The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-05-17
II meant the veranda."

huublSu. sic put uel iliu Ill ulS
and drew him forward. Its a good
thing that it's Constance. not 1, that
you're engaged to. You would find
me in open revolt at being coddled."
They threw themselves into two will
low chairs on the veranda. and wait
er set ices OH Il table at their side. 1t
was extremely warm for the time of
year. A moon. almost at its full, threw
silvery radiance among the trees.
The two had passed out of the hum
Of voices and were alone.
"You won't catch cold. Evelyn?"
"You fdgety fellow! Why don't you
go and look after Constance?"
Norman is looking after her. I pre-
fer to be here with YOU"
For the moment?"
"Yes, for the moment"
There was silence, bur the pause was
not an awkward one. They seemed
to be communicating their thoughts to
each other, though their lips were
silent. Both looked dreamily out into
the night, she playing with the handle
of her fan, he lingering his program.
Evelyn, when Con and are mar
ried-"
"You speak very gloomily about it."
"When Con and I are married, you
must often come and see u.s.
"I should like to, Cecil"
Her hand lay on the elbow Of her
chair. He put his upon it, and, bend
ing forward, looked earnestly in her
face. The action was involuntary.
1T will be nice to have a real sister
in you. Evelyn
Suddenly a shadow fell on the tes-
sellated pavement at their feet. Nor
man Payne stepped forward.
Evelyn, I've been looking for you
everywhere. Ours is the dance that's
now on. And I'm sure it's far too cold
for you to be sitting out here. Con-
stance wouldn't dream of such a
thing"
=
Cecil Hammond awoke next morning
with an uneasy feeling that something
unpleasant had occurred. The first
object on which his eyes fell was Con-
stances photograph in the centre of the
mantelpiece; a CLEAN of sunshine made
it specially prominent. Then Cecil re-
membered the events of the previous
evening.
Disturbing as the truth was, it must
be faced. He dressed slowly, consid-
ering the situation in all it's bearings.
Believing himself in love with Con-
stance, he had become engaged to her,
but last night had shown that he was
self-deceived. Not to Constance, the
good and serious, but to her high
spirited and volatile sister, Evelyn,
were his real affections drawn. Why
had he not met the latter first?
Now what was man of honor to
do? The problem was Duzzling one;
it cost him a cash while shaving. OF
course Evelyn must never be told the
nature of his feelings toward her. She
was too happy with Norman, who,
moreover, was his best friend. That
Evelyn cared for him otherwise than
as brother Cecil did not honestly be-
lieve. If last evening she had seemed
to respond to his overtures, the dreamy
music, the intoXication of the dancing,
that sentimental moon, We're wholly
responsible. He had acted ignobly In
betraying himself as he ha- done.
But how could the engagement to
Constance honorably continue? BY
the time he was dressed and in full
possession of his faculties, Cecil had
decided that it could not. Marriage
| without love on both sides was a
ghastly mockery. He asked himself If
| Constance cared for him as profoundly
as he imagined. She was certainly
not a girl to carry her heart on her
sleeve in public, and even when they
were alone together, her display Of af-
fection was not lavish.
All that day Cecil went about in 4
miserable state Of mind. BY the even
| in he had arrived at determination.
He must write at once to Constance,
| asking permission to terminate their
\ engagement. 1t was the only right
course to adopt, considering the luke
warm character of his feelings. He
Gid not think that she would suffer
very much, and anyhow the love affair
of Norman and Evelyn would not be
Influenced.
| Half dozen lines of the letter were
hardly written before there came a
knock at the door. The servant en-
tered.
Mr.. Payne tc see you, sir.'
Cecil could not restrain an exclama-
ton of surprise. A visit at this hour
was unusual.
"Ask him in"'
He drew a sheet of blotting paper
carefully over the letter he was writ
ing, and prepared for stormy inter
view. Norman Payne could only have
come about one thing-his behavior
with Evelyn. What had the dim light
on that yeranda revealed?