That was your wife's
maiden name. She was a beautiful, gay girl. All the fellows
were in love with her. I knew Bob Burton well. He was a splendid
fellow, but wild. Nobody ever knew for sure, but we all supposed
he was engaged to marry Nell. He left Peoria, however, and soon
after that the truth about Nell came out. She ran away. It was
at least a couple of months before Burton showed up in Peoria.
He did not stay long. Then for years nothing was heard of either
of them. When word did come Nell was in Oklahoma, Burton was in Denver.
There's chance, of course, that Burton followed Nell and married her.
That would account for Nell Warren taking the name of Burton. But it
isn't likely. None of us ever heard of such a thing and wouldn't have
believed it if we had. The affair seemed destined to end unfortunately.
But Belding, while I'm at it, I want to say that Nell Warren was one of
the sweetest, finest, truest girls in the world. If she drifted to
the Southwest and kept her past a secret that was only natural.
Certainly it should not be held against her. Why, she was only
a child--a girl--seventeen--eighteen years old....In a moment of
amazement--when I recognized your wife as an old schoolmate--I
blurted the thing out to Radford. You see now how little it matters
to me when I ask your stepdaughter's hand in marriage for my son."
Belding stood listening. The genuine emotion in Chase's voice was
as strong as the ring of truth.
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