The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-12-30


er might have looked when the young
American engineer married her and
brought her back to his land.
Dolores knew, too, the trlckery or
her mothers charm and the radiance
of the flashing smile over pearly teeth.
Dolores father worshiped the girl as
he had worshiped his love before her,
and when his life, too, came to an
early end he left his daughter be-
seeching tender care, to the guardian
ship of The man who was his closest
friend.
Again the girls cajOlOries won her
triumph; there was no favor not act
uaIly harmful which the guardian with
held. And at the height of her beauty
and triumph a neighborhood party
brought Donald and Douglas, the
twins, to Dolores notice-and to their
surrender. Donald and Douglas Bruce
were valued members of the small
town; young lawyers following the
lawyer father before them. ...
That it was Douglas who did the
greater part of the firms work, and
Donald who spent the greater part of
the firms money, made no difference.
Both We're eagerly welcomed, and
many pretty, fetching caps set for
them. And then they met Dolores.
That very night as Don sat upon
the bed the brother shared, the broth
ers knew what had happened. Both
had fallen In love at first meeting, If
not at first sight, with the little half
Spanish beauty.
And so neither one discussed her.
And when Douglas closed his office
door to an afternoon clientage and
sOherly went the same road, Don
smiled after him, for Don was sure
of himself, where girls were con-
cerned; even q witching wonder OF
girl like Dolores. Once she had al
most yielded to his impulsive caress
almost, but not quite. He smiled
again at recollection OF her startled re-
treat. But her eyes had made him
sure.
Confidence broken, they were drift
ing apart. After a last miserably
sleepless night, Douglas made his de-
cisiOn. He would go to Dolores and
ask her to marry him.
And Dolores said yes. 1t was uR-
believable, but her soft whisper still
fingered in Douglas ears, the caress
of her hand as she had taken flight
from his fonder caress. And when
Douglas came, vague in his joy, to
the room he shared with Donald, his
brother cast upon him a fretful
glance. "Beastly luckT exclaimed
Donald; have to break an engage
ment tonight to wait for this man who
will see no one but me. Say, Doug,
would you mind running back to Do
lores, to explain my absence, She
says 1t makes the guardian wild to
have any fellow call her over the
phone. She expected me at nine at
the latest"
Douglas considered. tsz
"AH right" he agreed. 81 Will tell
her.
He was thinking that he would try
again to persuade Dolores to absolye
him from the promise that for a time
his brother must not learn OF their
engagement.
Dolores would have to break it"
first, she said, to her stern guardian.
She was in the moonlIt garden as
Douglas came; she had told him re-
gretfully at the recent parting that
the guardian insisted upon her com,
partnership in the house at nine o'clock,
How, he wondered, had she escaped
the guardian. He vaulted the wall, as
Donald usually did, that he might
quickly reach her side. - 81
With a laugh Dolores turned to
greet him. 81.
DON" she cried; "Don, darling!"
In the shadows Douglas felt the lit
tie traitor hands stretched out to meet
his own, and then the hands touched
his shoulders.
IL thought you'd never come, Don,
dearest" murmured Dolores; your
brother Douglas was here. and had
a dreadful time shaking him."
Suddenly Douglas put from him the
clinglng hands.
Wait" he whispered, and vaulted
back over the garden wall. He was
white and breathlesS when he stood
before mis- brother. They were alike,
Douglas realized grimly, enough alike
to be mistaken for one another among
shadows. Well, he had found out the
sham OF girl to whom his love had
been given. Now Donald must 'get
his" "DOn," he said brusquely. do
me favor without question--later
you'll understand. Hurry over to Do
loFes she's there beside the garden
wall As you approach say: Are you
there, Dolores? This IS Douglas.
That's all. For a moment want her
to think that you are me-"
Something in his brothers deter
mined expression banished the Wen
dering smile from Donald's lips.
"All right" he agreed briskly, end
was gone.
Douglas sat with his face In his
hands, waiting. This was a hard les
corr fbat ha had Snnt hfc hrofhar