Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-16

had no reason to show this weakness on
the evening on which she. her be-
trothed. cousin and mother attended
the Philharmonic concert.
In fact. Milton was left so entirely
to Dora's tender mercies that he him.
self noticed 1t. and remarked upon it
during one OF the intermissions DE-
tween the musical numbers.
II seem to be Stunned by all except
Dora" he said laughingly. leaning
across his fancee to address Mrs. Liy-
ingstone and Cynthia. "On the way
down in the automobile ] was made to
sit In one OF the small seats while YOU
three ladies sat behind Inc on the rear
seat. where you could talk and ignore
me- Ihen. when we arrived here, you
Mrs. Livingstone. and Cynthia went In
hrst in the mos, exclusive way plac-
ing Dora next TO me and telling me
70 take the aisle seat where must talk
10 her or TO nobody. And she has
yawned three times in fve minutes IN
spite OF all my efforts to he agreeable"
cynthia was three seats from him
with Mrs. Livingstone and Dora sepa-
rating her from the speaker-but she
heard every word he said, and sus-
pected that he was endeavoring to
make her look up or reply to him. But
she studied her program AMI pretended
- be absorbed in its contents
- Livingstone accepted the COM
plants with her usual self-possession
when man is engaged to girl"
she remarked. he is always grateful
to be allowed 10 sit where he need
talk to nobody but her. My dear MIL
ton. you cannot make US fancy that
you are no: perfectly satisfied with
the present arrangement"
i am entirely satisreu." Milton de-
ciared. coming up Eallantiy TO the
challenge. Il am merely commenting
on The TACT that YOU and Cynthia ar.
terribly exclusive. You act as ~ I
had smallpox or something. Dora.
must peg OF you not to yawn while
am talking. My voice seems TO have a
soporihc effect upon you"
A Strange Combination.
Don't be such a goose" Dora COM
manded. Il am sleepy, and II the King
OF England was sitting next to me. /
would yawn."
But am not the King OF England"
Milton began when the starting OF tho
music siienced any further badinage
Cynthia. her eyes fixed on the or
chestra. seemed to listen with an IN
'chtheSs that was almost painful But
at heart She was thinking OF every
word that Milton had just said. won
"erihg, for the hunGredth time, how
people who were presumably in love
could. to all appearances. be az in
Van Saun and Dora Livingstone. Yet
Dora must love Milton, ir. as Mrs I.iv-
insstone had said. the girl was jealous
OF ms, slight attentions TO her cousin
slight attentions. Had they been
more than that? Cynthia allowed her
self the Indulgence OF musins on the
various times she and Milton had been
alone together. She remembered that
evening in her uncle's den when Mil
ton told her how sorry he was for her
Snc remembered also another occa-
SION on which he had tried TO sympa-
ihize with her and had assured her
that II she ever wished 10 talk TO him
10 have her do so. But, most clearly
OF all. she recalled the INTERRUPTED con-
Nersation In the taNicab on the night OF
the accident. when Milton astonished
her by telling her OF his having seen
her in the hotel in Chicago. of his
having picked up a letter she had
dropped. OF her having spoken to him.
She mad started impulsively to reply
TO the "reminiscences when the cab coll
lided with truck and che was
stunned. recovering consciousness sew
eral minutes later in Millions arms.
She wondered now just how much
she might have told him had the acct
dent not occurred. She knew that she
had begun to say that she recollected
seeing him in the hotel on the night
before she came East. What she re-
called most clearly about that first
meeting was the blue color OF Milton
Van Saun's eyes.
A Nervous Chill.
1t was this that she had noticed
especially when she met him again in
her uncle's house in New York What
wonderful! eyes he had!
Her heart beat fast, and she felt the
blood throbbins In her cheeks. These
symptoms were caused by reflections
upon another girls betrothed. while
she herself. Cynthia Long, was en-
gagged to be married to another man.
oh. it was dreadful! She sat up
straight and pressed her hands con-
culsively together.
Her aunt looked at her question
ingly. What's the matter, Cynthia ?"
she whispered Are you chilly?
Shall 1 help you pull your wrap up
about your shoulders"
Cynthia shook her head. Il am all
right she murmured. Forgive me
for moving so suddenly. 1 did not
mean to do 1t. I had a little nervous
chill-thats all"
She appeared calm. yet she was tell
ing herself that she could not bear the
state OF affairs. Then she realized,
that she must bear them, and, leaning
back In her chair. fixed her eyes once
more on the stage in front of her.
1t would be interesting as we'll as
startling II one could read the thoughts
going on IN the minds of persons in a
crowded auditorium listening TO music
Civilization and breeding have taught
them all to gaze at the performers, or
to cast down their eyes and assume
impassive expressions. But in the
brains back or the steady eyes may be
surging thoughts and longings that
must not be expressed
The owners OF the unmoved coun-
tenances may be declaring wildly to
God and themselves that they cannot
1--we another day-that they will go
mad ii conditions do not change. But
they sit still and appeared composed
SO Cynthia Long. one OF crowd of
weli-bred persons. sat passively listen
ing to the unusually delightful per-
formance of the always excellent Phil
harmonic Orchestra.
CYNTHIA HAS AN INTERVIEW WITH
DORA'S FATHER ABOUT GERALD'S
PROPOSAL OF MARRIAGE.
CHAPTER XXXVIII,
Milton Van Saun declined TO come In
when the Quartet reached the Living
stone house on their return from the