The Raymer enterprise., 1922-07-20
The Dashing"
Blonde =
By DOROTHY wnIrcoMB.

had ever been In all her life before.
But when one II 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
elaine.
Sylvia could not believe that It was
right for any girl 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 In Stapleton. she had not lived
there much during her checkered ex-
lstence. She had made an unhappy
marriage and was suing the man for
IL divorce. Agatha wcs handsome
blonde -"dashing." people called her
with any number Of moths futtering
round her. And the worst Of II was
that Agatha. who could never resist
making conquests. was coming to stay
with Sylyia's mother.
When Agatha did arrive. a resplen-
dent being In u picture hat with four
trunks and pehigreed dachshund.
she was more than ever convinced
that her days of happiness were num-
bered.
Agatha was so kind that the girl
half minded to confess her trouble tG
her. But Agatha seemed also a little
heartless.
"Why, my dear auntie." she said TO
Sylvias mother. what funny, old.
fashioned Ideas you have about men
ANY woman can twist any man round
her little finger. II she chooses"
Il wonder II she win 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 ms.
sumed an Indifferent manner, felt that
her worst fears were confirmed. With
In few minutes after the introduce
ton they were chatting together like
old friends.
"Well, 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 headache when Sylvia preached
the proposition OF II walk. Sylvia had
some shopping to do, and, after u
stroll through the woods alone, re,
turned through the village Suddenly
she stopped dead; she felt as houFn
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 noddlng
at the window Of Toms office
And a moment or two later she saw
Agathas filmy lace handkerchief
pressed TO her eyes, saw Agatha :
head bowed upon her hands. and SAY
Toms hand patting her cousins Shout,
der consolingly.
She wrote n little note to Tom that
evening.
Il find that made mistake" she
said. II thought | loved you, Tom,
but was wrong. Please, do not call
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 a
young man should expect him TO
come to see me every evening. And
here 1t must he couple of weeks
since he has put In an appearance"
Sylvia did not make the r~tort that
was upon the tip Of her tongue: Inst
on four separate occasions she hal
seen Agatha In Toms Office.
But everything draws to clos,
and the time has come for Agatha 10
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
yourself, Is there?"
"N-no." stammered Sylvia brazenly.
"iou know" said Agatha. 81 didn't
like my lawyer, Wagstaff, who. be-
tween ourselves. hadn't been quite
straight with me- So | thought !:
Here's $500 worth Of law business 60.
Ing begging, and why shouldn't Tom
Darragh have II and be able to start
housekeeping with nest egg In the
bank; Why, Sylvia"
For Sylvia was crying, and when
the cab arrived she had only Just be-
gun to explain.
81 can't go In, Agatha | dare not.
I'll write to Tom"
well. now, you Just SIT still and