Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1925-01-30
SETTING
HIS BOAT
ADRIFT
By CLARENCE JOYCE
20. 1924. western Newspaper UnlOn.)

Ut WAS strange that the thought of
Inez should occur so frequently to
4 John Phayre's mind as he sat fish
ing above Clouston's weir. Per-
haps 1t was that the miniature rapids
above which he fshed, needless of the
warnings of the guides and hotel man,
reminded him little of the huge
Shoshone rapids, where he and Inez
used to meet. 1nez was the daughter
of a sheep farmer, and John had
worked for the man for two years
before the unexpected death Of a rich
old uncle left him a fortune.
Phayre was forty years old and he
had put a barren youth behind him.
He had once thought of marrying
Inez. But Inez was wholly uneducat-
ed, daughter Of the western plains.
They loved each other. Had John
been ten years younger he would have
plunged headlOng into matrimony.
But middle age brings caution. And
so, realizing the improbability that
such marriage would bring happl-
ness, John had said good-by to Inez
and her father and gone East.
There had been look in Inez' eyes,
a hurt, panied, hopeless look-he re-
membered 1t often nowadays as he sat
fishing on the little Adirondacks lake
near the summer hotel. 1t was unfor-
tunate that he should be thinking of
Inez when he was engaged to marry
Dorothy Baird.
He had met the Bairds In New York,
and Mr.. and Mrs. Baird had suggest
ed that they meet at the hotel that
summer. There seemed to be a good
deal In common between Dorothy and
John. She was a merry, jolly girl,
just such a one as he would have
fallen in love with, twenty years ear
lier, when life stretched, fair and an
stained before him. SO they became
engaged.
John picked up his fishing rod and,
putting on his hat, stepped out Of the
boat and made his way back to the
hotel. 1t was evening and the dark
ness was rushing over the mountain
tops. John approached the hotel quiet
IT, He meant to surprise Dorothy
alone on the piazza, where she liked
to sit in the hour before dinner. 1t
was the month of June, and the hotel
was almost empty.
As he came through the shadows OF
the pine trees he heard a mans voice
speaking.
"But is all our love to go for moth
ingT" he was asking.
Surely duty does not mean that
you must throw away the happiness
Of two personsT
John meant to slip away. He did
not want to spy upon a love affair.
But, to his horror, he heard the wom-
ans voice reply, and the woman was
Dorothy. Her words were broken with
sObs
Arnold, love you as have always
loved you" she answered. But owe
everything to my father, and my duty
forces me to marry John Phayre."
"But you don't love him., Dorothyi"
"IIe thinks | do. And respect him,
Arnold. SO. please God, he shall never
know"
Dorothy, you are decelving your
self You have made yourself think
that II Is your duty to your father to
marry this man--tbls old man, for he
Is nearly twice your age. But you
are selling yourself Dorothy"
"Arnoldw
"Yes, you are selling yourself" he
answered bitterly ''That marriage
portion that he has promised TO settle
on you, which will go to your father,
Is the price OF your dishonOr and my
betrayal"
"Arnoldl How dare you say such
bitter words to me" exclaimed the
girl.
There, forgive me, Dorothy. I will
say no more. Tell me you love me
and will try to bear with my wretch
ed fate. ! know you will regret your
decision bitterly. But II 1t must be
II must be, DOr0thyT
She murmured some inarticulate
words, and then, with a wild outburst
Of weeping she fell into his arms.
John Phayre's face was as white as
a dead mans as he crept into the no
tel and up TO his room.
On the next day he excused himself
10 the Bairds alleging that he had to
run up to New York on business. He
went 10 his lawyer and told him that
he wished to settle sum Of money
upon his fiancee.
81 suppose II is not necessary to let
her know before the marriage takes
place" he said 81 would rather II
had the aspect Of a-surprlse."
Certainly not, Mr.. Phayre," an
swered the old lawyer. How much
is the sum you were thinking OF set
thing on Miss BaIrdf"
zone hundred thousand dollars" an
swered John.
"A large sum, Mr.. Phayre," suggest
ed the lawyer, rubbing his hands
thoughtfully.
ut will still leave me a hundred
thousand Of my own" John Phayre
replied.
"Well, Mr.. Phayre, don't want to
dlssuade you, but-well, often man
acts lmpulsively and regrets It after
ward"
81 shall not regret IT," answered
John. "Please draw up the settle
ment in such way as to make It abb
solutely irrevocable in case / change
80, ,.tnH