Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1924-12-26
A Theory That
Was Proved
By H. IRVING KING
(Copyright.)

theory was love nj first sight. She was
a sprlghtly young lady and was in the
habit Of falling I'm love with bewIIder-
ing versatility. There was young
Silas Watson She WINS sure she was In
love with SIlas until she saw him
wearing a 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
ana was well to do But he was
thrifty soul and TOOK occasional board
ers. Tom Williams was just out or
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
pn1rca huf ihara xroo ON oloofnacc
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 round that he was In love with
her, but he knew Carollne's reputation
Tor 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 I'm 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 a beautiful yacht under
full sail and threw out her graphing
irons, The young mans name, as he
gave II out, was Perclval SOmmers;
which name added just the right touch
asee nnisher TO MS perfections.
Soon after PercivaPs arrival Tom
anu ne met In the village street. Both
stopped and stared at each other, say
Ing simultaneously you hereT
Perclval seemed very much discon-
certed at the meeting and said: you
won't give an old college mate away,
will you, Tom1 l nm down here lying
perdu for a while. One of my little
escapades. Nothing very bad; but
thought 1t best to keep out of sight for
a while"
II will not give you away, Ben" re-
piled Tom. IF you behave yourself.
But the very first time see you I'D
to any of your old lodges, or hear Of
Jour being, | will denounce you" And
he passed on with n scowl on his face
Ben Ringwood's career at college
had been iisreputable, 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 Perclval Sommers.
If he told Caroline what he knew
about the man she would simply laugh
mt him and attribute II to jealousy. He
resolved to 90 TO Ben and tell him to
leave town. "Sure, I'll leave town"
said Ben. ave had all want of this
hole. And, Just to show you that I'm
still in the ring, | might add that. If |
wanted TO, l could take along with me
That pretty daughter of YOUR landlord
old Pendergast." And he handed Tom
letter in which the foolish girl had
offered to elope with her Percival,
making an appointment for that very
night In certain Woodland glade. BE
out Of this town tomorrow morning.
said Tom, and went home.
That night, when Caroline came to
the rendezvous, 1t 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 horrld as you can
be, both of YOU" sobbed Caroline.
I'll never speak to either of you
again" and ran back to the house.
The next morning Ben Ringwood