Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-04-09
THEFOUR
BY VIRGINIA VAN DE WATER
a SERIAL OF YOUTH AND ROMANCE

But it had arrived and must be
met.
Well" Dora inquired, perching
herself upon the bed ana taking
Cynthia's hand in hers. did father
have his business talk with you?
You poor dear-I have been think
ing lot of what YOU just told me.
It's hard, but you mustn't mind.
First of all. what did father want
TO talk to you about?"
About Gerald Stewart
About Gerald Stewart" Cynthia
said.
The room was dark, for Dora had
not turned on the light, so Cynthia
could not see her Cousins face. But
she felt the fingers holding hers
tighten. The voice that answered
her statement was tense.
About Gerald Stewart" The
question was abrupt. What about
him? Was mother there?"
Cynthia did not understand her
companions agitation. In fact, her
own embarrassment was so acute
that she gave Dora's manner only
a passing thought.
Yes. Aunt Amanda was there at
first. Then she went to her own
ROOM"
But what about Gerald Stewart {?
What did father say about him :?
What had he been talking to Gerald
about?"
Cynthia moistened her lips with
her tongue and swallowed hard.
About me-" she said in a low
voice.
About you?" Dora repeated.
This situation must be ended. and
Cynthia made a great effort. "Yes.
about me-" she affirmed. He want
ed to ask Uncle's permission to
marry me-"
The truth was out. 1t seemed to
Cynthia as though she had shouted
: it through the room. The finger.
| from her clasp. There was a Ions
I silence before Dora spoke.
You must excuse me-" she said
at last stiffly. "if l am somewhat
surprised. But l had no idea that
: you and Gerald were in love with
each other. I congratulate yoU
/ both"
The voice was so hard that the
/ listener could scarcely believe the
/ evidence of her own ears. Dora
must be very much hurt or very
angry at not having been taken
sooner into her companions conf
dence.
Dora" Cynthia began, trying to
| regain her cousins hand, don't
speak like that, dear. There was
nothing to tell until to-day when
you sent me into the library-at
least nothing that l knew about
did not know until this afternoon
that Gerald cared like that for me. u
You knew, I suppose, that you
loved him?"
The sentence had an accusing
sound.
A Mutual Confession
II did not know it, dear" Cynthia
protested. I'm fact, Dora, II think
you are right when you say that
love is not as wonderful as some
people say. At least-the kind of
sentiment 1 feel for Gerald is not
what always supposed that
She stopped, buried her face in
the pillow and burst into noiseless
sobs.
Dora hesitated but only for a mo-
ment. With a swift movement of
pity she bent over the bed and gath
cred the sobbing girl in her arms,
kissing her again and again.
There. there, dear!" she soothed.
Have your cry out and you'll feel
better. / guess you have just dis
covered what lots of the rest of us
nave had to discover-that love and
life aren't all they're cracked up to
be. Never mind, honey-if Gerald
loves you, and you love him. even a
little-you will be happy. For you
will love him more and more all the
ti1e. No woman could help doing
tEat."
Cynthia had stopped. sobbing.
How do you know" she asked.
We'll, you see. am engaged.
too" Dora reminded her. with an
attempt at a laugh, 80 I am sup
posed to know something about it."
"Yes-you and Milton" Cynthia
unused aloud. 80 you understand,
of course. I en- see just why you
should. You could not help it,"
Neither of the girls realized that
each had made to the other a very
Illuminating speech.
Nor did either know that the other
had cried herself to sleep that
night.
ITO BE Continued)