The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-10-21
More than once he turned and glanc.

He maze UP his Hluu IudC w ueu luc
meal was concluded he would walk
up to Browns table and-of course he
would accomplish 1t quietly-tell Gym
thia that he would escort her home.
He wondered if the blue gown was
not at the bottom of it all. He had
heard that women's heads were turn
ed by beautiful clothes. and, although
he had never thought much about such
matters in connection with Cynthia.
why. of course, it might happen to
Cynthia. and. although his faith and
trust in her We're unbounded, still he
blamed himself for putting temptation
in her way in the shape of the blue
gown.
AS for her being with Brown. why.
that was all right if she wanted to.
he told himself with ii sickly smile.
She knew the Browns we'll, and it was
very likely an accident that she and
Brown had met in time for dinner.
All this argument was perfectly RI
diculouS in the face Of the fact that
he knew Cynthia detested the Browns
heartily and that she was not in the
habit of dressing herself in an elabo-
rate gown and happening to meet mas
culine friends i'll fashionable reStau-
rants. Moreover. at this hour Cynthia
Hardness WAS more likely to be at
home preparing a modest dinner OF
playing Chopin in the parlor Of their
little fiat
Still. there she was. and who could
explain it?
"Well, Hardness. don't know wheth
err you're married or not. but if you're
not you certainly must be dead in
love" laughed Mr.. Fanshaw at last.
"Why?' asked Ned. startled.
Nothing. only you've called me
Cynthia three times
Il beg your pardon stammered Ned
81 was thinking of my wife"
you're excused" smiled his guest
but Ned was careful after that to kee[
his wandering thoughts in check.
When they had concluded the mea
they arose from the table just in time
to see James Brown and his fair com
panion leave the restaurant. By the
time they had reached the lobby OF the
hotel the pair had entered taxicat
and were driven away.
'There goes my IDEAL" murmuret
Fanshaw lightly as they paused at the
cigar stand.
Ned was silent. In one brief houl
the whole course of his life haG
changed He would go home ant
face Cynthia and then tell her that il
she was weary Of him he would e
away and efface himself from, he
sight forever. He had an uncle who
was a missionary in central China. ant
there was q wide field for laborer!
there.
Merged as he was in these gloom!
meditations. it is not strange that Mr.
Fanshaw excused himself on plea O.
an engagement and went off to spent
the evening in a music hall.
Ned plunged into the nearest subwa!
station and went home.
1t might be hours before Cynthia
came home. and then again she nigh
arrive within an hour, especially If sh'
feared Ned's disapproval of her actor
in dining with Brown.
He climbed the stairs to the thirt
floor of their modest apartment hOus'
and turned the key in the hall door
A dim light burned there. as usual
the faint red glow that always wei
coined him home.
There was a busy humming soun'
from the dining room, dear famflia
sound that ne could not associate witt
| tFe-w-s+-r-~a-@Aa-hlnt gown and tn
big black hat. n
The sound belonged distinctly t
Cynthia, his dear. busy little wife!
1t was nothing less than Cynthia
sewing machine whirring away.
He pushed open the door and Ioohe'
in. pale and haggard with his even
| ing's dread.
The sewing machine was pushed III
| der the central light. and at it sat Cyn
| thia in her little blue house cow
stitching merrily away at breadths o
| misty blue satin. A deep rose colo
stained her cheeks, and her darl
brown hair curled distractingly aroun
| her pretty ears.
''Why. Ned" she cried delightedly
NOW, don't he cross. dear. but I've
| confession to make"
81 can guess what 1t is" said Ne
| grimly
Then you've been spying. and it
not fairw she pouted 81 thought
was a great surprise"
THE biggest surprise ever had" re
torted Ned.
"Let me explain. You see. got
| thinking about the price Of that bless
| ed blue gown. and | knew | could du
plicate it for one quarter of the price
Miss Cassidy will come tomorrow an
help me- And so. when Mrs. Brow
came this morning and fell in low
with it and wanted to buy it. why.
| just let her do it, But | told her
was going to duplicate it. but sh
| doesn't care. for she isn't going t
wear it at the same places shall wea
mine. She said they were going t
dine at the Humboldt. By the way
dearie. did you have good time?
Cynthia got up and tucked her han,
| In his arm
"Fine time" he said hoarsely. Gym
thia. dear. don't mind about you
changing the gown You ere such .
darling. How am l ever going t,
make up to you for what yon are t.
me-"
Cynthia smiled demurely.
"Well. the next time you dine a. th'
Humboldt and see the Browns dom
be jealous of me. Ned. Maybe Mrs
Brown Just went there out of mischie
to bewilder you with that blue gown
I told her you were going there to
hight"