Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-05-30

Peters | don't want to face" Cynthia
murmured
l could think of no suggestion, and
silence fell for a moment or two.
Just think Of the unpleasantness
of 1t, Honor" she remarked. Il have
had telegram to say he Is coming
at three o'clock"
"And what are you going to do?"
There was long pause.
II thought of going down to see
Mrs. Maloney's new baby about then"
she said at last.
l half rose to my feet in indigna-
ton, and then sat down again.
And leave me, suppose, to inter
view the victim of your foolishness!
Cynthia" | said solemnly, II am not
going to do it,
Honor, she said, insinuatingly,
'just think how horribly unpleasant
it would be for me to meet him. not
having a notion as to which letter /
put in the post. Whereas you could
be as innocent as lamb, and easily
find out incidentally in conversation,
whether said Yes or No"
II am not going to help YOU" said,
rising and walking across the gravel
ed terrace to the balustrade.
II am sure you will when you think
of It, Honor, DEAR" she said entreat-
ingly. 1T Is not much l am asking
you to do Just to see Mr.. Peters,
instead of me. Then / shall know
how to meet him, and shan't be taken
aback"
1t was close upon three o'clock, and
a servant came to tell me that Mr.
Peters was in the drawing-room, and
that Cynthia could not be found.
AS the interview had been forced
on me / determined to make the best
of it.
Cynthia faced me quite placidly on
her return.
"Well?" she said interrogatively
did you see him?"
Eyes, l saw him." 1 answered
curtly.
"And which letter was it / put in
the mail?"
Il have no more notion than you
have"
Cynthia opened her eyes,
You mean to tell me you talked
! to him for half an hour and couldn't
find out that much! Weren't there
, any symptoms?"
What do you mean by 'symp-
toms?'"
when he came into the room did
he look jubilant-as If he would like
to stand on his head? Oh did he
look as IL he hadn't shaved for
week, and never meant to shave
again? Did you ask him If he was
happy"
moi" / cried, exasperated, NOR did
/ ask him If he was good; nor how old
he was; nor whether he dyes his hair,
nor any other impertinent ques-
ton"
Then 1t seems to me 1t has all
got to be done over again, and we are
no further than we were before" she
said dismally, rising from her chair
and walking to the window
~ am afraid you will have to face
him yourself the next time, Cynthia"
l replied gently.
Suppose I were to throw myself
turning round after a pause-"tell
him the whole truth, and say l had
made a Observation-Disclosures way it
was-what do you think he would
say?"
He would certainly have nothing
more to do with you," I answered Sc
verely.
!. II do wish | knew what I said"
she murmured. 81 should feel SO
!. much more settled"
Three days passed and there was
; no sign of Mr.. Peters. Cynthias spir-
its began to droop, and l was sur
prised to notice little line of worry
:, permanently settle itself between her
eyebrows.
Then one afternoon l found her in
q a secluded corner in tears.
n "Oh, Honor" she sobbed, giving
v way altogether, Il must have said
q No Can't you help me anyhow,
Honor? You have never failed me
: yet"
4: But what can l do?" l replied,
helplessly.
O Go and see him." she said des-
r perately. Tell him l didn't mean
r. 1t, Honor-that l mean Yes for all
the rest of my life"
j. Il can't do that" / said at last,
# but I'll go and persuade him, If l
d can, to come and see you"
returned some two hours later
d from my rather distasteful mission to
IL find Cynthia by herself in the draw
ing-room. To my surprise her face
5, was wreathed in smiles, and she
B. waved square of white paper at me
<. exultantly as l entered the room.
y Honor" she cried It's the let
e ter! l found it in the pocket of the
dress | was wearing that day, and
;" he's just waiting till the end of the