The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-12-21
Proof of the
Pudding
%. lsas. western New.p.p.r Union,
By JUSTIN WENTWoOD

90. lszs. Western Newspaper Union.)
"BUT surely you won't dlsinheri
your SON just because he want
to marry the girl of his choIceY'
Colonel Weir turned his blue eye
upon Miss Madeleine Raines. II shall
do just that" he answered.
At hfty-five the oolonst was still a
attractive man. He was -martinet
he believed IN home discipline. Ant
his son Phil had become engaged with
out his leave to an actress. .
Colonel Weir had old-fashioned ideas
about actresses. and he was inordi
nately proud Of the Weir name.
He was pouring out his grief to Miss
Raines. She was an extraordinarily
attractive girl whom he had met al
the beach hotel, where he had gone fol
q week TO recuperate from the shock
OF the breach with Phil.
And he had found such consolation
as had not been his since his wife died.
many years before.
He did not want to marry Madeleine
Raines. He was too old for that. But
he would have liked to have had her
about him. In some capacity, for the
rest Of his days.
IF only the boy had had the sense
TO choose someone like you, Made
leinew he sighed. He called her that
now. and she called him Harry. It
was one 'of those delightful, quick fir
tations that spring up between the
young and the middle-aged.
But. Harry, you haven't even seen
this girl. / understand some actresses
are quite charming" protested Made
1eine.
MY dear, there has never yet been
a member Of the stage In the Weir
family, and there never shall be with
my connlvance. Either my son gives
up this association or he ceases to be
a son Of mine"
Madeleine sighed. She felt that the
colonel was unjust. And she liked the
colonel.
"I've given him till Monday to make
up HIS mind flnally,v he continued.
Hes coming down then, and you shall
see him for yourself. But l guess that
actress woman won't want Rim when
she learns that he's to be disinherited
If she marries him."
do you think all women are like
that, Harry?" asked Miss Raines
softly.
Most Of EN-" answered the colonel.
"And me?" queried Miss Raines.
How It happened the colonel never
knew afterward, but he found that he
had kissed Miss Raines, and that he
had affronted her beyond pardon.
She rose to her feet, icy and pale.
II thought you were gentleman,
Colonel Weir,' she said.
She received the colonel's STAN
mered apologies in silence. "Isn't
there anything can do to win for
giveness?" he asked.
1T isn't a matter Of forgiveness.
You have shown me your opinion of
quite. quite plainly. Colonel
Weir You think I'm like alike an
actress, and that any man can kiss
me-"
Il respect you beyond every woman
I've ever met. Miss Raines, I-E-will
you marry mer' he blurted out, over
come by emotion.
Madeleine shook her head sadly. |
You have convinced me, Harry" she
said, "but-but there's another man"
"D-n!" muttered the colonel under
his breath.
but I'll always be IA daughter TO |
you, II you want me-" she said, as they
neared the hotel. 4
Colonel Weir heaved prodigious
sigh. He slept unhappily. He knew
his proposal had been a foolish thing,
but life without Madeleine seemed the
essence Of boredom and loneliness.
Then Monday came. The colonel,
to receive his son, showed no
signs Of the emotional storm he had
been through. His relationship with
Miss Raines had been formal one
since that unlucky episode. He stiff
fened as he saw Phil coming toward
him.
wei, dadT
swell, PHIL what's the answer7".
THE same, dad"
Then there's nothing more to say"
'aid the colonel. turning away.
A soft voice ut his side arrested him.
Colonel. for my sake won't you let
Phil marry the girl of his choice~ I
pleaded Madeleine.
Not even for you. He-why-why,
what's thisr he demanded.
For Madeleine had slipped her arm
through Phil'a 'T-I said I'd be a
laughter to you" she faltered.
"You-you id young scoundrel,
'hiii You-why-why--let's all 60 in
o lunch"
The Limit.