El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-05-14
CHAPTER XII
w HEN. 10 minutes after Edith.s
w flight from the drawing room.
Constance knocked at her closed

w HEN, 10 minutes after Editb-s
w flight from the drawing room.
Constance knocked at her closed
l door. there was at first no reply.
Edith. Constance called softly. let
me come in, dear-just for a moment
Then the key was turned in the lock
and Edith faced her cousin. her eyes
swollen by crying. her checks flushed.
She was not angry now. Indeed. the
spark OF anger in her eyes seemed to
have dried up her tears
What do you WANT she asked
coldIy.
But as Constance entered the room
! Edlth's self possession deserted her Tor
"Oh, Connie." she exclaimed. cover
ing her face with her hands, I'm so
mOrtfied-sO ashamed
Closing the door behind her that no
/ chance passer through the hall miEEu
Oyerhear the conversation, Constance
put her arms al ut the unhappy girl
and drew her close 10 her
ashamed she repeated But why.
dear EolJu- There Is nothing TO ye
ashamed Of
Yes. there is" Edith contradIcted.
her face still hidden in hcr hands Il
I have let a man play fast and loose with
me-have let Tom Morton flatter him
self that ! care for him, and now he
shows me that he cares nothing for me.
.
decency that he Will make me the
laughing stock Of all those people who
are coming here tonight can't stand
it tell you ] can't stand it,"
Edith Constance demonstrated
/ sternly. stop talking like that and
listen to me First of all, we must
decide what's TO be done about to-
night Then we can talk of poor Tom
after that
Poor Tom" Edith repeated scorn-
fully Il am +he one TO be pltled, not
But Constance stopped her with a
gesture 1T is a mistake" she said,
Ito talk about anyone when one is
angry with hlm-don't you think soT
And besides that, dear, let US discuss
the matter OF the dinner first of all
There's no time to be lost-so gather
yourself together Your mother asked
me to talk the matter over with you.
1 told her YOU and I would arrange
everything. that YOU were always to be
depended uDon where pluck and grit
were needed"
sired effect upon Edith. She raised her
head from her hands. and consented 10
SIT down on the diFan by Constance
and listen TO her suggestions
Now the older girl said you must Z
remember that nobody who viii be here
tonight knows that this was TO be an {
enlargement dinner. so nobody viii eN- Z
poet an announcement OF any kiud-fOr I
all are ignorant OF the state of affairs J
all. that is. except Ralph
The. listening girl caught her breath I
sharply Yes she eXclaimed-'eX- !
cept Ralph. But what is TO be told ]
THE truth" said Constance decid- /
eddy.
'iThen III tell it TO him." declared /
Edith, a vindictive sound in her voice. D
But Constance seemed to ignore this. {
Yet she went on, IF you wish TO /
have your engagement announced this I
evening il can be done. II viii be very
easy 10 explain that Tom was detained I
in Baltimore by business-iu fact, we I
could make something of a joke Of the ]
Of the honored mans not 4
being able TO get here even though he /
had made every effort to do So"
She looked at Edith hopefully. hut 3
met no response i'm the gaze which /
Toms fiaucee fixed upon her.
NO" Edith said. ct shall not an !
nounce my engagement toui=ht-nOt /
unless the news of IL has already got I
out II it has. I viii deny IT, For I
am not engaged"
oh my dear" Constance begged.
won't YOU let that matter rest until I
tomorrow Then YOU can look at it
calmly and disDassicnately after you
have heard Toms explanation"
Edith uaused a fun minute before she
spoke Then she answered with a hard
ness and lack OF feeling that convinced
Constance that she was making @ ire