Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-10-24


and had a fund Of merry anecdotes TO
fit any occasion. Ponty paid assidu-
Gus court to the beautiful girl. but
Cynthia quite ignored his attempts at
love making. She had had enough of
love. she told herself disdainfully.
In spite of CynthiaS diScouraging
attitude whenever he approached the
tender topic. Ponty one day mustered
courage to speak.
Il am sorry. Mr.. Roland" said Gym
tha gently. but really cannot marry
YOU
IF you only knew" murmured Pom
ty distressfully.
Knew what?"
II fell in love with your picture long
before l ever met you" declared Pom
~ earnestly. II was walking down
Fifth avenue the day after my return
from France when | glanced into
Dell's window and saw you. Such
was my enthusiasm that l vowed that
you must become Mrs Dupont Ro-
land"
Indeed" cried Cynthia between
amusement and diSpleasure.
Indeed. yes. Furthermore" went
on the needless Mr.. Roland. II met
friend just beyond and showed him
the picture and told him Ii was the
future Mrs. Roland. He congratulated
me. and | asked him TO be my best
man" Ponty gazed reproachfully at
her amazed face.
THAT wasn't quite-er-nice, was
it, asked Cynthia quietly. And Pom
ty felt more rebuked than If she had
denounced him. He felt like cad.
NO; 1t wasn't nice. and | humbly
apologize" cried Ponty contritely. and
even after Cynthia had shaken hands
with him and had banished the topic
under discussion he felt uncomfortable.
When he arose to depart sudden
thought smote Cynthia Ludlow ard
. brought her to her feet white and trem-
bling with emotion.
"Ah. Mr. Roland wonder II you
will tell me something" she said In
rather a shaky voice.
Everything that know" declared
Ponty eagerly.
"Then is your name Ponty-that is.
do your men friends call you that
''They do, and some girls who like
me call me Ponty also" admitted the
irrepressible Mr. Roland.
Cynthia drew a long breath, and her
| little hands clasped tightly before her.
"You-yOu spoke about seeing my
| picture and showing II to Il friend
she said in low tone. her face turned
away from him.
Eyes. l did. Awfully sorry. you
know"
''Who was your frlend?"
why. Dick Morton. Perhaps you
know him. He's in Germany now,
believe"
You told him that you were engaged
to marry me?" asked Cynthia with
very bright eyes.
81 gave him that impression I mere
| ly said that | would show him the flu
| ture Mrs. Dupont Roland. and l took
| him to the window and showed him
! your picture. l didn't tell him hadn't
met you even" Ponty was feeling un,
comfortable under Cynthia's steady
| gaze.
What did he say?"
! He congratulated me. ! asked him
| to be best man. and he said he couldn't
| said he was going to Germany"
Cynthia was silent so long after that
| that Ponty grew anxious. She was
| looking at him-nay. through him-as
| If she saw something or somebody be-
yond. Her eyes were misty.
| Il hope haven't made any trouble
. 4.
| low" he ventured at last
You see" said Cynthia. with slow
smile. lit must have puzzled Mr. Nor
ton to have you announce your en-
! gagement to me at that time because
he was engaged to me himself"
No" exploded Ponty. blushing furi-
! ously.
Yes" said Cynthia
I'm the biggest fool in the world
mourncd Iorty. turning TO the door.
and Cynthia did not deny it. neither
/ did she try To stay his departure.
1t was not until he was out in the
street that solution of the difficulty
| came to Pouty Roland.
I'm cable old Dick all about it, he
said. and because money was no OH
| ject to him be spared no adicctives
/ in describing the situation to the all
sent Dick. who was eating his heart
/ out in Berlin.
/ The next day he received Dicks ca
BILE reply. Coming today Keep out
! OF ms way for awhile. PoDty." was
| all he said.
Ponty carried the cablegram TO Gym
! thia
Iva got one. too" she confessed
! blushing beautifully. and Ponty felt IA
/ pang of regret. for he had never seen
/ Cynthia look so lovely.
| But he had an appointment with the
| little actress to motor in the park. and
| he FASTENED away. quite forgetting
/ about Cynthia and her sweetheart. for
/ that affair had been merely an Incl
| dental romance in the many heart af-
| fairs in which he had played the hero.
| but to Cynthia aad Dick 1t had almost
/ proved n tragedy.
4 Oct. "a in American