Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 72, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 December 1915 — Trelawney’s Sacrifice In Which It Is Shown That There Is No Friendship Like That Which Costs Another’s Honor [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Trelawney’s Sacrifice In Which It Is Shown That There Is No Friendship Like That Which Costs Another’s Honor

By CHARLES EDWARD RICH

One night more than a year ago I was called at a late hour by the surgeon to set down In legal form the last Avoi ds and wishes of a dying man. I immediately responded to the call and was met at the door by a beautiful woman. Weeping bitterly, she told me that I was too late; that my services could not avail, as her husband was dead. Of Course there was nothing to do but go away. 1 thought no more of the case until, two days afterward, I learned that the dead man was Arthur Trelawney and that be had shot himself. Arthur Trelawney had been a dear friend of mine. We were students together at Heidelberg. I at once hastened to the house to tender my services to his stricken widow. Again I was too late. The body had been removed to an undertaker’s, and the woman had gone without leaving any address. You can now understand my amazement Avhen about a mouth ago my office boy one morning handed me a

card bearing the name “Arthur Ti*elawney.” Dumfounded, I gazed at the card as If It were a message from the dead. Then I noticed some small letters in the lower corner. They read, “Formerly Captain Paul Thornton, Her Majesty’s Ninth Volunteers.*’ The door swung open, and a big, bronzed, heavily bearded man strode Into the room. I gasped with astonishment as he advanced toward me, smiling, his hands dntstretched In warm greeting. Despite the changes made by time and beard, I knew him for Trelawney. Before he could utter the words that were on his tongue I cried out: “Trela w u ey—Trel a w ney, a live?” “Yes, very much alive,” lie answered as the wrung my hands. ' And then, after he had insisted on hearing a brief account of my doings from the time we lost touch with each other, he told me his strange story, and here it is: After I left Heidelberg Trelawney became much attached to a fellow student. also an Englishman, named Paul Thornton. Thornton was poor and boarded with Professor Max Braun, who had a daughter, Gretchen. Her father exacti ed a promise from her that she would j not marry while he lived. She remained heart free till she met Paul Thornton; then it was a case of love at sight with both. They became engaged, but I kept the engagement secret, j Trelawney, who was wealthy, in or- ! der to be near his friend went to board j with Professor Braun. lie, 100, fell I in love with Gretchen and proposed to j her. For a time she concealed the j avowal, then told Paul. Paul, pained | and shocked, kept the matter to liim- ; self till Trelawney told him of his I love for Gretchen, then announced to his friend that he ivas engaged him- | self to Gretchen and that she had told i him Trelawney had proposed to her ! too. “It would have been far better, Paul, 1 If you had told me before,” said Trelawney. i Thornton silently acquiesced, and Trelawney knocked the ashes out of his pipe, rose to his feet and held out his hand to Thornton, j “Paul,” he said, “let this make no difference in our friendship, but I must go away. I can get over it better aloste.” / The next day Trelawney left Heij delberg and the young couple announc- ■ ed their engagement to the professor, j He, to their surprise, consented to a ■ speedy marriage, and all lived happily i together till the professor’s death some | years later.

This break In their quiet life arribsed a ■park of slumbering ambition in Thornton, and as soon as practicable he took his wife to London. From the start ill fortune attended him. He was unable to find employment for which he was fitted, and his small income went only a short way in London. Matters grew worse and worse until they were compelled to take one room in a cheap lodging house. Oue night Thornton went borne staggering under a blow harder than any he had been called upon to bear. The little clerkship that they had depended on, even for their meager living, was to be taken from him in a month because of a reduction in the office force, and simultaneously he bad been called upon to bear arms in South Africa. His face was pale and haggard as he entered the little room, which was almost in darkness. As he hesitated on the threshold a hearty voice from the gloom cut him to the heart. “Hello, Paul, old man! I’ve tracked you at last. Thought you could shake me, didn't you?” It was Trelawney, and before Thorn* ton realized it he was sobbing like a child on his friend's shoulder. “Arthur, God bless you! I hoped you Avould never know how far down hill I have been sliding.” “That fool pride of yours, I know. Well, I meant to find you, and I have. Now, the only thing for a man to do who is sliding down hill is to dig his toes in deep and begin to climb back again.” “But I slipped pretty close to the bottom—today,” replied Thornton, and then he told Trelawney and his Avife of the untoward events of the day. Gretchen gave a sharp cry and buried her face in her hands. Trelawney turned to her quickly, his lips setting into a I hard line. He sat silent while the woman wept softly, and then, shaking himself as if aroused from a dream, he said; “Come, I see a way clearly out of this. We will lay it all over until tomorrow.” The next night Trelawney was in j high spirits Avhen he entered Thornton’s room. “Congratulate me, Paul aud Gretehen!” he cried. “I am going to South Africa.” Husband and Avife stared at Trelaw- ! ney In amazement, and finally Paul ! said; “Going to South Africa! Why, you * said nothing about this last night. You I surely had no such intention yesterday. j What is the meaning of this sudden impulse, for such it seems to be?” “Well, yes, it Is a sudden impulse, and as to its meaning you will learn that later ou.” “No. Be frank, TrelaAVDey; tell me j Its meaning now.” “Well, Paul, it simply means that ' you can remain with your wife.” “Trelawney, do you mean that you : have enlisted as my substitute and without my consent!’’ said Paul. “Substitute? No, Paul, it will never be said that Paul Thornton sent another to the front for him, for I know you | would not have it so.” “What is this enigma Y’ asked Paul. “Let me Introduce myself—Paul Thornton of Her Majesty’s Ninth volunteers. N<rw, listen to me, Paul. I am making no sacrifice. It all fits in perfectly with my plans for the fu- j ture.” “But I shall stop you. I shall go to the war office and”— “That will be useless. The war office will not be open until tomorrow, and by midnight 1 shall be out of London. Paul, nothing can be more to my liking. Pray do not try to block a plan which will give me more pleasure than perhaps I shall ever enjoy again in my life. I have no ties, no responsibilities. “Take now your own case: What would Gretchen do in a strange country without friends or means of support while you were away? Instead of that, it pleases me—and you must not try to rob me of this gratification—that Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Trelawney sail j within the week for America—in fact, j their passage is already booked on the j Luca ilia. The agent sent them the i tickets by me.” Trelawney took an envelope from his 1 pocket aud placed It on the table, continuing before Tbqrnton could inter- 1 nipt him; • ‘‘And Trelawneys solicitor has been | iustracted to send to him in America i only a portion of his income, and he ' | has obtained a letter of credit and the ■ necessary credentials.” I Trelawney placed another envelope j j ou the table. “Arthur, I say you shall not do this!” ' broke out Thornton. “Paul,” be said slowly, “surely you I will not deny me the great happiness ; I shall take in doing this thing for—for Gretchen?” They both looked into his eyls and saw the pleading, and they both knew j I that it was for the woman he loved ! that lie wished to make the sacrifice. They came to America. Avhere the new Trelawney sank under the influence of drink and morphine. Gretchen watched the change in him , i with fear. At -first her influence held j him somewhat in check, but at last | even his love for her Avas deadened by his excesses. He constantly feared exposure. as if he were guilty of some great crime. After the close of the war Trelawney remained in South Africa and only recently returned to London. where he startled his solicitor as much as he ! startled me. 11 t*is only then that he > learned of Thornton’s death under his ' name. He started at once for America. I His first purpose was to find the 1 widow. In time he discovered that she was working as a saleswoman in a dry goods store and had managed to support herself comfortably. As may be expected. Trelawney married her.

“LET ME INTRODUCE MYSELF."