Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-12
CHA PIER Mi,

IliE DINNER ANNOUNCING
DOkA'S ENGAG EMENT
CHAPTER Mi.
Dora. da.ling." Mrs. Livingstone
called from the door of her room on
the morning a. Hilton Van S,un,s
and Gerald Stewards visit. IL wish you
and Cynthia would come hero for a
few minutes. / want to talk with YOU"
When the girls had obcyed her sum-
mons. she preached the matter that
was uppcrrnost In her mind
Your engagement is TO be announced
next week, Dora. dear"
Dora laughed. Il am already aware
OF that fact, mother dear"
Her mother smiled in her usual in
dulgent fashion.
My blessed child" she protested
gently Il wish you would not be SO
frivolous and abrupt when | want to
talk of serious subject"
You mean my engagement" Dora
demanded. Surely that is not so
awfully serious. is it? II seems rather
amusing TO me-"
Her mother ignoring this remark.
continued:
"of course. there will appear an
nouncements in the society columns
OF the various Sunday papers. But |
have been thinking how We could best
tell our friends about il. ! have de-
cidcG that 1T would be agreeable TO
have a select and small dinner-only
about a dozen people-and announce
the good news then. Your father and
| asked Mr.. Stewart TO dine here soon.
We viii make the date Il week from
Saturday night. and have him as one
OF the guests. Thus. you see, some Of
our friends will know OF the happy
event before they see it in the Sunday
papers,
~ rfrrl.
care just how it's done. But am
crazy to know whether people will be
surprised about It or not"
Il fancy only a few OF them will
be greatly surprised" her mother OBJ
served. You and Milton have always
been together so much"
But that is just the reason Il will
be a surprise" Dora argued "People
have thought of us almost like brother
and sister. IL fact, / have felt that
way myself"
A Satisfied Comment.
cynthia glanced quickly at Mrs.
Livingstone. Was she satisfied with
her daughters sentiments towards tho
man who was TO be her husband?
But Mrs. Livingstone smiled scrcnclv.
That is an excellent way to feel"
She remarked. Il have always said
that pleasant friendship forms the
safest basis for a comfortable mar
riaEc."
Then you do not believe in love
The question slipped from Cynthia's
lips almost before she was aware OF L.
Her aunt answered in her usual
bland manner. ''Not in violent love
matchcs-no. If man and woman
arc good friends. they learn to love
each other after marriage"
Cynthia WAS silent. She was think
q II t.,.t
Of his engagement to her mother, OF
the love that had been so strong that
death itself had failed TO make him
forget tho girl who had given him her
heart ana hand.
Mrs. Livingstone became aware o,
hcr hieces SILENCE. You do not agree
with me, Cynthia. do YOU" she uuericd.
Cynthia flushed. How should
know anything about IT. Aunt
Amanda" She parried. Il have never
even fancied myself in love. and have
thought very little e! marriage"
know your father and mother
were very devoted TO each other" Mrs.
Livingstone said. ''But theirs NAV
have been such an affection as I have
spoken OF. il may have developed at
ter marriage"
Cynthia did not contradicc this state
ment. The subject OF her parents
mutual devotion seemed too sacred to
"iscusS win Such q matcriaiistic per-
son as her aunt.
Well" Dora broke in, II am mighty
fond OF Milton. and ] dare say we shall
get along well enough together I
guess I'm not one of the girls who
could lose her head over any man.
Now u SO back TO the plans for the
dinner. | think it's pretty good idea
don't you, GYM"
Yes" Cynthia replied. IL think it's
very charming idea"
y sudden thought occurred to Dora.
An Awkward rredicamcnt.
Gym" she exclaimed. You'll come
to the table that night even If YOU
arc in deep mourning, won't you?"
Cynthia Long hesitated. Here was |
an awkward prcdicamcnt Her sorrow
for her fathers death was SO fresh |
that she shrank from meeting Il num- |
Der OF strangers at a gay function. |
she hoped her aunt would come to her |
rescue and suggest that she be al |
lowed TO dine quietly in her own room |
on the evening OF the proposed dinner.
Eut Mrs. Livingstone made no such
proposition. Instead. She looked |
amazed.
My dear Cynthia" she protested.
you do not think OF secluding your
self from all society i'm that old !
fashioned way just because you happen
to be in mourning. do you? Surely
you would be making a mistake TO do
this. Moreover. Dora would feel most
if her engagement
dinner was the cause OF your spending
an evening alone"
There was but one course for Gym
tina TO take. She showed her good
breeding by acceding promptly to the
plans of her hostess.
Il Will do just as you think best.
AUNT Amanda" she said. III you and
Dora prefer having me at the dinner.
WILL 81 course, be present. But" as
nm afterthouGht, II have no regulation
dinner gown. you know--only my black
morning and afternoon dresses-noth-
ing proper for an evening function"
you can buy very stunning evening
gowns in mourning Materials" Mrs.
livingstone told her easily. II advise
you and Dora to order the car at once
ihcn you can go down this morning
and select for yourself IN evening
gown In black. You will need one /
frequently. Be sure that It will he
-cQdy in time for Won tn weor m