THIS simple country giri had got
ga with some man whose face Mis-
i'nre had not seen 40 Fort Tyson. and
shc was travelling 20 Denver Mis-
i'nrs. secin, That she was distressed.
had sat beside her and the rlrl had De-
tie by little told her th, whole story,
She was runchcrs daughter. and Il
was The old tale ~ mouotuuous farm
llfc with 10 distraction and the bril-.
liant actor. Charles Montforl. whose
fancy she had caught while his iroup,
played two nights AZ the county cap.
itaL And they were 10 be- married az
Denver. Wasn't Il wonderful 70
nance
Clnruc. had met some friends
~ his aud be- had told her 10 sit stiu
and pot 10 speak to anyone. and she
knew that she was doing very wrong
o. dlsobey him and talk a. she wns
tnlkin. now. But Clarence had some
Important business affairs 20 settle in
the end rnr be- said. And when after
an hours obedience the girl had gone
timldly back 10 the end car 70 look
for Clarvnce. she found him drinking.
Then Miss Dare found that there
were tears In her eyes. ton. Her mind
went hack for nearly ~ years 10
little farm house In Iowa. and an old
father and mother. and travelling
troupe and n man. Well. she
had discovered about his marriage
long aftrrward. And IL was years since
he had crossed her life lie must be
forty now.
she took the girls hand between
her own and began 10 talk 10 her
"But my father would never let me
marry m actor" exclaimed the girl.
"Nou know. We folks have strange
Ideas out on the ranches" And Clar-
cncc had been the first TO explain 10
her the impossiblllty ~ that.
Then Miss Dare began explaining
her views until she saw the scared
look that came la the girls face
then she tried 20 console her. And just
then. happening To look NJ. she saw
somebody AZ the end II the car, walk.
lng rather indirectly. and hastily she
excused herself and hurried toward
him.
The man loopd down. "IIellol"
be- said, smiling stupidity. "llello
Why. Why -" suddenly his face
hlanched and he sat down heavily
upon seat
Miss Dare I'D not let 20 his arm Tor
an instant.
Listen To me. you" she could not
find suitable term of address Ills
ten TO me-" ,he said. "You know me.
don't your Well, you are going 10
that little Girl IN M. ;. and you are
going 60 tell her that you have made
q mistake In you underestimate And
THEY'VE shall be- az Dry Lake In
i've minutes. You get on at Dry
Lake"
lie sworc az her. "What has II TO
do with youf" he snecrcd.
"You-go-now." she whispered
huarsely. you know the abduction
laws of Colorndoi Yes you go"
She watched him pass along the
aisle and saw him bend over the girl
and speak. She saw the girl start up.
clinging 10 the velvet cushions of the
Pullman. Then the train slowed down.
and the train was pulling into Dry
Lake The girl was going 20 SCREAM.
Miss Agnes Dare got there IN time.
end moment later she WIS knocking
Clarence Montford all over the car.
That was the latest Of the Dare
scandals. and Miss Agnes photograph
vas prominently displayed as usual on
the front pages of the newspapers.
from New York a. san Francisco.
Miss Agnes read IL and smiled. life
has It's compensations. and there Is
letter IN her handbag which she
reads sometimes when things have
gone badly with her II is from a giri
Ia Tyson and she reflects that II she
has ruined her own life she may have