Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-30
81 ~. - IN ASKS CYNTHIA \ QUESTION
~ GET LIGHT on THE MYSTERY
OF GERALD AND DORA



mere was pregnant silence as MIR.
livingstone finished his recital of what
seemed 10 him To have been a very
amusing story. Milton Van Saun was
the first 10 break this silence
What time did Mrs. Livingstone
get in that afternoon?" he asked itlly.
bending TO strike match ON the heel
say" s'u
Yes" Stephen Livingstone ropI;ed
Not dark. YOU know. ye; dark enough
10 cast into relief the two figures
standing in the treglare." with rcmi
niScent chuckle Come to think of il
! Know Just about the time she came
m Tor had a cold and left the Office
early. n little before ) o'clock re-
member thinking when go; to nv den
iha' Amanda would be surprised 10 find
me at home by $50. for | had told
her | might be later than that tonight.
glanced AT my clock and saw that il
was just 80 Why do YOU. ask:
oh, just inoccuous curiositv." Mil
ton rejoined. The whole occurrence.
was. AS YOU say. amusing"
well, suppose We join the ladies
now the host suggested after waiting
vainly for further comment
Tie was disappointed that his anec.
dote had elected so little sign q,
amusement from his hearers. Men in
love were proverbiaily lacking i'm a
sense OF humor. Perhaps Gerald re-
sented his having told a joke on him
and his fiancec. He looked even rrayer
than ever. stephen Livingstone hoped
the fell" was not veXed. To reassure
himself upon this point. he checked
Gerald as Milton passed out into the
hall. 'Stewar;-one minute. please
ne said want again TO thank you
for pcrsuading my little niece TO do as
And l must again insist that had
nothing 10 do with her decision"
Gerald replied she told me OF YOUR
wishes. and said that she could now
see the justice of what you propose"
Justice! the word escaped the older
man almost before he was aware of it.
Was that what she said? What did
she mcan?'
Il am not sure that those were her
exact words Gerald corrected his
former statement. ''She may have said
that she had decided that it .vas right
and proper for YOU TO pay for her we'd
ding"
II see. sce" Livingstone murmured.
We'll. Stewart. you are lucky man
and she is lucky girl. | mentioned
tho fact Of her loss of fortune tonight
because I had not kept the truth from
to marry her"
II knew of it before she honorcd me
by accepting me-" Stewart remarked.
A Revelation.
plu tNnthla tell you OF her fathers
action stephen Livingstone asked.
surprised OR who did tell you?"
Gerald hesitated. then made "a sud-
den resolution. Mrs. Livingstone told
me all about it some weeks ago" he
answered.
y slight blush crcpt to the older
mans face. "Ah! She probably told
rue she had done this. and forgot the
circumstance. Let us go on into the
dra wing room
liut tho ladies were in the library.
and Milton was chatting with them
when the other two men entered. He
moved across the room toward Gym
thia as Gerald paused by Dora's chair.
When the conversation became gen
eral Milton spoke in low tone.
~''Cynthia." he said. there's foolish
question ! want To ask you. May 80
She looked up, puzzled. yet smiling.
ASK it, Milton" she ordered. What
Is ;t?''
She battered herself that her manner
appeared as light as his. and con-
graduated herself that he could not
know how her heart throbbcd when he
took chair by hers.
DO YOU remember" ne qucrind. the
afternoon on which you became en-
gagged 10 Gerald?"
She started and flushed. but before
she could reply her companion laughed
awkwardly
"Of course you remembs most
things about it," he said. That was
silly question. But what meant
was whethe. you recall what time you