Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-23
CHAPTER SIIII.

Come in" stephen Livingstone
called SO impatiently that the maid
threshold. What is it?" he asked
IF you please. sir there's a gentlema n
on the telephone would like to speak
To Miss Long" the girl announced.
Bother the telephone!" Mr.. Living
stone exclaimed. Cant you take the
message. Maric?"
NO. she cannot, Stephen" the mis-
tress interfered That's all right,
Marie. Miss Long will come at once.
Ask the gentleman to hold the wire
When the maid had left the ROOM
Mrs. Livingstone explained. 1T is
DOUBTLESS Gerald, stephen. 1t would
hardly do for a servant to convey his
message to his hetrothed
She smiled, hut there was no more
warmth in the smile than in the sun
shine on clear winter day when the
thermometer is below zero. Run on to
the telephons Cynthia" she added. II
know your sweetheart is waiting i'm
patiently"
Cynthia hurried from the room with
out replying. For the moment she ac-
tuaiiy wanted TO be alone with Gerald
not because she loved him. but that
she might tell him OF her present pre-
dicament and ask his advice.
What is it," she called into the tele-
phone. is that YOU. Gerald?"
II was not Geralds voice that an
swered. Instead, il was the voice OF
her fathers lawyer and old friend
Darius Blake.
Il am III town for to-day" he told
her. II would like TO have chat
with you. Can you meet me this af-
ternoon AZ the Waldorf and take a cup
OF tea with me? And might | suggest
that you say nothing to any one about
il? l received your uncles letter. and
u tAd II l.
coming 10 New York. But as have
TO bc here on business OF my own.
thought YOU might arrange TO see me"
oh. yes, indeed. | would love to-"
Cynthia assured him.
Then. after telling Cynthia just
where 10 meet him, he rang off
Cynthia stood uncertain as 10 what
to 10. She was determined TO meet
MIR. Flake and to have a frank talk
with him. But what excuse could she
make should her uncle and aunt ques-
tion her? They would not like her
evasions Of direct questions An in
splration seized her. and she called up
done such thing before
Who wishes to speak to Mr.. Stew
art"" Gerald's stenographer asked
briskly
There was no help for it. and Cynthia
said. Miss Long" a moment later
sic neaTu IeraldS voice.
Excuse me for calling you up
please. she faltered. but could not
help II. Are you to be busy the last
part OF this afternoon? If not can
you meet me downtown and bring me
home"
"Certainly!" The mans full. even
tones treasured her. Where shall we
make it?"
expect TO have business inter
view with my fathers lawyer at the
Waldorf" she explained. Il will meet
you in the lobby quarter of six |
nave said nothing to any one here of
the proposed interview"
Very well: understand" Stewart
replied. Il will meet you at 5:45."
That was all. yet Cynthia felt a rush
OF gratitude to this man who made
matters so easy for her He never
questioned her. was never exacting.
why could she not learn to love him
as we'll as admire and like him?
An Invitation.
The answer TO this question crept
to the threshold of her consciousness
but she banished it as soon as she
recognized a pair of familiar and very
blue eyes.
We'll my dear. you were gone a long
time" her aunt observed as Cynthia
returned to the morning room. where
she had left the trio OF her relatives
Did you have satisfactory CONVEX
sution with Gcrald?"
Yes. thank YOU" Cynthia responded
II am to meet him downtown late this
afternoon, and he is 10 bring me IN
home"
Cynthia turned to her uncle. Would