Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-05-13
CHAPTER LII

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Halfway down the stairs Cynthia
Long paused. Mr.. Van Saun had told
her that Milton was waiting for her
down here; that he and she were to
fast at the thought.
Her recent conversation with her
cousin, and Dora's excited confess
sion. were fresh in her mind. Ed
ward Van Saun's acknowledgment of
his fears for his son, and his re-
newed expression of condemnation of
loveless unions, had agitated Cynthia
so that she longed to be alone to
face the present situation. She won
dered if she might slip out of the
house without waiting for tea. Yet
that would seem rude to her host.
A step in the hall below reminded
her that some one might note her
hesitation, and she hurried on down
the stairs At their foot she came
face to face with Milton Van Saun.
II have been waiting for you" he
said. Dad told me he would let me
see you after he had had his confab
with you. 1t was a sort of a reward
for good boy who came home early,
1 suppose"
AAC Adu6hCd oS ne lCQ H6I lulO' lhC
drawingroom. yet his manner lacked
it's natural boyishness. A maid was
placing the tea-tray on a small
table, and neither of the pair spoke
until she had Withdrawn.
will you pour the tea, Cynthia?"
Milton asked.
She obeyed silently. The situation
had a domestic kind of air about it,
she reflected swiftly, then rigidly
gave her attention to the task in
hand.
Have some cinnamon toast" Mil
ton urged. IT'S really very good"
She accepted it. still in silence.
Il say. this is cozy. isn't it?" the
man said.
And the cinnamon toast is de-
licious," Cynthia remarked.
What trivialities to utter when
their hearts were full of serious mat
ters, she thought. She could think
of absolutely nothing to say. Only
three things were in her mind
Dora's lack of love for Milton; Mil
toms unhappiness; the sin of her own
prospective loveless marriage. And
she could speak of none of these.
But a moment later Milton made
speech on one of the subjects nee
essary.
A Pertinent Question
Cynthia" he asked bluntly,
what's the matter with Dora? She's
not like herself these days. What's
troubling her?"
Cynthia looked at him calmly, in
spite of her inner perturbation.
81 cannot tell you. Milton" she
replied. You would better ask
Dora"
But that does no goodl" he de-
clared. Let me speak frankly with
you. Cynthia, for you are a good
friend and 1 trust you absolutely"
Just what his father had said only
a few minutes ago!
WELL" he went on, when she
made no protest, 81 have tried to get
the truth out of Dora. But for some
reason she is afraid to tell me how
she feels. She evades the main
question. Something came up the
other night that made me suspect
that everything was not just as her
family pretend to believe. But she
gave me no chance to learn the
facts. Since then I have not been
able to bring myself to ask her the
one qeustion that would settle
things. But, in spite of that, she
had shown me in unmistakable ways
what her answer to that question
would be-"
What is the question:" Cynthia
inquired. gently.
whether she loves me or not.
Ahl I see by your face that you
know about it. but I will not ask
you to tell me. Only there is one
question that you can answer hon
orably. 1t is this: Does what you
have seen for yourself make you
think that Dora is happy?"
She waited for minutes before
answering. Surely nothing but the
truth should be spoken at thfs juno
ture!
mo" she said simply.
Il was sure of thatw the man ex-
claimed "And 1 am sure of another
thing. That is that Dora does not
love me and does not want to marry
me-"
|. He sprang to his feet and walked
to the window, standing there with
his back to the room.
Cynthia obeyed an impulse she
could not have explained. Setting
her cup down, she rose hastily and
crossed the room to where this man
stood. He did not turn at her ap-
proach.
Milton she said softly, 81 am so
sorry for youl I wish could help
you"
"DOn't Pity Mev
He wheeled about sharply and
caught. her hand in his. Don't pity
me!" he said harshly. TT unnerves
me- And I am not to be pitied
about-about the matter we have
been talking of. have been sure
for days now that Dora does not
love me. But that does not hurt
me, except that she does not trust
me enough to tell me that she is
tired OF our engagement. We will
both be better and happier as mere