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

much time to think and many oppor-
tun.tic3 of watching my boy. He is
not happy. Do not fancy tor mo-
ineht that Imagine he Goes not love
Dora. lie asked mr. 10 mltry him.
There was no reason for this uniess
lie cared Tor her. But | can see tina.
something Is weighing on his mind. !
have wondered II h. suspects that she
uocS not care 10: ham and that he
should release her from her engage
.nvnt.
lie paused. but as Cynthia said moth
ihS ne went on II have urged him TO
spend his evenings with Dora as he
Used 70 debut lac has SAID that she
is BUSY with her wedding preparations
Know That those would not I'll all her
evenings. He tells me that he sees her
/ almost every day on his way home
| But If the girl loved him that would
| not satisfy her
Then--forgive me If seem egotistI-
cal-but think if she looked for
ward with JOY TO marrying nv son
she would be DESTROYS to see his father
once i'm a while. She has not been in
! TO see me for a moment since my ILL
ness. Understand. have not felt hurt
! on my own account. Why should /:
But Milton must have noticed it,
These are only strawS that show
winch way the wind blows. I would
ih'nK nothing of them if my boy were
hapry But. my dear, he is not
I: nth!a's heart was full of sympu-
! t'y. Dora had as good as confessed
| u LEI that she did not love Milton,
yet Cynthia dare not say this. II she
We're not Dora's cousin and confid;tnte.
and did not know Milton. she might
! feel justified in expressing an opinion
| AS She thought of Millions unhappi-
less She felt great wave OF pity,
ply that startled her by its intensity.
Il am sorry, dear. 81. Van Saun," she
| iaitelcd. Il wish could help in some
way. l.ut there seems to he nothing
| -ha, can do"
FL see. see" he acknowledged
gu cannot speak frankly about your
cousin without 5etrayine any conf
! dence that she may have rcposed IL,
! YOU Yeti occurred to me that you
! might try To ascertain from Milton why
| he Is so worried. For, if Dora does not
rove him, he must not mary her"
4 Stern Dtctum.
The words were uttered sternly IL
consider Il loveicss marriage sim
! the speaker continued. Not all IN.
| pretty names that people give il can
alter that truth. My son shall not be
| guilty of making pure young girl
| sin. And that Is what she would do
! IL she married him without loving him
| just because he loves her or be-
cause the marriage seems the conven-
| tioual and convenient thing.
/ Il used to hope for and anticipat c
this marriage. Now / see that / may
have been party to n great wrong to
my old neighbor's little daughter"
1 He sighed as il weary. Forgive me
dear he said for burdcning yt,
! with all my anXietics. But you are
young-and life and its fallacics and
soph.stries have not blinded your eyes
TO the, right. Moreover, as | have al
ready said, trust you. You have
been brought up TO know what reaI
love is and what IL means to sin
against II, and, in so doing, scar ones
soul. My sons betrothed shall no,
commit that sin If l can help tho
not even If my boys earthly happiness
depends upon it"
Il understand" the girl said in a
low Voice. And now must go ana
let you rest"
Il have ordered tea served for you
down In the drawing ROOM" her hos
informed her. Milton came home
early this afternoon. | told him you
had telephoned that you would call
and that although wanted you To
myself for little while, he might see
YOU later You will find him and the
tea waiting for YOU downstairs"