Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-16
CYNTHIA FEELS THAT by MARRY
ING GERALD SHE WILL MAKE
EVERY ONE. BUT llERSELF
CHAPTER NSSNi

HAPPIER.
CHAPTER NXXNi.
Dora relieved the tension OF the sit
uation by n light laugh.
Why, mother" she leased. you
look as IL you had seen a ghost"
Her mother tried to smile. Il
haven't" she rctortcd. but l thought
you were in the library. daughter. and.
when | called you. and saw 1t was
Cynthia who was here. was as
tonishsI. supposed" turning to her
niece. that you were still at MIR. Van
Saun's."
II returned a little while ago." Gym
thia explained.
Where are your hat and coat?" Mrs.
Livingstone asked. CHANGING around.
Upstairs, Of course" Dora spoke be-
fore Cynthia could reply. You would
not expect as careful a girl as Gym TO
leave them lying around down here
would you. mother"
Mrs. Livingstone smiled again. but
more naturally now. Then you have
been In for some time. Cynthia" she
observed. In that case, i understand.
/ note" looking into the library, that
you young people have forgotten TO
turn on the lights. But" with Il sig
nifcant lift OF the eyebrows. ''iirelight
Is pleasant. under some circumstances.
isn't TT"
Cynthia did not speak. and Gerald
Stewart came to her rescue.
Il must he going. Mrs. Livingstone"
he said. May l call again this even
ing? ] would like to have little talk
with Mr.. Livingstone. IL he will be
diaengaged."
"Wc-AIilton. mother. Gym and L
arc going To the Philharmonic to-
night Dora announced brusqucly.
Don't come when We are out"
lie is coming 10 see your father.
my dear" her mother reproved. Then
~ ta.t L., ,t,ot
inrs,one will be in and disengaged."
Thank You" Mr.. Stewart said form
ally. Good might"
Dora frowned with vexat!on at the
calm manner in which her mother
ignored her suggestion and at t;crald'y
submission to The :natron's edict Some
OF this vcxation she uttered to Gym
thia az the TWO girls were on their
W. 'SstaIrs 10 dress for the evening.
20. wish mother were not so magis-
teriaN" she complained. The cool way
In which she brushes aside my ideas
Is tho limit"
An Explanation.
But Cynthia's thoughts were else
where. and she did not reply.
'Ey the way" Dora remarked later.
looklDi. into cynthia's room from the
IassuSe between that and her own
room. Il am much obliged TO you for
following my lead so quickly and GO
lag int. the library 10 Talk TO Gerald.
Gould not explain then what the
mater was. TO ,cll the truth. / did
no. wtnt mother TO Know | had been
IN there"
Way not?" Cynthia pulled herself
OF; "f her own reflections TO ask this
natu'a! question.
because he docsn', like me TO talk
10 any man except Milton" Dora
evsdcd. 80 l just called you in there
right after ! heard her come in the
~
snc would be right back. / was sure
sho saw Gerald through the fre-lit
window as she came up the front
steps"
Il don't sec why she need have cared
II you were In the library with him."
Cynthia argued.
All the more reason why 1t was
nice IN you to do as asked-I mean
II you saw no sense In my asking it,
say. Gym. are you worried about any
thing" You look so"
No; Cynthia forced a smile. Il am
a little tired. perhaps"
Would YOU rather not go TO the
Philharmon!c to-night?" Dora Queried
anxiously. Il mean-would you rather
stay at home and talk 10 Gerald
Stewart"
Indeed would mott" The answer
lieved.
us" she admitted. Il will let you and
Milton amuse mother and me-"
Il fancy you VIII manage to amuse
each other-you and Milton" Cynthia
remarks And now. my dear. l must
hurry and dress. or | shall be late to
dinner"
There is always such a rush now
adays that never have a chance for
good. long talk with you" Dora
grumbled. Some time soon we'll have
a regular heart-to-heart talk. won't we.
Gym? There are lot OF things wanr
10 Tess UP to you about"
Cynthia Promises.
"All right" Cynthia agreed wv
will have that talk soon"
She turned TO the mirror and went
on with her dressing. She felt that
she ought TO tell her cousin ~ 80.
engagement to Stewart. but did m e
want TO do so now. She could NOT
trust herself TO speak Of the ,natts.
hurriedly in the few minutes that tba
Two girls would he together before
dinner. She was unhappy, and could
not pretend TO he happy just yet.
She must get accustomed to
the new condition Of affairs as soon
as possible, for she was sure IL vas
OF her that Gerald Stewart wished 70
talk this evening to Mr.. Livingstone.
She dressed rapidly and her thoughts
kept pace with her dying fingers.
u i'S' aunt Hdu Dccn right, Gera Ia
Stewart loved her. She was the on.
dear thing In his lonely life. She must
marry him. That was her evident dur
She was glad that tho thought NJ
marrying him for a home had not en-
tered her mind when he proposed 70
her. She had accepted him only he
cause she did not want any man to
suffer as she was capable of suffering.
surely she was doing right. Her mar
riage TO Gerald would make him hapuv
1T would please her relatives and re-
lieVe them of the burden OF her sun
port 1t would prove TO Dora that
there was no reason for her to be-
jealous of her cousin and Milton-if
she had over really been jealous.
Yes, every one would be happier for
her having set aside her own selfish
hopes and desires. She herself was
not happy. but there was satisfaction
In the consciousness that she was The
only one who would suffer for her ac-
ton.
CYNTHIA FINDS HERSELF ANALYz-
ING HER FEELINGS TOWARD
DORA'S FIANCE
CHAPTER XXxV;l.