The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-28
TEE EVENING STORY
With Cyril as Substitute.
(By Temple Bailey.)

ness.
1T isn't as if Bruce loved her. she
said to her most intimate friend; Its
one of those sad mixups, where the
future of three people is threatened
because no one has enough common
| sense to solve the problem"
How did it happen?' demanded
Cynthia.
1T was my own fault" said Agatha,
slowly. She was brushing out her
wonderful fair hair in the moonlight,
| like golden web. Il thought Bruce
was mine; yet I didn't realize that I
! loved him, and 1 went abroad, and
while 1 was over there some one re-
a German baron. Bruce had this lit
! tie girl for q patient-she is only
seventeen. half his age-and she was
alone and discouraged. He thought
whole story. She's a darling, Cynthia,
i if l do say it, She isn't a bit in love
with him, but she thinks she is, be-
cause she is so grateful that she mis-
takes it for a deeper feeling
What are you going to do"
For moment ASatha's brush was
still. I'll have to think it OUT she
said, slowly, but there's surely a
A week later, Agatha announced
! that Bruce's fiancee would visit her.
shes coming for a month and I'm go
ing to give her the time of her life,
Cynthia"
That night Bruce Brown called. ut
was dear of you to ask Flo" he said,
! "she has had such lonely life
ranging white roses in big Silver
bowl. Bruce" she said, softly, 'do
you love her?"
! You mustn't ask that" he said
steadily, II can't talk about her
even to you"
Agatha. bending over her roses,
questioned, who told you that I was
going to marry Won Puttkamer?''
1T was in the papers,
We'll, the papers told-a false
hood"
He was like man turned to stone.
"Then-there might have been a
I'VE mustn't talk of that" she said,
but I wanted you to know that I had
not been-fickle."
Agatha sought Cynthia He loves
me-" she said, and suddenly she knelt
beside her friend, her arms about her.
He loves me-" she cried, brokenly.
Cynthia, Cynthia, suppose that after
all, I should lose him!"
Florence came. a quaint little child,
with little trunk packed with stiff
little gowns and queer little hats.
Agatha, tactful, gracious, remedied the
defects in the simple wardrobe. 81
have had chiffon oyerslips made to
those straight little dresses she ex-
planned to Cynthia, and my seam
stress is going to cut over some of my
old evening gowns. I told Flo that it
would be kindness to me if she would
take them. She's an independent little
thing and it was hard to get her to
accept; but when I said that Bruce
would like it, she gave in"
Florence, appearing at dinner in a
filmy robe of pale amethyst, was like
a dream maiden.
who is she?' demanded Cyril
Brooks, whose yacht was in the har-
Dor and who followed, as always, in
Agatha's train. He was ten years her
junior, and their friendship was purely
platonic. When I find the right girl for
you, Cyril" Agatha had told him, "I'I
let you marry her; but in the mean
time, you can be nice to me-"
Contact with Agatha's fineness had
made man of Cyril. Her ideas had
spurred him to efforts which We're NOT
demanded by those who felt that his
wealth and social position constituted
sufficient assets.
Agatha has made me think about the
responsibility that my money brings.
Cyril confided to Florence. as she ss+
with him on the deck of his yacht in
the moonlight that night, while Bruce
and Cynthia and Agatha and Cynthia's
mother played bridge in the cabin.
She's a DEAR
1t had been understood that nothing
was to be said of the enga cement
1T will be best for me to Introduce her
to our friends first Agatha had ex-
planned.
When they came home that night,
Cynthia and Agatha talked late. Il
wonder-I wonder Agatha said
'if am doing right. Suppose I
should make a mistake-I am half |
afraid, Cynthia
Il begin to see light said Cynthia.
slowly; you are trying to work in !
Cyril-as substitute
illumination made deeper the shadows
in her worried face. Gould ANYTHING
be better?'' she cried. "Brue and I
love each other. Flo doesn't know vet |
the meaning of love-CyriI needs just |
such a tender, devoted thing as his
wife. He has money and youth. She
won't be happy with Bruce. She isn't !
fitted to be a doctors wife. She would /
NOPE and pine when he stayed away |
from her while I would glory in the |
vice to hum, ~'+y."
It's a difficule thing said Cynthia, |
ito play fate
The next night Agatha carried rhe
friend up to Florence's room. 'I want |
you to see her" she said. go softly, !
she's asleep
Florence lay with all her brown
curled hair straying over the pillow
Her flushed cheeks showed rose-pink !
against the sheets whiteness. One
small manu- nOlU d IGQ- TOSS-
cyril gave her that" whispered |
Agatha then her voice wavered, ''but |
how can bruse help loving her? She's |
so dear and young. Oh, youth, youth. /
is there anything like it in the whole |
wide world?"
weeks cruise on Cyril's yacht
brought the young people close to-
gether, and one night Bruce came to !