Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-07
and It chung about her white figure

like golden web. IL thought Bruce
was mine: yet l didn't realize thai
loved him, and went abroad, and
i. while | was over there some one re
ported the fact Of my engagement tc
a German baron. Bruce had this lit
tile girl for patient-she is only
seventeen, half his age-and she was
i alone and discouraged, He thought
he could play protector the
whole story She's darling, Cynthia
If | do say it. She isn't bit In love
with him, but she thinks she is, be-
cause she is so grateful that she mis-
takes 1t for deeper feeling"
What are you going to do?"
For a moment Agatha's brush was
still. "I'll have to think 1t out" she
said, slowly, "but there's surely a
way"
A week later, Agatha announced
that Bruce's financee would visit her
"She's coming for month and I'm
going to give her the time OF her life
ICynthia."
That night Bruce Brown called. at
was dear of you to ask Flo he said
j"she has had such lonely life
Agatha, in palest green, was ar
ranging white roses in a big silver
bowl. Bruce she said, softly, do
you love herr" =,
"You mustn't ask that" he said
steadily, Il can't talk about her
even to YOU"
Agatha. bending over her roses,
questioned, who told you that ! 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
chancellor me?"
1--WE mustn't talk of that" she said.
"but I wanted you to know that nad
not been--fickle.' ..-r 2",.' -.
He went away after that, and
Agatha sought Cynthia. He loves
me-" she said. and suddenly she knelt
beside her friend. her arms about
her. "He loves me-" she cried, broken
lily. Cynthia, suppose that, after all.
| should lose him."
| Florence came, 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 overslips made
to those straight little dresses" she
explained to Cynthia. 'and my seam
stress is going to cut over some or
my old evening gowns. told FLO
that it would be kindness to me II
she would take them. She's an indie
pendent little thing and it was hard
to get her to accept; but when / said
that Bruce would like it. she gave in
/ Florence, appearing at dinner IN
flmy 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 pure
Ilv platonic when I find the right
girl for you, Cyril Agatha had told
! him. 'I'll let you marry her; but in the
meantime, you can be nice. to me.
| Contact with Agatha's fineness had
made man Of Cyril. Her ideals has
spurred him to efforts which were 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 sat with him on the deck of his
yacht in the moonlight that night.
while Bruce and Cynthia and Agatha
and Cynthias mother played bridge
in the cabin "She's dear as
It had been understood that moth
ing was to be said of the engagement.
1T will be best for me to introduce
her to our friends first" Agatha had
explained. H..
4: When they came home that night,
Cynthia and Agatha talked late. II
wonder-I wonder" Agatha said,
IF | am doing right. Suppose
should make mistake am half
afraid, Cynthia.
81 begin to see light said Cynthia,
slowly; you are trying to work In
Cyril-as substitute"
Agatha, lighted a candle. The faint
illumination made deeper the shad-
ows in her worried face could any
thing be better?" she cried. Bruce
and | love each other, Flo doesn't
know yet the meaning of love-Cyril
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 doc
tors wife. She would NOPE and pine
when he stayed away from her. while
would glory in the fact that I could
help him to be Of service to human
ity." "
.I+,c , d;@,,,1t thino" said CYNTHIA