El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-09-16

I n pleased alacriJy Mrs Hale's in
/ - yiJation TO stay TO dinner"
Il was on my way from the city" he
/ explained, when / met MISS EdIIh, 50
i nave not dressed for the evening. But
i i DO want to accept your delightful in
yitatiOn-sO 1 hope you viii pardon my
l business suit
Indeed we will" said his hostess.
While her husband, coming IN At this
moment, seconded her cUruIaI remarks.
John Hale was, IN truth, rather re-
lieved 10 see EDWARD Dayton, Tor, Ike
his daughter, he was inning Ralph
MOrtOn's presence here evening after
evening rather mOnOlOnOuS- let he
raised MS DrOws III peIpleNed Clsap-
prevail when mis- vie informed him IN
the privacy OF MS dressing room that
Edith was not going 10 let Ralph
come here to call tonight
shes got TO stop paying fast and
loose with him." the father declared.
shes either got 10 accept him per-
maneuuy and definitely OF let MIN 80
completely
To which remark his wife deemed ST.
leuce the safest answer
Edward Dayton mad admired John
Hales daughter ever since ne iirsJ met
her on her return from Europe d year
ago, but he had not allowed himself 10
aualyZe the sensation OF keen cnaSrln
with which ne learned OF her engage
ment 10 Ralph Morton. This evening,
dinner in the drawing room, ne men
TONED her betrothed with the assumed
ughtness with which he was accus-
toned 10 conceal any serious feeling.
i have been expecting TO see Morton
enter at any moment" ne said Il am
in no hurry 10 have him cOme-for
when he does / must be magnanimOus
ana DO as would want TO be done by
n similar clrcumstances-and get out"
Why Edith asked gravely.
a
ly. Because he replied, 1T would ne
only 1alr- When man Is engaged, you
know, he has a right"
Please she interrupted in a low,
pleading tone, please let me explain
TO you-as a true friend-that which
others do not know. Ralph Morton
and are not engaged"
Declares She Is Not Engaged to Ralph.
4 suppose you mean" the man ven
tured, that you do not call il yet a
regular gagement-althOugh IL is
equivalent 10 one"
1t is not" she denied positively. 81
owe you debt Of observation-disclosures
you may not know it-so you have 2
right TO the truth which 1 have con-
fided TO nobody else Ralph Morton
and I are not engaged-nor shall we
ever be, for the best reason in the
world do not love him"
Edward Dayton strove to suppress
any manifestations Of the unreasona-
b-N Sense VI A-e- lA-AEao ma 1--e-N------
pervaded his being. Yet it shOne from
his eyes as he askel;
What do you mean when you speak
Of owing me debt OF gratitude, Miss
Edith You are surely mistaken
have never been so fortunate as TO do
anything that would merit your graf
itude or your friendship
Indeed you have" she insisted Then,
with dOwncast eyes, she told him how
she had heard him try 10 divert gossip
from om the night of the din
ner party. 4 can never forget your
she said
Ned Dayton's heart gave a thrOp Of
joy as he looked at the girl After
chances as good as another man'sZ
lie had money and social position
yet dare he aspire to the honor OF
winning this girls love2 As he re-
NAMED silent she raised her eyes 10
his.
Now you know" she said gently,
why 1 feel I owe you debt OF kind
ness"
he leaned forward eagerly. There
Is something I would rather have than
your kindness" he said. and that is
your friendship. your liking"
she flashed radiant smile at him
81 You ought to know that you have
them already she told him.
Friendship. liking-these might form
a pretty good basis upon which to es-
tablish warmer feeling. Perhaps. az
ter all the man told himself, there was
hope even for him
Edward Dayton stayed so late that
Mrs. Hale had gone TO her room before /
he left Put her husband still sat in
the library reading when he heard the
front door close behind his daughters
guest Coming out into the hall the
father put his arm about the girl as
he kissed her good night
Darling" he said warninEly, that I
IS nice Fellow and an honorable gen
tleman- Don't flirt with him.
Decides to Forget Ralph.
Edith returned his scrutinizing gaze /
steadily NO. dad" she replied i
like him too much 10 flirt with him. :
But that IS Just between you and me, ]
please. dad"
And what about Ralph2" he asked. 4
You are forgetting him.
II would like TO-" she rejoined quick /
" And I shall tell him so tomorrow" /
Before he could question her further ]
she kissed him on the cheek and pan up I
TO her room As John Hale locked the ;
front door and put out the lights he /
shook his head.
rs she tickle or only faciIe?' he
wondered modify, and have we, by /
indulEinE and humOring her. taught 4
her to feel no sense Of responsibility 4
Can il be possible" frowning as a I
gloomy suggestion presented itself. 1
that we have spoiled our girl as 4
James MOrtOn's widow has spoiled her j
bOy2 But nonsense" with an impa-
tient movement or the shoulders, a s II j
a disaEreeable burden that /
had been placed there against his will
with a girl IT is different A girl /
can stand being INDUCED And when
the right man comes along Edith viii
settle down. But I have never felt
that Ralph was the right MANN spite
Of some noble qualities"