The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-12-29
The Test of True
Love
BY FREpERIcK cLARKE.

Copyright 1871. western Newspaper Union
"Ill walk home with you, Dick" said
Frank Fayles to his friend Richard
Talbot and started away with him
from Miss Landis' door Al the cor.
ner Of the block he stopped and wrung
his friends hand violently.
II congratulate you, old man." he
said wanmy II think your fiancee is
one Of the finest girls I've ever met
and just suited to you. too, and bet
your married life viii be one long
dream Of paradise"
Talbot dld not reply. ana his friend,
mortified By his coldness. accom-.
panied him In silence. Talbot was
thinking bitterly Of his folly--hls alb
solufe folly. u was too late to with.
draw with honor now. The wedding
was only one month away Aud dur
Ing the PAST two weeks he had come TO
realize that he had made the mistake
OF his life.
He had thought Elsie LaAdis all that
could be desired Ia any woman until
until he had met Edith Spinner.
Honor forbade him to speak; but the
pressure Of their hands when they met
must have betrayed theh to each 9th.
err They had met three times only
and he was head over heels I'M love
with Edith
lie thought over his future that
night. He could not withdraw.
lie rose up after sleepless night.
resolved to give Elsie the chance to
reconsider II was not until eight
o'clock that evening that he found him
self In Elsie's presence.
Their greeting was commonplace
enough: The handshake, the kiss. and
even that seemed perfunctory. Talbot
sat down.
'Eichard,' said his fiuncee, looking
at him cnriously, do you know you
have been acting in u very odd man
ner lately"
an How is that?" he stammered.
"You haven't seemed to love me as
much as YOU used to,r she stanmered.
81 have been thinking-o, Richard,
uOh you cure Tor meE
A moment later and she was ON her
knees at his side her arms around
him, weeping
"Elsie p exclaimed Richard, miser-
ably, IL love you"
"Hou won't love me when | have
told you something" she sobbed.
"Tell me and see." said he. He
could think Of nothing better to say.
81 have been untrue to you" she
sobbed. II don't mean that I've
kissed anybody else. No, but-O
Richard, you are so simple and noble,
you would never understand. Well, L
| had been wondering whether our
marriage was gong TO be happy. 1t
had begun to seem so ordinary, our
love. Aud then | met man-just two
weeks ago. He fascinated me and
and ] loved him more than you, dear
est"
Richard sat up very straight. This
was turning OF the tables with
vengeance.
I'VE never bold each other" she
went on, weeping bitterly 81 felt that
we ought not to be married until you
knew-and l didn't dare to tell you
until today"
why todayY' inquired Richard
kindly
Because he is marrild now"
sobbed Elsie. "He got married yester-
day. And he had been engaged to her
for whole year-iust think of that!
He had lust been flirting with me and
l--fooling me. And then sudden re-
vulsion came over me and knew that
Il was you | had loved all the time.
Richard, can you ever forgive me or
shall give you back your rlngg"
Who Was the MANI" inquired Rich
ard, conscious of an odd sense OF help
less jealousy
Nobody you know, Richard" she
answered. 80 it wouldn't do you any
good to tell YOU his name. But I'll
tell you whom he married. / believe
You met her once. II was Miss Spin.
ner."
Edith Spinner!" he shouted
Yes. Richard. She is said TO be a
dreadful hlrt Why, what is the mat
terY"
Come here, Elsie" said Richard.
DO YOU know have been fancying
myself in iove with EdithT
You, Richard? Since we We're en-.
gagged Why, how dared your"
How dared you?' he retorted.
Il admit" she cried. "It was purely
Imagination. ! just feared thar we
mlphtn't be quite suited to each other
and"
That's what did"
You never kissed her. Dick7"
"Neverw he said, looking her in the
eyes and then suddenly he drew her
upon his knee and kissed her.
"Esie, darling, shall we start over