Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1930-05-23
The Test of
Their Love
By II. IRVING KING


tI...H'r.. sl (Copyright) lIass.u
THE Honorable Roscoe Fielding
i had money; had been abroad; had
been In congress; was respected by
the community and had good dlges-
ton. A well-conducted and dutiful
orphaned nephew lived with him and
acted as his secretary and general
factotum. A charming young lady,
daughter Of deceased friend, and
RoscOe's ward, was also an inmate Of
his home and was devoted to her
guardian. His life glided along smooth
ly and pleasantly and yet he was not
entirely happy. Every mortal has
past of one sort or another and the
Honorable Roscoe was no exception.
The obstreperous part of Fielding's
past was that which had to do with
his marriage. Hailed as "love match"
1t had turned out most unhappily and
though the woman in the case had
. long been dead, the incident-for aft
er all 1t had been only an incident in
the busy life Of Roscoe Fielding-had
given certain twist to his mind
which caused him to doubt the exist.
ence of such thing as pure and dis
interested love--the kind the poets
sing of and the romancers write
about.
James Ripley and Florence Rat
cliff, his nephew and his ward, were,
however, absolutely sure that the poets
and the romance writers were cor
rect. So, after talking the matter over
in the manner customary with young
people in similar situation, james
went to his uncle and told him he and
Florence were in love with each other
and, therefore and consequently, want
ed to be married.
Nonsense cried the pessimistic
uncle; "it's propinquity, not love,
that is the matter with you two. !
suppose that, sooner or later, you are
bound to get married. But marry like
a reasonable being. Pick out a girl
with money, good disposition, and
ambition and worldly knowledge
enough to assist you In making ca
reer for yourself"
The old man then delivered SER
mon to Florence upon the text of the
absurdlty of marrying for love and
intimated that she would do James an
irreparable injury by marrying him.
This last argument so impressed Flor
ence that when James proposed that
they go off and get married at once,
the Honorable Roscoe notwithstand-
ing, she tearfully but firmly negatived
the proposal. Fielding watched the
young couple closely for awhile and
then began to have misgivings. II
WONDER" he thought, If there is the
possibility of such thing as sue.
cessful love match, after ALL"
Two months later the Honorable
Roscoe Fielding died. After the funer-
al the family lawyer" asked James
and Florence to call at his Office.
There he showed them a will of the
deceased in which he divided his large
fortune evenly between his nephew
and his ward; upon the condition that
they sign a written agreement not to
marry each other. If they refused to
sign such an agreement, or, having
signed 1t, violated it, then the fortune
went to research society and James
and Florence were left penniless.
"Let the society have the money and
be hanged" said James. For my part
I absolutely refuse to sign any such
agreement. You say the same; don't
you, FlorenceT
"N-o-o," faltered Florence tearfully.
'Ill sign. Guardian told me should
ruin your prospects in life II l mar
rled you-and I see now that would.
love you too well for that"
"Whatp cried James, ARE you 60
ing to let the prejudlces Of dead
man who happened to have been I'M
fortunate In not being able to dis.
eliminate between spurious love and
the real article, stand between us? Or
is 1t, perhaps. your share of the money
you want?"
The taunt brought Florence to her
feet with flashing eyes. James Rip
ley," she cried, you know very well
II isn't the money"
"Of course ] do, old GIRL" laughed
James Ruin my career II you married
me did uncle say? You'll ruin my
life II you don't. We both refuse the
conditions of the will, sir. Come on,
Florence" She started to follow her
lover: but the lawyer called them
back. ,
my instructions from my late eli.
ent were,' said he, "that In case you
agreed to the conditions of this will
should burn this envelope unopened.
If you refused. ! was to open IT, lie
took from large envelope will
signed two days after the one he had
read, in which Fielding had be-
queathed his fortune to his nephew
and his ward Internationally.
Poor. dear Mr.. Fielding" said Flor.
ence. "he sought to test the reality of
our love by mere money! II will
stand harder tests than that--wont II,
Jamesr"
"You bet" said James. And through
the years OF their 'ong welded life II
dld-and stood them successfully. P"