The Washington times., 1918-05-01
THE FOUR
OF HEARTS
A Serial of Youth
And Love
BIZ VIRGINIA TERHUNE
VAN DE WATER.
GcopyrisAt. isis. star csmpany.l
chaDtsr L

laughed 4 great deal. and
told 90 many good stories that y. 3.
LlvInEstone decided she had never
seen him more entertaining lhan
he was that evening.
But she noticed that Gerald Wa1
not exertinE himself 70 Be aErse-
able His hostess watched him
with some apprehension. He had
been rather pale, she thought. when
he had come in from the dining
room. She wondered just what the
men had been talking about IN
there. Curiosity was o7e of her
: strongest characteristics. and she
determined to ascertain what hed
depressed Stewart
Well" she ventursd. -you gen
tiemen did not linEer long o
your cigars tonight. did you2 "
was the matter2 Were there NJ "a
teresting stories 70 teli7s
Neither OF the men responded
and Mr.. Livingstone felt IL ineums
bent upon him 70 reply IN the sane
jocoss tone IN which his wife had
spoken.
Il told them one amusing occur
renee in which the joke was On
you. my dear he rSnErked. How
ever. we will not repeat that little
tale now"
Mrs. Livingstono was mystlded.
sThe joke was on meg" she Quep-
tioned- Il have not the most ~
mote idea what you refer 10
stephen"
She glanced from Gerald 70 1IIi-
ton. Like other inquisitiys per-
sons, she hid her insatiata curiosity
behind a laughing dsmeanor.
Gerald turned TO Cynthia and be-
gan 70 talk TO her in a low voica
Milton. happening to be standing
near the library table. was left -
his future mother-ln-law's mercy
What story did my husband ten
'you. MiitoaF" she inquired coax-
inEiy. -Was Il a Joke on me, -
he saysT'
Milton spoke impetuously. =
do not think Il was joke on you
At all II there was any joke @
was rather on some Of the rest g
US"
An Aa1isu. Moaeat-
Then he subsidsd into silence
and. II spite OF his inquisltor's urE-
ing he refused to add more. 70 his
brief statement Mrs. Livingstonol
therefore. trained her guns again
upon her husband.
-Stephsn," shaking her finger at
him, -telI me AZ once what Eouf
have been saying to these boys
about me-
Nothing especial" staphen Liv-~
ingstone declared. Then seeing n
his wifs's eyes q look he knew only
too well. be stroVe to crafty her
inquisitivo mood. II only told
lnem,1 he admitted ''of the anus
ing mistake you made about a cer-
tain scene you witnessed here n
irelight several weeks ago"
OH
abrupt One might have wondered
whether Il was caused by what her
husband said or by the effect OF his
speech on the quartet OF young
people.
Gerald Stewart sat a. n turned -
stone. his eyes fixed on the floor.
Milton uttered a smotheFed exclar
nation and threw his cigar end int
the fire. then, STOPPING over the
flame, pretended to be interested -
watching II burn. Cynthia flushed
and Dora shot 4 startled look In her
direction
Yet nobody asked for further a.
PLANTATION. Some one must say soma-
thing. and Mrs. Livingstone came -
the rescue. She saw that she ha4
been guilty OF a mistake In insiat-
ing on this revelation. and she has
tened to repair her error
Oh with \ slight laugh, "thag
was only = trifling matter-an opth
cal illusion. you might call Il
% don't see why you ever bothered -
tell anyone about Il. Stephen. Ana
now, my dear, suppose that you an4
go upstairs and let these ehildrsn
have q little while together Withoue
our ehhpsronage."
do not hurry. mother Dora
demurred, we 'chiidren.s a. you
call US. have nothing especial TO say
TO one another. You may a. Wa1
stay here with Us"
MIltOa IL In Earnest
But to the astonIshment OF an
hearers, Milton spoke out suddenly.
Il beg your pardon. Dora. but
there Il something want TO talk
to you about-if you are not tee
tired TO give me a few minutes.s
Cynthia stood up. Gerald ana
will 90 over into the drawing
room for = while" she said
"You will mott" Dora contra.
dicted. Milton can talk 70 me as
some other time. I am tired and
want to go to bed early"
"Doraw the mothers sjaculatio9
was fraught with displeasura. \
am surprised at you"
Because told the absolute
TRUTH the girl laughed. .Wsll.
Milton Is accustomed to my engaE-
ing little ways. II he isn't, he may
as well get accustomed 20 them
now"
But when Mr. and Mrs. Living
stone have said Eood-night ana
gone upstairs, Cynthia spoke 70
Gerald with an authoritative tone
quite unusual IN her.
'Gerald-eome over into the
drawing room with me, pleass,s
she said.
And, without waiting for his -
ply, or to listen to any protsal
from her cousin. she left the room
abruptly. accompanied by her BE-
trothed.
In the drawing room. she turned
to him, her manner softoned.
Thank you. Gerald" ahs said.
for following my lead. I really
have nothing especially 70 say -
you. l only wanted 70 give Milton
a chance 70 speak alone with Dora
I can see that he has something
which re feels must be said That
Is the reason I got cut of tha