The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-24
THE EVENING STORY
Circumventing Cynthia.
(By Nellie Gravey Gilmore,

for the phone. Exchange refused
stubbornly to answer, and he tangled
| the bell peremptorily. AT last he got
a connection. and stood waiting for
the low, familiar 1903" TO sound
back over the line. After several
minutes he was advised that 1903 was
out of commission, and the receiver
clashed ominously against the hook.
Something dreadful has happened
Thus had Cynthia expressed herself
In the letter left on his desk less than
ten minutes ago. Furthermore, she
| continued, "it is now quite out of the
question for us ever to think of
marrying. Please do not ask me for
] explanations. but believe that 1 am
honest and quite right in taking this
painful step. 1 know that your con-
| f1dence in me is sufficient to warrant
my asking it of you. Under separate
| cover, 1 am returning everything,
including the engagement ring. Please
| do not attempt to see me or dissuade
| me, for it will be useless. 1 am sail
ing for Cuba with the Hartreys on
| Tuesday,"
Dawson staggered back to his seat
and reread the lines in half stupor.
What was it all about? What could
| it be? Had Cynthia, after the ir-
dragged forth some obscure affair
from the past2 Was the dear girl
| laboring under a Authorization, or
had "disinterested" friends sought to
gossip? The question flew through
his mind in lightning panorama, be-
wildering, dazing, in turn, with their
possible answer.
paper, and, in sheer desperation,
| dashed down the following:
Darling Cynthia:
"Your letter has shocked me be-
yond expression, and I refuse to be-
lieve in it's seriousness. You are
playing a practical joke on me, and
perhaps even now are laughing at my
plight and writing to make things
clear,
eff, on the other hand, you are in
earnest, then I demand an explana-
ton as my right. Our relations have
been too dear, too deep and sacred
to allow of any such flippant and
summary dismissal.
please indicate the time and place
for an early meeting, and believe me,
LAS always,
JACK"
Dawson sealed. stamped. addressed
and dispatched his letter within the
following five minutes Then he
ply. 1t came in single line:
MY letter was final. Heartbrok
emily. CYNTHIA
Dawson ground his teeth savagely,
turned white as a sheet and picked
up his hat. 1t was just three-thirty-
and Saturday. He would go straight
to the Haskills and have it out, face
to face But half way there, he re-
called the fact. abruptly, that this
was Cynthia's club day and she would
not be at home. He recalled at the
same instant, with a flash of inspira-
ton. that she had said the meeting
would be with Florence Grayson.
Ten minutes later Dawson occu-
pied an inconspicuous seat in the
corner of the park seven squares up
town. Five minutes after that
Cynthia, radiant in mauve cham bry,
rustled by: almost within touching
void of its usual delicate bloom and
there were violet shadows under the
brown eyes to match the vioIets
dropping about the wide, soft brim of
her hat.
Dawson rose, and without word,
matched his step with hers.
Lets come to the point at once,
Cynthia" he began, gravely, ignoring
i,er little. exclamation of protest.
eff there is anything wrong"
"You mustn't ask me: indeed you
must not" And she shook her head
violently, though her lips We're
trembling beyond control and her
eyes were wistful with shadows.
Dawson bit his lips angrily. His
voice was several shades deeper than
Cynthia aid ever heard it, when he
spoke.
Il was determined to see you and
uIdS the lTClH 1TOHl you, he SdlU,
"deeming it my right to know, but
He paused and looked at her long
and earnestly. 1--WE reached the
conclusion that it is really better for
me to go on in ignorance. shall
re-enlist in the army and sail on the
next transport for Manila"
jack The girl stopped short,
every atom of color gone from her
cheeks. ct WON'T won't hear of
it, The words choked in her throat
filled Then al at
once she pulled herself together and
said resolutely: "I shall tell you the
whole truth. Jack. I had made up
my mind to keep silent-from pride.
with a great, big P. But-but-of
course, I cannot let you go, believing
mel hardly know what, or what
not. Last night I went into Martini
for supper with Fred Humphrey. At
the table just behind US were a party
of four - the Elwoods and the
Thorpes. They were discussing our
engagement. and one of the ladies
sneeringly observed that it was we'll
that the Davisons knew nothing of the
fact that Mrs HaskilIs great uncle
was a barber"
us that all?" Dawson heaved a
prodigious sigh of relief.
isn't it sufficient
Hardly
You don't understand, Jack. 1t
seems an insignificant thing, but it
is the keynote to an er-widening
circle in this narrow little social world
of ours, and well, 1 did what |
thought was best"
Dawson made a gesture of disgust
what kind of love do you call that %
he demanded CURLY. You give me
up for good and all just because"
81 loved you too much to bring
anything disagreeab1e ito your life,"
interposed Cynthia, gently.
Dawson burst into laughter. ''You
are a Quixotic little idiot, Cynthia
Here is your destination, by the way |
Shall I wait around a couple of hours
or come to the house at the usual
time tonight?"
Neither. I'll call you up at g."
And with a backward smile she dis
appeared between the flaming beds
Of