Gunnison news-champion., 1909-04-30

ssissscrs she traihea iuis hcr SISTER ;
rosM - have a Sea WsrtiS VIA scr
Francs Uas slstiaz in : d.-rs, ch.iiE
soEla - hat IN shadow. her s,saz bite.
riH<h-~s haaas iyiA- very ssiH ~ her
lap. Her v hole being was as motion
les - Il u bad l,-i an power ef se
tion.
Honey. b gan tIyafisia c.liasly after
making herself comfortable axains; the
Rosewood isedso~f. 'you caat al,ssis
MIR. Eira.y Gates. oh. doEft bother
about protesting dear Let - at least
be truthful with each other. You cant
ahials him. aud you ioxe-.the one who
gave yog that little ruby ring
''Cynthia.- cjacsiatcd Frances sharp
g
-Now. n MIR. Gates would ouly set
You FIRE. and take me in yosr stead. :"
wcut ou cynthia evenly. pushing back
q vavy lock of copper coioFcd hair. 1t
would Keep the money ia the family
just the same aud give you your chance
for happiness Yes. aud me too" shc
added. with a slight blush. for. Fran
ces. yon may not believe 1t. I could
really learn 10 Ice fond Of Eirpcy
Gates. II wouldn't all he merely mer
cenary ambition"
The incipiest smile about the corners
Of the elder girls delicate mouth gave
way 10 an expression difticult TO faith
ON a. her eyes rested critically upon
the slight figure In the pale gray dress
ing gown. Then slowly she siook her
head
MIR Gates has loved me for three
years not me. but my beauty You
are not even pretty. dear Forgive nae
II speak plainly. but you asked for
truth between US
"Uh-huh,'' acquiesced cynthia. biting
her scarlet under lip and tugging slight
ly at the lace Of her rolling collar
You took all the beauty there was in
the family. Frances but II you give me
permission 10 try maybe I can take
him from ycu"
Try. by all MEANS" granted Frances
indulgcutly
The next night at the opera Frances
made n remark 10 her fance that was
more than usually caustic From their
box she had seen a face in ole Of the
orchestra chairs-a vigorous. hand
some, youthful face-which had recall
ed some one long absent. just as the
recollection was shooting through her
with exquisite pain Gates chanced to
lay his hand ON her bare arm to call
her attention to bit of stage busi.
ness.
Don't" she cried shrinking. For
heavens sake. don't"
''Oh. Frances. Frances" Cynthia's
low. rich voice shook with emotion
Birney Gates turned his head in her
direction and met her eyes. Curious
gold green eyes they were, shadowed
by long black lashes. langourous and
enticing- For one moment he gazed as
II under a spell. Later the girl drop
ped her fan, and he stopped to pick it
up for her. As he handed II back his
fingers touched her. and the contact
thrilled lin strangely.
As Frances manner grew more and
more mocking. Cynthia's grew more
and more tender until Gates found
himself turning to her for comfort
after every rebuff from his promised
bride
"Of course | know she doesn't love
me- Gates explained to Cynthia one
| day. ''IIow could she? l am growing
old. l am homely. But l am rich, and
! want the best for my money. and so
! want her-and I'm going to have
her"
Cynthia's little hand on his arm
| quieted him.
And is beauty the best:'' she ques-
toned softly.
He looked at the delicate face, alight
with childish eagerness The mutinous
red mouth was quivering, the mysteri-
o,S eyes were ablaze.
Cynthia, not you-' he cried, his
heart leaping. Then he opened his
arms to her Sweetheart. You little
witch, ! don't know how 1t has come
about. but it is you who are filling my
days and nights-not Frances. Come" I"
''Oh. no." she warned, gliding away
from him; mot until Frances has writ
ten giving you your freedom. But I'll
tell her tonight, and then you can
come openly TO father and claim my
hand
On the day of Cynthia's wedding the
guests. seeing the alteration in the
eyes of Mr. Birney Gates. could not
doubt the verify Of her conquest. and
she beamed with pretty Importance.
Frances, robed in soft. shimmering
white. was radiant. Her dark eyes
were suffused with a mysterious soft
| ness, as of a joy new heralded.
And ON her left hand once more she
wore her little ruby ring
Two Little stories.
There is a little story in the memoir
of Sir Charles Runbury which may