New Britain herald., 1928-09-06
CHAPTER LVII
LYNDA DECIDES TO THINK FOR
HERSELF


LYNDA DECIDES TO THINK FOR
HERSELF
Lynda's lips curved into a rather
sarcastic smile. She knew that note
she had just received was not all
that the elder Armitage would like
to have written. but for such rs 1t
was, she accepted 1t, and made up
her mind to drift. accepting whatev-
er she decided was best for the mo-
ment, without any thought Of the
future.
The door opened. and this tele-
gram was handed her:
when will you let me know my
fate? Each hour seems = million
years. r."
Hastily she typed an answer.
Have decided to stay here 1T the
office, for . while, at least. Will let
you know the answer to your i'm
piled question tomorrow. L."
This was sent to the hospital and
q note sent to Mr.. Armitage, senior,
IN quite a. formal words as his had
been. saying:
If I can be Of any service to you.
will be glad to stay at the office as
long ~ you want me to do.
Thanking you for asking me.
sincerely.
LYNDA FENTON."
She was not to get through the
day without another unexpected
communication. Her fathers lawyer
called her up and said that he had
received Q wire from New Orleans,
saying that 4 man. who had been
identified by his employers as Fen
ton, had been hit by an automobile
the day before, and killed.
They found my name among his
effects, and learned. also. that he
had Q daughter. They asked me to
let you know, Lynda, and ask you
what disposition you would wish to
make Of the body. Before called
you up, my dear. I wired that 1t
should be held until could get
theirs. to claim 1t. am going down
on the evening train, Lynda. 1t is
needless for you to 90 with me-"
Poor old Dad" Lynda whispered,
brokenly.
AZ soon a. possible she got the
correspondence out of the way, and
It five o'clock she started home.
Very soon afterwards Claire came,
with look Of happiness on her face
that Lynda had not seen upon 1t be-
fore.
She told her the news about her
father. Claire said very little, as she
knew that there had been little in
common between Lynda and her
father, and that when the shock of
his sudden death wore off 1t would
be Z relief to her to know that at
last his turbulent life was over.
Have you heard how Ralph is?''
she asked.
Il had q telegram from him this
afternoon" answered Lynda. II
imsg1ne he is getting along as we'll
az anyone could hope.
II also had a letter from David.
He has resigned from Armitage &
Sons and has gone over to Steward
e. Coz. would like you to read the
letter. Claire, II it will not bore you"
What makes you think it will
bore me. Lynda? I have not asked
you about your affairs because l did
not want to seem curious, but you
ought to have known, dear girl, that
no one could be more interested in
all that was happening to you, than
i. Fred told me last night, and
intended to tell you, but Emily was
here, that Ralph sent for him to
come to the hospital. When he got
there he told him that he was SO in
love with you that his only desire
vas to devote his future to making
you happy.
Fred thinks it Is real love, al
last, with Ralph, just as his love for
me Is the only real emotion that he
has ever had"
But. Claire" said Lynda, rather
bitterly, neither of them spoke OF
making US happy unless he shared
that happiness"
Dear Lynda. you have learned sc
much Of how a man looks upon life
in the last two months, that it has
overloaded your brains and youI
heart. Some time you will know thai
no man who thinks he is in love
with a woman can conceive any hap.
piness for her that he does no
share"
II already have come to that con
clusion. Claire. and I want to ask
your advice, dear. Ralph has Offered
me everything in the world but hi.
name. I am sure he loves me, and
] know that I could keep that love
* l accept. ] will have everything
that money can buy, and a man who
loves me. You might say that thi.
may not last. but neither are W.
sure that any other human relation.
ship will last. Ralph fascinates me
] like TO be with him. and ] mus,
confess that the idea of great wealth
is very Intriguing. ] want to travel
TO be able to possess beautiful
things In short, ! want you to tel