Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-14

the CLEAN from the electric lamps.
Chdcr ordinary circumstances. the
sight OF the falling rain would have
depressed her. Now she was filled
! with sense OF eXaltation. She was
Tree once more. She had done Il
dreaded duty. and. instead OF causing
misery. as she had feared. she had
| made another heart lighter. She and
Gerald Stewart had been on the edge
of precipice. Her honesty had saved
| them both from disaster
She would not look ahead just yet.
| For brief period she would forget
her relatives certain anger and
chagrin and would rcvcl in the peace
OF duty performed. OF danger
avoided. Perhaps later
| Gym! Dora's voice summoned her.
Il am wide awake.
II thought l heard you come In
Dora said when Cynthia went into her
room. Then you were SO quiet
thought l was wrong. oh, Gym. / have
not changed my mind about telling
Milton-but am scared"
You mus. not be- Cynthia soothed.
when you do the right thing 1t gives
wonderful feeling ot relief. and do
ing IL is seldom az hard as you think
it's going to be" p,
some hard thing Yourself" Dora said.
Il have" Cynthia rejoincd.
4 Confession.
She may as we'll tell Dora the facts
now. Then together they could face
the wrath OF the elders
What do you mean" Dora ques-
toned.
Apparently She attached no signif-
canoe to Cynthia's statement The
truth must he put more boldly
II mean" Cynthia said slowly that
have told Gerald Stewart that l do
not love him"
speaker could not see her companions
face plainly, but Dora's gasp OF as
constituent told what sensation the
news had caused.
Yes" Cynthia hurried on. II decided
that ! had no right 10 be engaged to
him for an hour LONGER. He thought
! loved him: ] thought he loved me-
Now We know that neither OF US loves
the other except as friends
Dora started up and ciutched Cynthia
by the shoulders. Nov that she was
in sitting posture. the light reflected
from the street below showed her
face very white. her hair much tum-
bied: her eyes wide and dark
mered-"that your engagement is
broken"
Yes, mean jus, that. Dora. my
dear: But If had known that it
would upset you 10 hear about it. 1
wouldn't have told you of it until to-
morrow. DO lie down. You will make
your head worse
II want to hear all about it," Dora
Insisted. Go ahead. Tell me-"
Then lie down" Cynthia ordered
There is not much to tell" she con-
| tinued when her cousin had obeyed
| her The sick girls uneven breathing
proved that she was still excited. and
Cynthia hurried on through the recital
/ The Truth mt Inst.
| Il thought fancied-,hat Gerald
| loved me- and that he unhappy
because OF me. Hc-well-he fancica
the SINE thing about me. SO nc asked
me TO marry, him out of pity for me.
accepted him out OF pity for him. |
told him the truth tonight. He told
me the truth. That is all"
There was a long silence. When
Dora spoke II was in tense. strained
! voice.
Gym want you to do something
| for me al once"
| What. DEAR
Telephone to Milton tina, must sec
him tomorrow. no matter what hap
F.! pens. Do you understandings
! But" Cynthia demurred. cit is 1890.
| The telephone might stnrtle MIR. Van
Saun. For all We know. everybody
may be in bed"
Then give me my portfolio and some
! paper. Dora commanded Il Will
write to Milton. Let ono Of the SER
| wants take tn. note 10 the corner and
| post II at once. Milton will get II by
the first delivery In the morning.
/ must see him. Gym"
| But when Cynthia had switched on
| the light and brought the portfolio.
| Dora's hand tremblcd so that she could
| scarcely hold her pen.
Gym" She pleaded. do write to Mil
| ton for me. Just tell him that asked
you to do it. You will not mind. will
! you. dear? He need not know that you
| know why / want to see him"
! Without word Cynthia sat down
at the desk, drew a sheet OF paper
| toward her. and wrote:
! Dear MiitOn-DOra ha
so is not equal to writing herself.
She has asked me TO tell you that
| she would like you to come to see her
without fail Tomorrow. Perhaps YOU
can stop on your way up from the
| office In the afternoon. Let her know
when to expect you. Hastily
"CYNTHIA"
Dora read the note handed to her
Good" she approved. "Now address
| the envelope, stamp it. and have Marie
run out to the corner with it, want
| IL out of the house before father and
mother get home"
But Cynthia waited to add a post
| script on her own account.
/ AS ] do not believe in a Ioveless
! marriage" she wrote. Gerald and
arc no longer engaged"
| Ii was easier to write this to Milton.
she reflected, than to tell him about II.
THE TWO COUSINS AND THEIR
| SWEETHEA RTS ENTER 4