The Lamar register., 1923-03-14
A Sweetheart Held
in Trust
By JUSTIN WENTWOOD

90, 1879 Western Newspaper Unlon)
"A aighty little thing like that -
stormed old Uncle John. Il tell you,
Harry, she won't be grown up enough
TO realize the responsibilities of mar
rlage for five years to come. And you
won't be able to support u vile for
Iiye years to come. She's nice little
thing. but you'd better look elsewhere
boy"
Uncle" said Harry Leecroft, Il
love Dora and she loves me. And II
her anyway"
Uucle John frowned. You always
we're headstrong, my boy" he said.
Dora has the makings of very hne
woman in her. but-boy, can't you
waltz
why should waitr'
Because, apart from the financial
considerations, marriage ut the ages
Of twenty-three and twenty, before
your characters are formed. will spell
unhappiness for both of you"
Uncle John was very much per
turbed about his favorite nephew.
When he heard of the engagement he
had invited little Dora Searles 10
come and stay with him In his big
house. Uncle John was seventy-hve
and not likely to live many years
more. He took to Dora Immediately
everyone took to Dora, but she was
quite untitled for the responsibilities
Of married life.
And he was devoted to his nephew.
Look here, boy, you go back TO
your Job and think It over" said
Uncle John. Dora will remain my
guest till your summer holidays.
Then wen talk things over"
There was plteous leave-taking,
FOR the young people loved each other
dearly. Yet, when he was away,
Harry realized the truth in his uncle's
remarks. Their courtshlp had been
such n whirlwind affair. He had won
her from two other suitors. And then.
even after their engagement. there
had been quarrels. though they were
devoted to each other, and one OF the
discarded suitors had loomed upon
the horizon again.
He went away with a heavy heart.
This was not lightened by Dora's let
ters They were not cold, but all the
spirit Of their love had gone out of
them.
A week before his summer holidays
Harry received printed notice an
nouncIng Dora's marriage to his uncle
For while he saw red. This was
the most incomprehensible thing that
he could have dreamed Of. Dora, mar
rled to Uncle John A man of sew
enty-five. with one foot in the grave.
The sordidness OF IT struck him cold.
Dora. marrying the old man for his
money!
At first he planned to rush back
home and-well and what? No
words would be adequate: there was
nothing he could do or say The
treachery and the stain Of II filled
him with loathlng
In the end he did nothing at all
simply cut himself of from them re
turned the two letters which he re-
received unopened, and grlmly stuck
to his job. There would he no love
I'm his life.
ana IN MS WOTk he lOunu u CeTIdln
consolation. The happy-golucky boy
had become transformed into a reSo-
Lutte man. Three months later he was
Unexpectedly promoted to an impor-
tant position. at a salary of seventy
five dollars a week.
He thought grimly how. but for his
uncle's treachery. Dora and he could
have married. He looked back on
their love. How childish II had been.
after all. He was man now: he
knew how a woman should be han
died. Dora would have found him
very different.
Another three months passed, and
Harry received letter announcing
that his uncle had passed away. leav-
ing him and Dora equal shares in "A
fortune estimated at hundred thou
sand dollars.
He stuck to his job. Once he would
have thrown 1t up and lived on the
interest of his capital; now work was
his only incentive.
"Your uncle left this letter for you"
said the lawyer, when he handed him
the check.
At first Harry was tempted to de
stroy 1t unopened. Then curiosity
mastered him. He read:
MY Dear Boy: When you read this
think you Will understand, as Dora