The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1921-12-01
The "DashaiR1g''
Blonde
By DOROTHY WHETCOMB.

Copyright. 1921, western Newspaper onloh'
Sylvia Blaine was happier than she
had ever been in all her life before.
But when one is nineteen happiness
comes easily, especially when one Is
in love.
Tom Darragh was generally cOnsid-
cred the most promising young law
yer in Stapleton. And he loved Sylvia
Blaine.
Sylvia could not believe that it was
right for any CIR! to be as happy as
she was. And why should Tom have
chosen her when there were so many
sweet girls Of his acquaintance? II
he had ever known her cousin Agatha,
for example, she was sure that Tom
would never have looked twice at her.
Agatha Blaine was five years older
than Sylvia. Although she had been
born i'm Stapleton, she had not lived
there much during her checkeref ex-
istence. She had made an unhappy
marriage and was suing the man for
| divorce. Agatha was a handsome
Misunderstanding" people called her
with any number Of moths fluttering
round her. And the worst of 1t was
that Agatha, who could never resist
making conquests. was coming to stay
with Sylvia's mother.
When Agatha did arrive, reSplen-
dent being in a picture hat, with four
! trunks and pedigreed dachshund,
she was more than ever convinced
that her days Of happiness We're num-
bered
! Agatha was so kind that the girl
j half minded TO confess her trouble to
her. But Agatha seemed also a little
| heartless.
"Why, my dear auntie," she said to
| Sylvia's mother "what funny, old
| fashioned ideas you have about men.
Any woman can twist any man round
her little finger, if she chooses"
81 wonder if she will choose to twist
Tom round her little finger" sighed
Sylvia to herself, when Agatha con-
graduated her warmly.
On the day after her arrival Tom
was introduced to her. Sylvia, watch
ing them closely. although she as
sulned an Indifferent manner, felt that
her worst fears were confirmed With
in a few minutes after the introduce
ton they were chatting together like
old friends.
swell, I've seen this wonderful Cou-
sin Agatha" said Tom, as they parted,
"and she can't hold candle to you,
sweetheart"
The next day Cousin Agatha plead
ed a headache when Sylvia preached
the proposition Of a walk. Sylvia had
some shopping to do, and, after
stroll through the woods alone, re-
turned through the village. Suddenly
she stopped dead; she felt as though
an icy hand had been laid upon her
heart, for at window on the second
story of some business Offices she saw
Agatha's hat.
And the irony Of the situation lay
in the fact that the hat was nodding
at the window Of Toms office.
And a moment or two later she saw
Agatha's tilmy lace handkerchief
pressed to her eyes, saw Agatha's
head bowed upon her hands, and saw
Toms hand patting her cousins Shout
der consolingly.
She wrote a little note to Tom that
evening.
II find that + made a mistake" she
said. IT thought I loved you, Tom,
coll
or write to me, and never ask me to
explain"
She knew Tom was too proud not
to take her at her word. And the next
two weeks were miserable ones, for
she herself Was too proud to let Aga
tina know how she was suffering.
"Well, must say don't think much
Of that sweetheart Of yours, Sylvia"
said Agatha. IF were engaged to 4
young man I should expect him to
come to see me every evening. And
here It must be a couple Of weeks
since he has put in an appearance"
Sylvia did not make the retort that
was upon the tip of her tongue: That
on four separate occasions she had
seen Agatha in Toms office.
But everything draws to close,
and the time has come for Agatha to
leave. Agatha was waiting for the
carriage to come to convey her to
the station.
"Sylvia, DEAR" she said, there isn't
anything wrong between Tom and
vOurself is there?"
"N-no," stammered Sylvia brazenly.
"You know" said Agatha, II didn't
like my lawyer, Wagstaff, who, be-
tween ourselves, hadn't been quite
straight with me. SO I thought:
Here's $500 worth Of law business go
ing begging, and why shouldn't Tom
Darragh have it and be able to start
housekeeping with a nest egg in the
bank? Why, Sylvia!"
For Sylvia was crying, and when
the cab arrived she had only just be-
tn 1,in