The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-11-07
A Theory That
Was Proved
By II. IRVING KING
(Copyright.)

- theory and set out to prove 1t. Her
theory was love at first sight. She was
sprightly young lady and was in the
habit of falling in love with bewilder-
ing versatility There was young
Silas Watson. She was sure she was In
love with Silas until she saw him
wearing horrible purple tie. Then
there was Raymond Caruthers. Ray
mond was so perfectly correct in his
attire, his manners were so polished,
his black eyes so expressive that Caro-
line, when she was introduced to him,
told herself that she had surely con-
tracted a case of love at first sight.
But when she knew him better and
found out what outrageous grammar
he used her love was swept away
Then came into her ken Thomas
Williams, the schoolmaster. He
boarded with the Pendergasts. Farm
er Pendergast lived near the village
and was well to do. But he was a
thrifty soul and took. occasional board
ers. Tom Williams was just out of
college and was teaching for while
preparatory to entering the Institute
of Technology. He was rather long
and gawky and sparing of speech.
Caroline looked him over and decided
that he would never do at all for a
Soulmate.
She was little piqued, however,
that Tom paid so little attention to
her. He was always polite to her, of
course, but there was an aloofness
about him which nettled her and she
found herself putting forth all the
little arts of which she was master to
attract the admiration of pas board
er." And she succeeded. Tom, in fact,
soon found that he was in love with
her, but he knew Caroline's reputation
for Inconsistency in love.
Tom and. Caroline, however, as they
came to know each other better, be-
came very good friends.
About this time there arrived in the
village young man who seemed to
Caroline to be all that she had
dreamed of, all that she had been
searching for. He was said to be the
agent of big New York firm that in
tended establishing a summer resort
on the shore three miles away. Car
Oline bore down on the fascinating
stranger like beautiful yacht under
full sail and threw out her graphing
irons. The young mans name, as he
gave it out, was Percival SOmmers
which name added just the right touch
as a fnisher to his projections.
Soon after Pereivaf's arrival Tom
and he met in the village street. Both
stopped and stared at each other, say
ing simultaneously: "You here?"
Percival seemed very much discOn-
certed at the meeting and said: ''You
won't give an old college mate away,
will you, Tom? / am down here lying
perdu for while. One of my little
thought it best to keep out of sight for
a while"
Il will not give you away, Ben" re-
piled Tom, IF you behave yourself.
But the very first time / see you up
to any of your old lodges, or hear of
your being, will denounce you" And
he passed on with seowf on his face.
Ben Ringwood's career at college
had been disreputable, and his career
after leaving college had been more
so. Tom knew all about him. Pretty
soon Tom saw that Caroline had be-
come enamored of Ben RingwOOd
alias Percival Sommers-
If he told Caroline what he knew
about the man she would simply laugh
at him and attribute it to jealousy. He
resolved to go to Ben and tell him to
leave town. "Sure, FL leave town."
said Ben. 1--WE had all l want of this
hole. And, just to show you that I'm
still in the ring, 1 might add that, If
wanted to-, could take along with me
that pretty daughter of your landlord
old Pendergast." And he handed Tom
a letter in which the foolish girl had
offered to elope with her Percival,
making an appointment for that very
night in a certain woodland glade. BE
out of this town tomorrow morning"
said Tom, and went home.
That night, when Caroline came to
the rendezvous, it was not Percival
but Tom she found waiting for her.
She gave little scream when she saw
him Tom told her all that he knew
about Ben RingwoOd and of what had
taken place between them that day.
"You are just as horrid as you can
I'm never speak to either of you
again." and ran back to the house.
The next morning Ben Ringwood.
alias Percival SOmmers, was arrested
by officers from New York charged
with embezzlement There were other
charges and few little
things like that. Two days later Caro-
line, very pale and serious, came to
Tom and said: TON, can never
thank you enough for saving me from
the results Of my folly"
Caroline" said Tom, "do you think
you could-er-like me little?'
She gazed at him silently for a
while and then said: tom. you are
one of the few young men whom |
have met that I did not fall in love
with at first sight What | feel for
you has been of steady growth and,
therefore, l think it must be the real
thing"
And l." he replied, ''have loved you
since first / saw you"