El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-06-19

Il OM MgHION : letter 10 Edith Hale
had been sent on the impulse Of
the moment as soon as he had
received Constance AIedford's note. He
had felt that he could not endure an
other hour without asking the woman
he loved to give him a chance to ex-
plain matters TO her. To this end he
had written urgently, perhaps more
convincingly than he knew. With the
dread Of further delays, taught him by
the circumstances Of the past rev days
he emulated Constance Medfords ex-
ample and put upon his envelope spe-
cial delivery stamp
The letter reached its destination dur
ing the evening and was laid by Con
stance upon Edith's dressing table
Here the white Obiong caught the
girls eye as soon as she switched on
the light in her room after parting
from Ralph at the door Of her home
She had paused, as was her custom, at
her mothers room to say goodnight
then she had gone softly 10 her own
chamber She did not suspect that her
cousin was lying awake hoping that
Edith would come TO her with some
news Of Tom Constance felt that she
could sleep better if hse knew that
Tom was not as wretched as she
feared.
But this whim-if within it was
was not to be gratified, and she turned
over with a sigh and closed her eyes
Once she thought she heard a door open
and shut. but as there was no IurLler
sound she convinced herself that she
had been mistaken and tried 70 think
Of other matters
Meanwhile Edith looked at the en-
velope before her with a sheer OF DIS
gust Perhaps there is no person
stronger in her preJudlces than the
much loved woman who is accustomed
TO having things her own way, and can,
therefore, brook no crossing OF her Will
Tom had mortified her had seemed not
10 care enough about her TO De present
upon the occasion Of her dinner, had
she thought, been with some other
woman All Of these mtsdemeanOrs
made II hard Tor her 70 forgive MN
a woman who loved more deeply, VINO
had known more real suffering. would
have trusted more or would. AT least,
have given the offender an opportunity
TO explain himself But wounded van
ity coupled with Jealousy form q. com
binatiOn that even a strong and Just
man would find hard to fight ana a
pretty woman can be very FlndlctiVe
TO one who seems TO forget her charm
With q determination that did not
falter. Edith picked up the letter, car
ried IL TO her desk, and seating her-
self there, pulled off her long gloves
dropping them in her haste on the
floor. seized an envelope, slipped Toms
unopened letter into this, and with
firm hand addressed il TO the sender
Then, stamping IL, she crept softly
QDNN ELe-4LH Win A. anu Al HElA-I u A--l
lateness Of the hour and the darkness
OF midnight, ran down the garden WPlk
and dropped the letter into the box al
the gate The front door slipped from
her grasp as she was closing II upon
her return and il was this sound that
Constance heard Had she suspected
who had caused the noise and what her
errand out Of doors had been, she
would have. slept even less than she
did that night
Moody Thoughts.
Yet she was not TO be kept LONG in
ignorance OF Ediths actions After
breakfast the following morning the
two girls strOlled )ur upon the broad
been driven away by q brisk breeze
and once more the world looked very
beautiful Mrs. Hale came out through
one Of the long windows from the
dining room TO chat about the Mans for
the day. She had asked Edith no Ques-
lions, as her husband had suggested
that the child was best left alone un-
I'll she could think matters over calmly
Nor had Edith volunteered any infOr-
nation beyond the brief fact Of her en-
gagement which she had impaired on
the night OF the dinner. There was an
atmosphere Of suspense about them all,
it seemed TO Constance. and she found
herself chatting against conditions
Again and again she reminded herself
that the affair was no concern Of hers,
that she had no right TO resent her
cousin plans. and il was ridiculous
for her to make herself unhappy over
the unfortunate circumstances. Yet
she could not rid herself Of a sense OF
depression.
1t was, therefore. with q throb Of
gratitude that she heard Edith say.
after her mother had gone back into
the house:
"sit down here by me. Connie.
want to talk TO you I've had a hOr-
rid time since I saw you yesterday"
At last, Constance thought, she would
learn something Of Toms fate
Thank you" she said. obeying
Edith's motion for her TO take a seat
on the broad wicker divan- Il am sorry
you have had hOrrid time, dear.
7 know you are" Edith affirmed.