Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 December 1906 — Chas. H. Chamberlin Dead. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Chas. H. Chamberlin Dead.

La Crosse, Wis., Nov. 80.—Charles H. Chamberlin, senior councillor of the United Commercial Travelers for the grand council of Wisconsin, Is dead of paralysis.

When Mrs. Palmer announced the en gagement of her daughter Helen tc James Corey, every one wondered why on earth Helen had not chosen a youu ger man.

In almost in the same breath it. leaked out that Mr.*Paliner, who was always trading on tips and going broke In the market, had plunged once toe often—had indeed been face to face with bankruptcy until James Corey came to his rescue.

Then the world, as represented by society in Glenwood Park—proffered congratulations and smiled discreetly. Of course If the Palmers accepted James Corey’s money, they must accept its giyer too. The Park was apt to assemble Informally at the Country club for 5 o’clock tea. There was something pleasantly cozy In gathering around the IoW china laden table on the wide clubhouse porch. But now. chocolate cooled, forgotton, tea boiled quietly away, while their possessors eagerly discussed this marriage of convenience in their midst

“The poor girl Is deliberately sacrificing herself,” declared Mrs. Lawrence, tragically waving a tea cake. “And she Is so pretty,” put In little Mrs. Brooks Irrelevantly.

“Her youth has been bartered for gold,” said Mrs. Ellis, who had a fondness for light fiction. "And he Is so much older.”

“Money Isn’t everything." “Perhaps even yet she may be uvad from It,” faltered little Mrs. Brooks hopefully. “Why save her?” briskly Interrupted Mrs. Wylle K joining tjje group and taking the cup of fragrant tea offered her. “Mr. Corey Is honorable, charitable, rich—a good man in every respect. She

ought to be proud of him. I’m sure I can’t Imagine what more she could want^’ Five pairs of eyes confronted Mrs. Wylie in shocked surprise. “Well, I’m sure I hope she takes your view of It,” said Mrs Lawrence gloomily. “If be only were younger. He’s as old as—as Father Abraham.”

“Oh, if Mr. Palmer had not been Jn Buch sore straits!” "Still, it Is lovely to be able to cling to one’s faith In human nature as you do.” “I’m clinging to nothing,” said Mrs. Wylie stubbornly; “but, for my part, I think she’s a very lucky girl.” “Oh, of course everybody respects him.” “And he is a very rich man.” “But It Is so evident that she did It to save her father.” “Besides, there Is her cousin, Tom Breuster,” said Mrs. Brooks softly. Tom Breuster was an ordinary sort of a fellow—fairly good looking, fairly clever—ln fact, he did not amount to much one way or the other, but he happened to Imagine himself very much In love with Helen and when her engagement was announced burst In on his aunt In a storm of Indignation.

“What’s this you’ve* done?" he demanded vehemently. “Why was I kept in Ignorance all this time?” "I djm’t understand you,” returned Mrs. Palmer coldly. “Don’t you?" he went on ruthlesely. “Then I’ll explain. You have engaged Helen to a man for whom she has not the smallest spark of affection. To save yourselves—for the sake.of meiV money, mere worldly position—you

and her father have consented ramflee that poor girl, body and soul.” “You must be Insane to talk to me like this,” returned his aunt idly. “There Is no reason why Helen shonld not marry Mr. Corey or any one else she chooses.” “Let us confine onrselvee to Ur, •Corey. She has no right to marry him at all events.”

“No?” said she. “And why?” “Because a loveless marriage can never be right.” “But who says It.lsn’t a love match?” she went on, forgetting her anger In her desire to convince him of the futility of interfering with Helen’s engagement “Mr. Corey la a charming

man. Why should t not Helen care for him?”

“She doesn’t. It isn’t her own doing. You are sacrificing her.” “As though I could make Helen marry any one she did not wish to!” returned Mrs. Palmer, with a low laugh. “My dear boy, If you feel like that pray go away until you come to your senses."

“I shall not go away until I have seen Helen,” he said doggedly. * “Tom, I beg of you”— “Why are you two glowering at each other like Kilkenny cats?” cried a fresh young voice from the doorway. “How are you, Tommy?” and Helen Palmer, slender, dark eyed, clad all In soft shimmering gray, entered the room and held out her hand In smiling greeting. Now that the moment had arrived, words failed him. Noting his hesitation, she smiled at him again. “Have yon come to proffer your congratulations In person?" she asked shyly. “No, not quite,” he said. “Btlll I suppose one Is bound to say something about the clever bargain you have made. That yoq of all people should prefer money to love!”

“What a perfectly horrid thing to say,” she returned Indignantly,* "Do yon suppose because you are a member of the family you are privileged to be as disagreeable as you like?” “I suppose loving you la being disagreeable,” he returned moodily. Mrs. Palmer had slipped from the room, and they were both too Intent to hear other footsteps that came nearer up the gravel walk, up the steps, and were muffled by the heavy rugs oh the porch outside.

“Loving me! How perfectly absurd! Why didn’t you say so before? And not come here now”—

“I came to save you from sacrificing yourself to a loveless marriage," be returned grandiloquently. “Oh, Tommy, you are too funny,” she laughed softly. She raised her eyes and looked steadily Into his weak, good looking face. “Tommy,” she said gently, “you must not think that I have any feeling but real honest liking for Mr. Corey. I respect him—l care for him”— “Of course, he is a very rich mao. I understand."

“He is at all events the very best man I have ever met.” she returned Indignantly. “Of coarse he has been awfully good about father’s troubles, but I should have loved him just tbe same,” she went on, with quick conviction. “He Is so good, so kind, so Just”—

“Why -don’t you say that he has * money and can shower that upon you?” “I wish you to understand,” she said coldly, “that, while I appreciate Mr. Corey’s money, I love him for himself.” Suddenly her mouth quivered and two large tears strolled down her cheeks. “I am so worried about all this," she said unsteadily. “Every one thinks I care for his money. Will no one believe”— The curtains at the long open window suddenly parted. “I believe It. Do I count?” said James Corey as he entered the room. After all, fate sometimes consents to Interfere benignly, even In a mercenary affair.

“WHAT’S THIS YOU’VE DONE?” HE DEMANDED VEHEMENTLY.