Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-19
CYNTHIA ATTENDS THE ENGAGE
MENT DINNER or uER COUSIN
ATTRACTS HILTON'S NOTICE.
YIN
CHAPTER NH.


the LiriLSatoncs' table we're making
very merry
Announcement had been made or
Dora's engagement TO Milton Van Saun,
ana had created just as much sur
prise as tho pretty Dung hostess had
hoped. She Was not confused nor en-
barrasScd by the congratulations
showercd upon her, nor by the toasts
Cru; In her honor. Nor was the pros
pective groom AZ all sclt-conscious as
ne responded 10 some OF these toasts.
men. when the various members OF
me party began again to pay attcn-
'lon 10 ono another and TO talk OF
omo,hinS except the astonishing fact
OF the bctrothal. Gerald Stewart
turned 10 Cynthia Long. whom he had
brought out - dinner
Well" he remarked. that announce
mont business Is over. anyway. /
would hate the fuss OF il all If were
lhc happy man Hut Van docs not
mind !t . bit. envy him his sang
froId."
Cynthia glanced across the table 10
where Milton sd, at Dora's side. cha,-
tins as calmly as II nothing unusua!
had occurred.
Il think that kind OF scit-nosscssion
Is born - ono not acquired" Cynthia
observed "Dincren, people take their
experiences d!nerently. No". there is
Dora--'
She stopped. and hex companion TOOK
her up eagerly.
"Yes?" nc said, what about her'
What were YOU goins TO gay
only that snc takes all her expert
cnccs naturally. easily. They do not
seem 10 rGfIlc her gay scrcnity--if one
may use such term. She IS the Ia p-
piest girl have ever seen. Perhaps
II may be bee; use she has never had
any real trouble"
49,.
ntr did not seem TO notice her silence.
His eyes were :Xcd on Dora. and nc
appeared 10 be studying her glowing
face.
Glad of Respite.
Cynthia Was glad to pc allowed 10
stop talking. She had found II diC-
hcu!t TO carry on a cheerful conversa-
t!on this evening. II "as hcv nrst APP
pcaTancc al anS social affair since her
great bereavement. and she felt her
trouble Ia hc all the stronger because
Of the contrast with this jovia! scene
She did not envy her cousin her hap.
pincss. yet tho sight Of II but ac-
centuatcd her own loneliness. Here
was Dora. pettcd ana loved by an in
dul4cnt father and mother, cnEa ed
20 he married, surrounded by admirInE
friends. ma she. Cynthia Long. had
lost her father and her home. and was
nov among strangers
She started norvpus!y a. stewart
turned to her with. "You think her in
capable ~ deep feeling
Who?' Cynthia stammcgcd Dora {?
Oh, no never meant TO intimate any
thing OF the kind. only said that
she had had no real trouble. | hope
and pray she never may"
Tier lips pu!vcrcd slightly. hut her
companion did not know this. lie Was
stii! scrutlnizinE tho girl opposite him.
Cynthia dropped her eyes and began
10 trace with tho tip OF her nnScr the
pattern on tho damask and lace table.
cloth. This man certainly allowed her
III abundance OF time in which TO fol-
low tho course Of her own musings
Dora. turning 10 reply TO some pass
ing remark Of Mil,on's. met squarciy
Gerald Stewards intent gaze Tho
words She VAS about TO speak were
suddenly checked, and for an instant
Milton Van Saun's betrothcd and his
friend looked straight into each others
cycs.
The gaze was unintcntional. yet girl
ana man were aware OF slight thrill,
as u an electric current had passed
from ono 10 the other.
What were YOU going TO saw" Mil
ton asked when Dora did not spcak.
oh. nothing" She answered "cA-
cept." casting about FOR some rcnark
That would not he too inconscquent.
mat oShthlas looking rather pale to-
night, isn't she: Or is il only her
black dress tina. makes her look so
white?"
I thought" said Van Saun With an
effort 10 speak with great Indifference.
mat she was looking rather better
than usual. She is quite handsome.
don't YOU Think
In Dilemma.
The man ON Dora's otncr nand smoke
I" her before she could reply TO MIL
toms question. and Van Saun allowed
himself TO watch the black-rohcd hcurc
seated across the table from him. lie
noticed her pallor. and that Stcwar.
was not now even pretending To talk
TO her.
"Chump" Milton criticized his friend
mentally. The idea of missing the
with such cir! as that. Why. ib.
mans dcnsc-actually dense"
Cynthia Long was pale. that was a
fact Milton unused Yet the psllor
Was not the unhecominS. sallow kind
that indicated ill health. Perhaps il
was not pallor, after all, but ONLY
the effect OF the iilmy black evcnjnr
gown She wore.
Above the folds OF her dress. her
shoulders and neck rose fair and
5glcamnG i'm the candle light. JIcr
hair was like FURNISHED bronze sb.
''as certainly lovely creature. And
her style was SO uncommon-unlil,c
that OF any other woman Van Sam
had even known.
She was the only person in black a.
the table, he observed. Yet she was
the young est looking person there
with. maybe. the exception Of Dora
For whom was She in mourninro
oh. yes. he remembered. it was for
her father! Poor girl--what con.
trast Dora's lot was TO hers. And how
pluckily she was bearing all this mer-
riment and celebration when her own
heart must be heavy!
lie suddenly felt like a brute thar
he had not made an opportunity to
speak a word Of sympathy to her.
Yet. she might resent it if he did.
Girls were such uncertain creatures!
MILTON FINDS FURTHER OCCASION
TO COMFORT HIS FIANCEE'S
COUSIN
CHAPTER NV
Dinner was over at last. The men
fingered with their cigars for n little
nh n ha fli